UROLOGY

Urology is the branch of medicine dealing with the urinary system and its diseases.

A urologist is a medical specialist who deals with the organs concerned with the elimination of urine. In the male, he also treats the male reproductive organs and the prostate.

A patient usually visits a urologist because of difficulties with the passage of urine or some problem related to male sexual dysfunction. Included are: a burning sensation during urination; blood in the urine; the development of severe back pain; the total inability to urinate; lack of voluntary urinary control; male infertility and impotence.

Advances in the field of urology continue to be made, both in the areas of diagnosis and treatment. Such developments include kidney stone disintegration using shock waves, laparoscopic bladder suspension to correct incontinence and laser surgery for the prostate gland.

Treatment options for the male infertility include medications to increase sperm production, epididymal sperm aspiration of the vas deferens, microsurgical reconstruction of testicular duct obstruction, assisted ejaculation for men with spinal cord injury, repair of varicose veins on the testicle and vasectomy reversal.

For men with sexual dysfunction, treatment options include medical and hormonal therapy, non-surgical techniques to treat erection problems, penile prostheses and reconstructive surgery to correct penile abnormalities. Continuing research and experimentation are opening more doors to further advances.