What color is healthy for urine?

Urine is your body’s liquid waste. A larger part of it is water, but it also contains salts, urea, uric acid, and other chemicals. The contents of urine indicate how healthy your body is and an analysis of your urine sample can help your doctor to figure out if you’re healthy or not.

What is the color of healthy urine?

Normal urine is pale yellow to deep amber. The color is due to the pigment urochrome that is a byproduct of the breakdown of hemoglobin.  So if your urine is any color ranging from yellow to gold, then it is healthy.  Also, if your urine color is a pale shade of yellow or clear, then it is a good sign for your health.

Of course, when your urine is bright yellow or a neon liquid, you may think it isn’t normal. But that is still the color of harmless urine and it may only show you’re taking a lot of vitamins or supplements—you may cut down on them if necessary.

Dark yellow urine is normal, but may indicate you need to drink more water. Actually, a darker shade of yellow implies low urine volume, which tends to come from dehydration, strenuous exercise, working for several hours in a hot place, or not drinking enough fluids.

Besides, a dark yellow color may mean that your urine is more concentrated and needs some diluting through increased fluid intake. But a continuous low volume of urine that has a darker shade of yellow, amber or is honey-colored is a major risk of kidney stones and you’ll need to correct it quickly by drinking more water to dilute and make it clearer.

Clear or somewhat transparent urine is healthy, too. It often means that you’re drinking a lot of water. Increased water intake dilutes the yellow pigment found in urine, so that the more you drink the clearer your urine becomes.

A little reduction of your fluid intake will restore the yellow color of your urine, especially if it is persistently clear or transparent. Reducing your fluid intake also helps to minimize the number of trips you make to the bathroom.

What are the colors of unhealthy urine?

  1. Brown urine

Brown urine color does not always mean you’re unhealthy. The color may occur when you consume large quantities of fava beans, aloe or rhubarb. It may also be due to severe dehydration, which you can correct by drinking plenty of water. Plus, it can be due to medications like metronidazole (Flagyl), chloroquine, primaquine, nitrofurantoin, methocarbamol, and laxatives such as senna or cascara.

But brown urine may equally imply you have medical conditions such as a kidney disorder or a liver condition. Some urinary tract infections may also turn urine brown. Therefore, if you have brown urine that doesn’t go away with increased fluid intake, visit your doctor to find out the cause.

  1. Red, pink or bloody urine

Your urine may be red or pink if you’ve recently eaten beets, rhubarb or blueberries; or if you have engaged in a strenuous exercise.  Medications such as rifampin, phenazopyridine, and laxatives like senna can also cause a red color.

But red color may also mean blood in urine (hematuria), which is a common indicator of urinary tract infections, enlarged prostate, cancerous or non-cancerous tumor, kidney cyst, bladder or kidney stones. Likewise, a deep red to brown color may indicate porphyria—a rare, inherited disorder of the red blood cells. 

Visit your doctor if you experience blood in your urine, particularly if you have no recent history of medication or foods that can turn your urine red.

  1. Orange urine

Orange color of urine may mean you’re eating large quantities of carrots, carrot juice or food with an orange dye. It may also imply you took medications such as phenazopyridine, sulfasalazine, isoniazid, riboflavin, a chemotherapy drug, or a laxative.

But your urine may also be orange because you are dehydrated and need water, or due to a liver or bile duct condition. If the orange color in your urine lasts a few days, you need to see your urologist.

  1. Blue or green urine

It is quite rare to have urine that is blue or green in color. But you can have blue urine due to a food dye or medications such as the pain reliever indomethacin, the anti-acid cimetidine, the anesthetic propofol, or the antidepressant amitriptyline.

Children with a rare genetic condition called familial benign hypercalcemia (blue diaper syndrome) have blue urine. Your urine may be green due to asparagus or because of infection by the bacteria Pseudomonas. Get in touch with your doctor if a blue or green urine color occurs for more than a day.

  1. Purple urine

It is very unusual to have purple urine. But one of the conditions known to cause purple urine color is the purple bag urine syndrome, which occurs due to the use of a urinary catheter by a patient who also has a co-existing urinary tract infection.

  1. Cloudy or foamy urine

You can have foam in your urine if you love steak and eat a lot of red meat or are on a ketogenic diet (high fat and low carbohydrate diet). But cloudy urine may also indicate dehydration or excess mineral intake.  Disorders like urinary tract infection, Chron’s disease, kidney disease, or diverticulitis also cause cloudy urine.

When should you see your doctor?

Changes in the color of your urine may be temporary and harmless, particularly due to food, vitamins or medication. But when the changes persist, you should be concerned.

You should see your doctor anytime you have blood in your urine as this usually indicates urinary tract infections, kidney stones or other condition. Seeing your doctor is even more urgent if the blood is accompanied by pain—although a painless bleeding may be due to a more serious condition such as cancer.

You should see a doctor if your urine is green, brown or orange and comes with a back pain, side pain, fever, burning sensation with urination, vomiting, discharge or thirst.

Remember, green urine may be due to bacterial infection, orange urine may indicate liver problem, and brown urine may signal kidney or liver disorder. Visiting your doctor will help you know what is causing the change. For more information on various urologic disorders, visit the site “St Pete Urology.”

What dissolves kidney stones fast?

You’re suddenly in an excruciating pain. You have a sharp, cramping pain in your back and side that comes in waves. And the overwhelming feeling moves to your lower abdomen or groin, and hurts badly.

Well, you probably have kidney stones. And you need to give it a quick fix. You can do that without medical intervention, especially if you can find something that will dissolve the stones fast.

Types of kidney stones

Generally, up to 80 percent of kidney stones are calcium stones—usually either calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate. These types of stones occur if you have too much calcium in your urine, though they could also form for other reasons.

Another type of stones, struvite stones, is related to chronic urinary tract infections, makes up 10 percent of all kidney stones and often forms when urine is alkaline. Uric acid stones make up 5-10 percent of kidney stones, and require acidic urine to form; while cystine stones that are less than 1 percent of all stones form when you have cysturia—too much cystine in urine.

Apple cider vinegar as kidney stones remedy

If you’re looking to dissolve kidney stones fast, you can rely on apple cider vinegar. Made from fermenting apples and endowed with phosphoric, citric and acetic acids, apple cider vinegar makes urine acidic and helps to dissolve most types of kidney stones quickly.

The acids in the apple cider vinegar react rapidly with compounds forming stones, especially calcium and struvite stones. As the reactions occur, the stones reduce in size and eventually dissolve.

Once the stones are dissolved or their size significantly reduced, they are easily flushed out in urine. Equally, as the stones break down, their obstruction of the urinary tract is reduced. Hence the pain caused by the stones is relieved.

Besides, apple cider vinegar reduces the risk of stone formation by dissolving minerals that may form stones. It also has an alkalizing effect that boosts the digestion process and increases the production of hydrochloric acid. The acid dissolves various minerals and helps prevent the formation of new kidney stones.

To prepare apple cider vinegar as remedy for kidney stones, mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 6-8 ounces of water and drink the mixture frequently throughout the day, but mostly before mealtime. You should not consume more than one 8-ounce glass of this mixture per day as excess apple cider vinegar can reduce potassium levels and cause osteoporosis.

Lemon juice remedy for kidney stones

Apart from apple cider vinegar, you can use lemon juice to dissolve kidney stones. Usually, a mixture of lemon juice with olive oil is preferred as the lemon juice provides citrate that breaks up or prevents calcium stones from forming while the olive oil helps to flush out the stones.

Mix a quarter of a cup of olive oil with equal amount of lemon juice and drink. Follow it with a glass of water. Repeat this in the afternoon, but making sure to drink plenty of water and plenty of lemon juice throughout the day.

Alternatively, you can just squeeze some lemon into your drinking water as often as you can. Unfortunately, this will require a great deal of lemon juice if it has to produce the effect you desire.

Other natural options that help with kidney stones include:

  1.     Celery juice
  2.     Pomegranate juice
  3.     Basil juice
  4.     Dandelion root juice
  5.     Horsetail juice
  6.     Wheatgrass juice

These juices help eliminate waste, enhance digestion, and increase urination. They are also packed with a lot of nutrients and can relieve inflammatory issues.

But as you go for the juices, also remember that drinking plenty of water is necessary. Drinking enough water prevents dehydration, dilutes urine, and hinders formation of kidney stones. Water also helps stones to pass through the urinary tract. As a rule, you should drink 6-8 ounces of water per day.

When should you see a urologist?

When kidney stones are too large and cause severe symptoms, visiting a urologist for treatment is the right option. Your doctor may prescribe medication such as tamsulosin (Flomax) to relax your ureter and make it easier for the stone to pass.

You may also be given pain and anti-nausea medicine to help you cope. Plus, your doctor may consider procedures such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), ureteroscopy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), laparoscopy, and robotic surgery to help remove the stones.

You should see a urologist if your symptoms are becoming severe after using apple cider vinegar or lemon juice remedy for a few weeks. Indicators of worsening kidney stones include nausea, blood in urine, painful urination, severe pain in the lower back or abdomen, vomiting, fever, and chills. In fact, if you’re not able to pass the stone for six weeks then you should see your doctor to determine whether you need therapy.

At St Pete Urology, we see many patients with kidney stones on a regular basis and know exactly what to do in every situation. Our team of urologists has the skill, expertise, and experience to give effective treatments for the stones, particularly if you’re not able to pass the stones naturally.

Our range of treatments includes medication and procedures like lithotripsy (ESWL), ureteroscopy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), laparoscopy, and robotic surgery. Schedule your appointment with us if your symptoms have lasted more than six weeks. For more information on the diagnosis and treatment of urologic disorders, visit the site “St Pete Urology”.

What treatment options are available for male infertility?

Have you and your partner been experiencing challenges conceiving a child ? There are many potential reasons for this but one obvious is basic health issues connected with fertility 

What treatment options are available for male infertility?

  1. Surgery

In cases where infertility is due to obstructions in the sperm transport pathway, surgical correction can help to restore fertility. 

For example, if the vas deferens is blocked in a manner that prevents sperm from reaching the urethra, a qualified urologist can conduct an operation to remove the blockage. Likewise, a varicocele can lead to lower sperm production but often be repaired surgically within the spermatic cord leading to an enhancement to your fertility.

Surgery may also be performed to retrieve sperm directly from the testicles or epididymis using a sperm retrieval surgical technique. 

Your doctor may do a transurethral resection of the ejaculatory duct to help eliminate an obstruction in your ejaculatory duct, improving the chances of any inflamed or chronically dilated areas in your ejaculatory duct to normalize. 

A similar procedure—the transurethral resection of the seminal vesicles—may also be an option to help eliminate an obstruction in the seminal tract or in a strategic area, enhancing fertility.

  1. Hormone therapy and medications

You may need hormone medications or hormone replacement therapy if your infertility is due to high or low levels of certain hormones or problems with how your body synthesizes hormones. 

In men with mild sperm abnormalities, the drug clomiphene citrate can in many cases help to boost semen quality, improve sperm count and enhance sperm motility.

If the infertility is due to problems in the pituitary gland or hypothalamus, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) may be administered, usually combined with recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (rhFSH). When prescribed, the treatment can help achieve normal blood hormone levels so that your body can better produce sperm.

For many protocols, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is injected three times per week under the skin for between six months and one year. Then blood tests will be run and the dose adjusted as necessary. 

After six months of treatment, typically your urologist will check and inspect your semen. If sperm is still absent, doctors will in some cases add recombinant human FSH to the injected hCG. 

  1. Assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs)

Assisted reproduction involves obtaining sperm by normal ejaculation, surgical extraction, or donor individuals, depending on the specific case. 

The sperm can then be inserted into the female genital tract or used to conduct in vitro fertilization or intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection.

The sperm collected from ejaculated semen or obtained using a needle inserted into the testicle is processed and introduced to the eggs by intrauterine insemination (IUI), in-vitro fertilization (IVF), or intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). 

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is done during ovulation with sperm injected directly up the uterus. The woman is first prescribed targeted medications to increase the number of eggs she releases.

In-vitro fertilization (IVF) involves mixing sperm with multiple eggs collected from your partner in a plastic dish (“test-tube”). The fertilized eggs are then inserted into the uterus. Of course, IVF requires viable sperm.

In intracytoplasmic sperm injection, a single sperm is injected via a tiny needle into an egg. The fertilized egg is then implanted in the uterus. The procedure is appropriate when the sperm count is extremely low or abnormal.

At St. Pete Urology, we work with couples to optimize their reproductive health.

Contact us today if you have issues conceiving and for more information on the diagnosis and treatment of infertility and other urological problems.

Can a vasectomy reverse itself after 14 years?

A vasectomy is one of the safest and most effective birth control methods. But like other medical procedures, it isn’t foolproof. 

There is a possibility that a vasectomy can fail to prevent pregnancy in extremely rare cases with roughly a 1-percent chance of failure. 

Though vasectomy failures can be due to various reasons, several cases are due to a reversal of the procedure over time. 

How can a vasectomy reverse itself?

In rare instances, a vasectomy can reverse itself and is known to occur in about 0.025 percent of cases, equivalent to 1 reversal in 4,000 vasectomies. Such a reversal involves reconnection of the vas deferens after successful surgery and an effective post-vasectomy plan.

Remember that during a vasectomy, the vas deferens—the two tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to the urethra—are cut and sealed off to block sperm from reaching semen. The channel in the vas deferens is broken at the point where it is cut to eliminate the passageway of the sperm to combine with the semen.

However, in some cases, the vas deferens grow back several years after the procedure. The growth may continue until a connection is recreated, allowing the free flow of sperm to the urethra.

An extremely rare and successful reconnection can occur after 10 to 14 years or more and is usually almost impossible to notice. 

Most men only realize that their vas deferens have reconnected after their sexual partners get pregnant.

What can make a vasectomy reverse itself?

After a vasectomy, sperm may leak from the vasectomy site or a rupture and directly into the epididymis. Since sperm have immune system stimulating properties (antigenic qualities), it recognizes sperm as foreign and attacks them.

The sperm leakage triggers an inflammatory reaction that causes the body to develop pockets to trap the sperm in scar tissues and inflamed cells. 

With time, spheres of cells called sperm granulomas form and produce nodules in the vas deferens that may grow and result in the reconnection of the vas deferens. 

The risk of a reversal increases with the presence of sperm tissue at the vasectomy site.

