By Dr. David Samadi for The New York Daily News
The practice of urology is a vital component of men’s health care. This medical specialty focuses on the urinary tract system which encompasses the system responsible for creating and removing urine from the body, which includes the kidneys, bladder, ureter, urethra, and the reproductive system of men.
It’s very likely that most men will at some point in their lives have a urological problem as a result of aging, injury, illness, or birth defect. When such an issue comes up, it is important for men to seek the advice and help from a urologist — doctors having specialized knowledge and skill regarding problems of the male and female urinary tract and the male reproductive organs.
Following are eight conditions that a man may experience a problem with and will need to make an appointment with a urologist:
1. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
BPH refers to an enlarged prostate and is common in older men. This troublesome but rarely dangerous condition is when the prostate, a walnut-sized gland located between the bladder and the penis, enlarges causing problems with urination. Symptoms of BPH can include:
- Difficulty initiating urination
- Weak urination stream
- Dribbling at the end of urination
- Urge to urinate
- Feeling of fullness in the bladder due to incomplete urine emptying
2. Erectile dysfunction (ED)
Erectile dysfunction is a condition in which a man experiences difficulties with getting or maintaining an erection. This can be treated with medication, testosterone replacement, surgery, psychological counseling, acupuncture, or lifestyle changes such as losing weight, quitting smoking, increasing exercise and reducing stress.
3. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
If a man notices painful or burning urination or cloudy urine, this could be a sign of a urinary tract infection. A urologist will test the urine to make sure it is a UTI and to rule out any other possible problems. Generally, a round of antibiotics will treat the UTI.
Find the next five common urological issues affecting men in the full article.
You can find more Shield HealthCare articles and videos about urological issues below:
