It is a frequent dilemma among patients as to which clinical specialist you need to consult for your health problems. An Urologist is a surgeon who treats problems of the Urinary Tract and the Male Reproductive Tract.
The Urinary Tract includes Kidneys, Ureters, Bladder , Prostate and Urethra
The Male Reproductive Tract includes Testis ,Epididymis, Vas deferens , Seminal vesicles and Penis.
You will need to meet an Urologist if you are suffering from any of the following symptoms
- Abdominal or flank pain – this can happen with patients with kidney stones or tumors
- Blood in the urine – this can happen in patients with bladder and kidney cancer. It may also happen in kidney stones and infections of the bladder which is called cystitis
- Difficulty in passing urine – this may happen in case of prostate enlargement or narrowing of urethra or because of a bladder stone
- Slow stream – may be seen in patients with prostate enlargement or urethral narrowing
- Frequency – passing urine too often may be seen in overactive bladder or in patients with bladder stones.
- Urgency – needing to pass urine immediately is again a symptom of overactive bladder or is seen in patients with bladder stone
- Getting up too often at night to pass urine – this symptom is often seen in elderly patients with overactive bladder and prostate enlargement
- Sensation of incomplete voiding – seen in patients with prostate enlargement or urethral narrowing
- Straining to pass water – can be seen in patients with prostate enlargement or urethral narrowing
- Loss of control of urination – this may happen in patients of all ages but is more common in the elderly. It is more common among ladies where the loss of control or leakage of urine occurs after coughing sneezing or laughing.
- Burning in the urine – this is seen in patients with Urinary Tract infections and urethral narrowing
- Infertility in men – couples trying to achieve a pregnancy are usually successful in one year. In case of failure, there may be a need to evaluate both partners. Male partners are evaluated by a semen analysis. In case the semen analysis is abnormal the male partner needs evaluation by a urologist.
- Inability to achieve or maintain an erection – this is a common problem in India but not discussed because of embarrassment. This condition is called erectile dysfunction and the patient needs to be evaluated by a urologist.
- Kidney lump – these can be noticed by the patient or more commonly are picked up on an ultrasound scan.
- Increased PSA – PSA is a blood test to check for the risk of prostate cancer. It is advisable in all healthy men between the age of 50 to 70. In case of an abnormal value, the patient may need urological evaluation.
- Testicular lump – this may be noticed by the patient or picked up on an ultrasound scan. This will require the urgent opinion of a urologist
- Pain in the testis– this may happen in patients suffering from infections of the testis
- Scrotal swelling – may be caused by fluid accumulation inside the scrotum which is called hydrocele
- Tight foreskin – again a common problem that may cause pain during erection and ballooning during urination. In the diabetic population, recurrent pain and swelling in the foreskin is observed
- Bending of penis on erection – can be noticed in some men and will need urologist opinion.