Another reversal mechanism is scar tissue. 

With cells present after a vasectomy forming tiny channels that allow sperm to squirm their way through the tiny tears in the scar tissue, small drainage channels appear in the tissue on the ends of the severed vas deferens. Over time, these channels may reconnect to the divided vas deferens, providing a pathway for sperm to the seminal vesicles. The risk of a reversal via scar tissue increases with open-ended vasectomy, where only one end of the vas deferens is closed.

However, you shouldn’t be overly concerned if you consider a vasectomy or have already undergone the procedure.

The chances of a reversal are pretty rare—almost negligible—and extremely unlikely in most cases. 

At St. Pete Urology, we are proud of our excellent record of successful vasectomies. Our skilled and experienced urologists understand the factors that may lead to vasectomy failure, including non-severance of the vas deferens, non-observance of a period of sperm-free ejaculate, reconnection of the vas deferens, and duplication of the vas deferens. So we tailor and conduct every vasectomy under strictest adherence to best practices. 

Call St. Pete Urology today for more information on vasectomy and vasectomy reversal.

What are the 4 stages of prostate cancer?

Key takeaways

  • Prostate cancer starts in the prostate gland, but can spread outside of it if not detected and treated early.
  • To confirm a diagnosis of prostate cancer and assess the stage of the cancer, doctors will use tests such as the PSA test and DRE, as well as a biopsy, ultrasound, MRI, and CT scans.
  • The cancer is staged based on the size and spread of the tumor, with Stage I being the least advanced and having a high survival rate.

Prostate cancer starts and grows in the prostate gland, but may spread outside the prostate, particularly when not detected and treated early. As it grows and spreads away from the prostate, the tumor may invade nearby tissues and consequently get carried via lymph nodes and lymph vessels traveling to distant tissues.

Grading of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is primarily screened using the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and the digital rectal exam (DRE). And when screening tests give abnormal results, your physician will run further tests to confirm the diagnosis, grade the cells, and then assess the stage of the cancer.

To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor will order a prostate biopsy.  The test involves obtaining a sample of tissue from the most affected areas of the prostate and having the cells examined by a pathologist to determine if they are cancerous. And since cancerous cells appear different from healthy cells, the biopsy helps to confirm the diagnosis.

The appearance of cells is also used to grade the cancer. Usually, the cells are classified using the Gleason system, which uses the numbers 1 to 5 to grade the patterns of cells seen in the tissue sample as the most common (primary) and the second most common (secondary) patterns of cells.

Cells that look much similar to normal cells are given a score of 1, and then the scores 2-4 are given an increasing order of difference from normal ones. Therefore a score of 4 represents cells that are more different and have a higher chance of uncontrolled replication than a score of 2. And a score of 5 is given to cells that are completely different from normal prostate cells.

The total Gleason score is obtained by adding the primary and secondary scores, with the least tally that indicates cancer being 6—a score that shows a low-grade, least aggressive cancer. A Gleason score of 7 indicates a medium-grade cancer, while tallies of 8, 9 or 10 show a high-grade cancer.

Generally, the higher the score, the more the cancer cells appear different from normal prostate cells, and the more aggressive the cancer. Aggressiveness of a cancer means it has more chances of spreading to other areas of the body.

Today, the Gleason score is used alongside the grade group score to help stage prostate cancer. Other tests that help assessing the stage of prostate cancer include Transrectal ultrasound, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), MRI of the prostate, abdominal and pelvic CT scan to detect the potential spread of the cancer, nuclear scans to detect spread to bones, and surgical biopsy to check lymph nodes of your pelvis for the tumor.

So what are the stages of prostate cancer?

Staging of a prostate cancer means classifying the cancer according to how far it has spread and its effects on the prostate. The staging system helps in tailoring treatment to properly address the tumor.

To determine the stage of a cancer, your doctor will use a number of indicators. For instance, your doctor will use the TNM system, which has three different aspects. Tumor (T) describes the size of the main area of the cancer, nodes (N) identifies whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and to what extent, while metastasis (M) describes how far from the prostate the cancer has spread.

Similarly, your physician will use the Gleason score and the grade group score to stage the cancer. The higher the Gleason or grade group score, the more aggressive and widely spread the cancer. Plus, your doctor will use the PSA level, ultrasound, MRI, CT scans, nuclear scans, and surgery to correctly stage the cancer.

  1. Stage I Prostate Cancer

The least advanced prostate cancer, usually small and not yet spread beyond the prostate, is called stage I prostate cancer.  It is characterized by a PSA level that’s less than10 ng/mL, a Gleason score of 6, and a grade group score of 1. The cancer has a 5-year survival rate of almost 100 percent.

Stage I prostate cancer is managed by active surveillance for nearly all patients with a Gleason score of 6, unless the patient is unwilling or unable to undergo additional biopsies or has high-volume disease.

