What is Urology?

Urology is the medical specialty that treats diseases and problems related to the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. It is also a surgical specialty.

Urologists diagnose and treat urinary tract and reproductive system issues in men and women of all ages. They can treat conditions like prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, urinary tract infections, and more.

It is a medical specialty

Urology is the medical and surgical specialty that focuses on diagnosing, treating, and managing disorders of the kidneys, bladder, ureter, prostate, and genital system. These problems include urological cancers, urinary incontinence, impotence, and infertility.

Doctors specializing in urology have extensive knowledge of internal medicine, pediatrics and gynecology, and surgery. They use both nonsurgical and surgical treatment options to cure a wide range of conditions.

They are also trained in genitourinary oncology, a subspecialty that deals with the management of malignant diseases such as cancers of the kidney, bladder, prostate, ureters, testicles, and penis.

In addition, urologists may treat patients with urinary tract infections and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and perform vasectomies or vasectomy reversals to help men get pregnant. They also serve a variety of procedures to treat genital abnormalities, including bedwetting, circumcision, and undescended testicles. They are often trained in minimally invasive surgical techniques, such as laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgery.

It is a surgical specialty

Urology is a surgical specialty that treats the urinary tract and male reproductive organs. It involves diagnosing and treating disorders and diseases affecting the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and scrotum, and it also deals with conditions such as cancer of the prostate and penis.

It is essential to health care because the urinary tract and reproductive system are vital to human life. Therefore, urology patients must receive good care to prevent and treat problems related to these systems.

The medical training to become a urologist combines college and medical school, followed by four or five years of surgical residency. During this time, you are taught by a mentor and work alongside experienced urologists in an academic hospital setting.

After you have completed your training, you can start your practice with an established urology service or create your own independent urology business. You can also choose to focus on specific areas of urology, such as reconstructive surgery, endo-urology and urogynecology.

It is a gynecologic specialty

Urology is the medical specialty that focuses on the bladder, urethra, ureters, kidneys, and other aspects of the urinary tract. This includes infections, hematuria (blood in the urine), and kidney stones.

Urologists usually become doctors after earning their bachelor’s degree and completing a four-year medical degree program. They then complete a five-to-six-year residency program that offers training in surgical and medical treatments of urologic diseases.

After residency, urologists can pursue additional training to become specialists in specific areas. These may involve a fellowship that lasts an additional one to three years.

A subspecialty of urology and gynecology called urogynecology specializes in studying and treating pelvic floor disorders, such as urinary or fecal incontinence, constipation, and pelvic organ prolapse. These conditions frequently occur in tandem, which makes it essential for urologists and gynecologists to collaborate to provide the best care. In 2012, the American Board of Medical Specialties recognized this subspecialty and accredited fellowship programs to train physicians in this area.

It is a pediatric specialty

Urology is the medical specialty that deals with genital and urinary tract disorders in children. Doctors who have specialized training in this field treat children from newborn to adolescence (up to 16 years).

Pediatric urologists are physicians-surgeons with additional specialized training in diagnosing and treating genitourinary problems in children, including common concerns like undescended testicles, recurrent urinary tract infections, ongoing incontinence, “shy bladder,” and other difficulties with urination.

In addition, they specialize in complex urogenital reconstruction for severe congenital (present at birth) and acquired defects. These conditions include bladder exstrophy, epispadias, cloacal exstrophy, hydronephrosis, hypospadias, kidney dysplasia, polycystic kidney disease, and renal agenesis.

In pediatric urology, you work in a much milder culture than a general urology hospital and have more latitude in your career pathway. You can focus on an individualized area of expertise and enjoy a healthy work-life balance.