Active surveillance means your doctor monitors the tumor over time to check whether further treatment is necessary. Apart from active surveillance, stage I cancer may be treated using radical prostatectomy—the surgical removal of the prostate; or radiation therapy, either alone or with prostate removal.

  1. State II Prostate Cancer

The cancer is still restricted to the prostate and has not spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body.  Also, it may or may not be felt during a prostate exam, though it may appear on ultrasound imaging.

Stage II prostate cancer has a PSA score of less than 20ng/mL, but is further divided into three phases depending on Gleason scores and grade group scores. Stage IIA has a Gleason score of 6 or less and grade group score of 1, stage IIB has a Gleason score of 7 (3+4) and grade group score of 2, while stage IIC has a Gleason score of 7 or 8 and grade group score of 3 or 4.

For stages IIA and IIB, active surveillance may be adequate. But, in some cases, doctors recommend removing the prostate together with the surrounding lymph nodes in order to prevent further spread of the cancer. Your doctor may also consider radiation therapy, in the form of external beam or brachytherapy.

For stage IIC, a combination of hormone therapy with radiation therapy in select patients—group grade 3 or those with more than 50-percent positive biopsy cores, usually gives great results.

  1. Stage III prostate cancer

At this stage, the cancer may or may not have spread outside the prostate. If the tumor hasn’t spread outside the prostate, the 5-year survival rate still remains close to 100-percent. But when the tumor has spread, the survival rate is reduced.

Stage III prostate cancer is divided into three sub-groups: IIIA, IIIB and IIIC. In stage IIIA, the cancer hasn’t spread outside the prostate, has a PSA level of 20ng/mL or higher, a Gleason score of 8 or less, and grade group score of 1 to 4.

Stage IIIB has spread outside the prostate and may have reached the seminal vesicles or the surrounding tissue, but it hasn’t reached the lymph nodes or other parts of the body. It may have any PSA level, but a Gleason score of 9 or 10, and grade group score of 5.

Stage IIIC prostate cancer may or may not have spread to the lymph nodes or other nearby organs. It has any PSA level, but a Gleason score of 9 or 10 and a grade group score of 5.

Stage III prostate cancer is treated through a combination of external beam radiation and hormone therapy. In some cases, brachytherapy or radical prostatectomy—with removal of pelvic lymph nodes—is considered. Active surveillance isn’t used for stage III prostate cancer because there is a higher risk of disease progression if not treated.

  1.     Stage IV prostate cancer

This is the most advanced form of prostate cancer. The cancer has typically spread to distant parts of the body and affected several organs. Stage IV prostate cancer is divided into IVA and IVB. Stage IVA tumor has spread to nearby lymph nodes but hasn’t reached other areas of the body. Stage IVB tumor has reached distant lymph nodes and many other areas including bones or organs.

The treatments for stage IV prostate cancer include hormone therapy, chemotherapy, external beam radiation, targeted radiation and potentially prostate surgery.

Effective, state-of-the-art treatment

Successful treatment of prostate cancer depends on regular screening to increase the chances of early detection, correct grading of the cancerous cells, and proper staging of the cancer. Early detection ensures a higher survival rate just as the right staging ensures that the treatment administered is safe and effective.

At St Pete Urology, after a diagnosis, our skilled and experienced urologists select the right tests to determine the stage of the cancer. Then through a multidisciplinary approach, we provide a tailored treatment with the highest potential of achieving the best possible outcomes.

Call us today to book your screening, diagnosis and treatment of prostate-related problems. For more information on prostate cancer and other urological disorders, visit https://stpeteurology.com/

References

What are the key signs of prostate cancer?

Key takeaways

  • Prostate cancer occurs when prostate cells grow and multiply uncontrollably, and can be malignant and life-threatening if it spreads to other parts of the body.
  • Early-stage prostate cancer does not have any unique signs or symptoms and is difficult to detect, making regular screening and testing important for early detection.
  • Common screening tests for prostate cancer include the PSA test and the DRE, and men who are 55-69 years old, African-American, or have a family history of prostate cancer should consider getting screened.

The prostate is a tiny, walnut-shaped gland in the pelvis. Located near the bladder and felt through a digital rectal exam, the prostate produces the fluid that transports and nourishes sperm. The fluid—called seminal fluid—is squeezed out via the urethra during ejaculation.

What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer occurs in the prostate when prostate cells grow and multiply non-stop. The growth of the prostate can either be benign or malignant. Benign growth of the prostate, also called benign prostatic hyperplasia, is rarely a threat to life as it doesn’t invade tissues around your prostate, doesn’t spread, and can be removed or shrink back.

On the other hand, prostate cancer is a malignant growth that can spread to nearby organs like the bladder or rectum and is, therefore, a threat to life. This cancer can spread to other parts of your body and may grow back after removal.

When prostate cancer cells break away from the prostate, they can spread through lymph nodes or blood vessels to other parts of your body. 

Upon spreading, the cancer cells attach to other tissues and grow to form new tumors that cause damage in the areas where they land.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. 

Although most cases of prostate cancers grow slowly and are restricted to the prostate gland, where they tend to cause little harm, some types of cancer are aggressive, spread quickly, and are life-threatening.

What are the key signs of prostate cancer?

Early-stage prostate cancer doesn’t have any unique signs or symptoms. It starts in the outer areas of the prostate and grows slowly. These areas are away from the urethra, so the growing tissue mass does not press against the tube and affects your urination.

There are no early urinary signs of prostate cancer. When symptoms occur, they are usually related to the non-cancerous condition called enlarged prostate or another health condition.

Nevertheless, as the tumor grows and spreads, it begins to affect the organs around the prostate. So with time, it will eventually show signs as it breaks out of the gland (locally advanced prostate cancer) or spreads to other areas of the body (advanced prostate cancer).

Unfortunately, even late-stage prostate cancer shares signs with other urological disorders, making it difficult to tell whether it is due to cancer or other conditions, such as prostatitis or benign prostate enlargement (BPH). 

That is why the key to establishing if you have prostate cancer is seeing a urologist, who will order tests to help find out what is causing the symptoms.

When they occur, the symptoms of prostate cancer include:

  1. Dull pain in the lower pelvic area
  2. Trouble starting to urinate or to empty your bladder
  3. Interrupted or weak urine flow
  4. Dribbling of urine after urinating or a feeling that the bladder hasn’t emptied properly
  5. Frequent urination, particularly at night
  6. Pain or burning sensation when urinating
  7. Difficulty having an erection, painful ejaculation, or decrease in the amount of ejaculate
  8. Blood in urine or semen
  9. Pain or pressure in the rectum
  10. Persistent pain in the back, hip, or pelvis
  11. Unexplained weight loss
  12. Bone pain
  13. Loss of appetite

Diagnosis of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is highly treatable when detected early. But for the condition to be discovered early, frequent screening is necessary. 

Screening means you undergo testing even though you have no symptoms. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and the digital rectal examination (DRE) are the most commonly used screening tests. Both help detect cancer early, although they aren’t perfect tests.

Speak with your urologist about whether or not you should undergo screening. Your doctor will assess your degree of risk and decide whether you should have the PSA test and the DRE. Generally, you should be screened if you are 55-69 years or older, African-American male, or have a family history of prostate cancer.

If the screening tests show that you might have cancer, your doctor will recommend a biopsy for confirmation. The decision to have a biopsy is based on the PSA and DRE results. Your doctor will also consider family history, ethnicity, and other health factors.

At St Pete Urology, we offer screening, diagnosis, and treatment of prostate cancer. Through our patient-centered, compassionate approach to care, we have ensured that most of our at-higher-risk clients are enrolled in screening.  

We have employed a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach that ensures all our patients get the best possible care. 

Call us today for more information on prostate cancer and other urology disorders.

References

What color of pee is bad?

Do you ever pay attention to the color of your pee? If not, then starting today, you should.

The color of your pee can give you a hint of what is going on in your body—and whether you are well or unwell.

Urine is made in your kidneys as your blood is filtered. The kidneys make pee to help remove toxins and other harmful substances from your blood. So your pee is not just made of water and salt but also contains wastes such as uric acid and urea, and other substances found in your blood.

What is the color of pee?

The normal color of pee is yellow because of the yellow pigment, urochrome, made in your body.

When you are healthy and adequately hydrated, you should expect to produce light yellow and close-to-clear pee.

However, lots of things can change the color of your pee.

For instance, your urine will have no color if you’re drinking a lot of water or taking diuretics drugs that enhance fluid loss.

But when dehydrated, your pee becomes amber, dark yellow to light brown.

The color of your pee also changes with the type of foods, medications, or illness.

What color of pee is bad?

  1. Clear

Clear urine typically indicates you’re drinking too much fluid, and you need to cut back on your water intake. Although staying hydrated is a good thing, drinking too much water can rob your body of electrolytes.

Besides, consistently clear pee may indicate that you have a liver problem, like viral hepatitis or liver cirrhosis.

If your pee is clear for a while and you’re not consuming large amounts of water, then you should see your doctor.

  1. Dark brown

Dark brown pee color may be due to medications, such chloroquine (Aralen) and metronidazole (Flagyl), or extreme exercise that causes muscle injury.

It may also be due to eating large quantities of aloe, rhubarb, or fava beans.

Most often, brown pee indicates you should drink more water, showing that you are dehydrated.

In some cases, brown pee results from diseases. One of them is porphyria—a rare disorder that usually involves sensitivity to light and leads to brown urine because of the breakdown of red cells.

Pee can also be brown when you have a buildup of bile, liver disease, or a tumor.

You should see a urologist if your pee is brown and doesn’t get better after a day or so.

  1. Cloudy

Cloudy, foamy, or frothy pee is bad and requires immediate medical help.

When urine has bubbles or foam, you may be consuming too much protein in your diet, but a persistently cloudy pee indicates a more serious condition, such as kidney disease, diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease, or other chronic condition.

Make sure to let your doctor know about it as soon as possible.

  1. White

Pee that is cloudy white could mean you have kidney stones or a severe infection.

The white color is probably due to the presence of pus in your urine.

Make sure to see your urologist immediately for appropriate medication.

  1. Pink or red

Your pee may be pink or red due to foods like blackberries, beets, rhubarb, and carrots. But red or pink color of pee may also be caused by medications like the antibiotic rifampin or phenazopyridine for urinary tract infections (UTIs).

In the worst case, pink or red pee is due to blood in urine caused by urinary tract infections, an enlarged prostate, kidney disease, a tumor, kidney stones, or cysts.

If the color change occurs together with burning pain, odd smell, or any other unusual symptoms, then it certainly means you have an underlying health problem.

So if you have red pee and have recently not eaten the foods above, then you should visit your doctor immediately for help.

  1. Orange

Pee that has the color of citrus-flavored soft drink may be due to medications such as high-dose vitamin B12, the antibiotic isoniazid, or the UTI drug phenazopyridine. But it can also mean you’re dehydrated or you have a problem with your bile duct or liver.

If you have orange urine in addition to light-colored stools, then bile might be reaching your bloodstream due to problems in your bile ducts or liver.

It could be a result of adult-onset jaundice.

 Make sure to speak with your doctor about it.

  1. Blue

Blue urine is usually due to brightly colored food dyes and medications such as amitriptyline and indomethacin.

If you are not taking dyed food or these types of medications, the blue tinge may be due to bacterial infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa or the rare condition hypercalcemia—too much calcium in your bones.

Generally, blue pee is rare and is almost often related to diet.

  1. Green

Your pee may be green due to vegetables in your diet.

However, green pee is usually bad as it is associated with Proteus infection.

If your pee is green, you should see your doctor, establish the source, and prescribe a course of antibiotics to clear up the urinary tract infection.

When should you see your doctor?

Speak with your doctor every time you see a change in your urine color that you can’t link to a new medication or a recent meal, particularly if the color change lasts more than a day.

Don’t hesitate to inform your doctor about it as it could signify a serious health condition.

A change in color of your pee that comes with a fever, vomiting, side or back pain, feeling very thirsty, or discharge requires urgent attention. Your doctor will run tests on your urine to determine what is going on and provide proper treatment.

Can you still have Orgasm after Vasectomy?

Men, we all desire to be good husbands and partners. Many of you may have seen your wife or partner experience the adverse effects of some contraception. Some will want to help alleviate this unfortunate circumstance.

The option of undergoing vasectomy may come up. This procedure is one big step to take a lead role in family planning and protect your partner. However, you may also have concerns about how it will affect your sex life afterward.

The good news is, vasectomy will not adversely affect your sex life.

It will neither reduce your sex drive nor affect your ability to have an erection. It will not affect your ability to ejaculate or have any difference in the amount of semen you ejaculate.

No effect on testosterone production

Your male characteristics depend on the hormone testosterone. Produced in your testicles and responsible for secondary sexual characteristics, testosterone is the hormone that maintains your libido (sex drive), sensation, and ability to have an erection and an orgasm.

An average testosterone level after vasectomy means you maintain the same level of sexual performance and satisfaction after the procedure.

So does a vasectomy affect your testosterone level? No. Your testicles continue to produce testosterone after the procedure, just as they did before the surgery. The operation is done on the vas deferens and not on your testicles, which means there are no effects on testosterone production. Plus, it means you continue to have normal erections, ejaculations, and orgasms.

If you experience a drop in testosterone after vasectomy, the reduction may be unrelated to the procedure. Such a reduction is often due to diminished function of the testes (hypogonadism), which is linked to age.

Hypogonadism affects 1 in 50 men aged 40-79 years. It is more common in men with diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, or those taking certain medications, such as steroids. It may also be due to stress, depression, or too much alcohol.

If you notice any drop in your sex drive after vasectomy or feel you might have symptoms of low testosterone, speak with your doctor for help.

Normal ejaculations

A vasectomy does not significantly affect the quantity of the ejaculate. While the procedure ensures that the sperm made in the testicles do not pass through the vas deferens to reach the urethra, it doesn’t noticeably change the quantity of fluid you ejaculate.

In a typical ejaculation, the semen produced in your seminal vesicles and prostate gland forms 95-98 percent of the ejaculate. And so, since sperm only makes 2-5 percent of the ejaculate, preventing sperm from being included in the semen doesn’t make a big difference in the volume of the ejaculate. You will not even realize the difference in your ejaculations.

Remember that the procedure does not stop sperm production. Your testicles will continue to secrete sperm throughout your life; only that the sperm will not reach the urethra to be added to the semen before ejaculation.

During a vasectomy, your vas deferens is cut and blocked to stop sperm and make it impossible for them to travel to the urethra. The sperm dies and is absorbed by the lining (membrane) of the epididymis, where they dissolve naturally. The absorption process doesn’t interfere with testosterone production, erections, or orgasms.

Enhanced orgasms

With a vasectomy, you will feel relieved from the anxiety or stress of an unplanned pregnancy. And, with that freedom, your lovemaking will be more spontaneous, sensual, frequent, and intense.

Recent studies have shown that the procedure isn’t only reliable but boosts sex drive in men and ensures stronger erections and better orgasms without the risk of pregnancy.

Safe, effective vasectomy

Want to have a vasectomy but have questions before the procedure?

At St Pete Urology, we do vasectomies every week and guide men to make the right family planning decisions. We will listen to your concerns, give you the right advice, and help you make an informed decision.

Over the years, we have seen our clients undergo vasectomy procedures and report results that make us proud. We are happy that our patients retain the highest level of sex drive, firmer erections, unchanged ejaculation, and regular orgasms after the procedure.

If you’re considering having a vasectomy at St Pete Urology, you shouldn’t fear it would affect your sex drive or orgasms. We can guarantee that your sexual performance and satisfaction will only get better. 

Does drinking more water help incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is a frustrating, embarrassing condition. Who wants to always be on the lookout for the nearest restroom, or have to deal with an unexpected leak during a cough, sneeze or lifting a weight.

If this condition is not well managed, you may experience discomfort in social situations, affecting your behavior and how you interact with others.

Can drinking more water help?

When you have urinary incontinence, your first instinctive reaction would be to reduce your water intake. You may also be hesitant to drink lots of fluids as a way of forestalling the leaks and minimizing your toilet visits.

But drinking more water is not bad.

While it sounds counterproductive, drinking more water helps with incontinence.

First, your body is full of fluid, and you always need to drink more water to replace the fluid you lose. Failure to drink enough water leads to dehydration.

Secondly, when you drink more water, you ensure a free filtration of fluids via your kidneys. Doing so means that wastes and other substances do not build up in your urinary tract and that your urine does not get more concentrated.

When urine becomes more concentrated, your bladder is irritated, and incontinence worsens.

You can tell when you’re dehydrated, and your urine is more concentrated when it looks darker, cloudy, and has a strong odor.

Concentrated urine results in irritation, which translates to pain or burning sensation while passing urine.

An irritated bladder increases urgency, which is bad news if you have urinary incontinence. So drinking more water is effective when done correctly.

With the right amount of water, you can prevent dehydration, keep your urine dilute, avert bladder irritation, and minimize incontinence.

You must strike a balance, as drinking too much water may also cause excessive leaks.

How do you drink more water to manage incontinence?

1. Drink enough fluid every day
For a grown man, enough fluid is roughly 13 cups (3 liters) of total beverages a day. For a woman, 9 cups (2.2 liters) of drinks a day is ideal. In terms of drinking water, the right quantity is 4-8 eight-ounce cups a day.

2. Drink when thirsty
Your body has a way of directing how much water you need, and you will notice this in how frequently you get thirsty. When this occurs, make sure to drink water immediately.

3. Drink it in sips
When you drink water, you must avoid guzzling one or two cups at a time, which can overwhelm your bladder. Instead, drink water by frequent sipping. It would be best to have smaller amounts of water and liquid throughout the day, sipping slowly over several sittings.

4. Drink most of your water early in the day
Drinking water a few hours before bedtime can be problematic, especially if you are struggling with nocturia. A good practice is to drink most of your water in the morning and afternoon and avoid drinking 2-4 hours before going to bed.

5. Be creative
While plain water is ideal for urinary incontinence, you can try flavored water to boost your fluid intake. Add fresh mint or a splash of lime or lemon to your water. Dilute your juice as much as possible. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, as they have high water content. Just make sure to avoid adding sugar, particularly if you have diabetes.

6. Drink fluids with every snack and meal
Whether it is breakfast, lunch, dinner, or any little snack in between, ensure to complement it with a glass of water.

7. Carry a bottle of water with you
Whether at your desk, in your car, or in your bag, always have some water with you. The easiest way to drink enough water is to make it a habit to carry a water bottle wherever you go.

Get the right balance gradually

Drinking enough water without overwhelming your bladder is a practice you will learn with time. Once you know how to go about it, you will stay hydrated and reduce urine leakage.

Take it gradually and learn to balance your water consumption with your other health goals and lifestyle.

Seeking treatment for urinary incontinence

Are you having urinary incontinence? Visit your urologist today to determine the actual cause of the condition and get proper treatment.

The problem may be a result of the aging process, urinary tract infection, or a symptom of a disease, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

At St Pete Urology, we offer a wide array of solutions for urinary incontinence, including guided pelvic floor exercises (Kegel exercises), bladder retraining, Botox injection, medications, and surgery.

Come and see us today for tailored treatment of your leaky bladder.