5 Essential Reasons Why Women Should See A Urologist

Urologists are not only specialists for men but also providers of essential medical services for women. Trained to treat urinary tract problems both medically and surgically, urologists offer the best treatment for bladder control issues and other disorders of the female urinary tract and reproductive system. So when faced with urological issues at any stage of life, women may need to see these doctors for quick resolution of the problems. In fact, women should consider seeing urologists when having frequent urges to urinate, leaking urine, pain in the sides or back, bloody urine, and burning or pain during urination. The 5 essential reasons why women should see a urologist are:

1. Overactive bladder

Characterized by a sudden, uncontrollable urge to urinate, waking more than once at night to urinate and urinating 8 or more times in 24 hours, overactive bladder affects many women of all ages and has several potential causes. Since treatment for the condition is dependent on the identified cause, it is important to see a urologist to carry out tests in order to determine the cause and recommend the best treatment. At St. Pete Urology in St. Petersburg, doctors use specialized testing and recommend personalized treatment for women with overactive bladder.

2. Urinary incontinence

Bladder control problems can affect women of all ages and are a very common issue. By definition, urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control which can lead to accidental leakage of urine. For example, women with urinary incontinence (UI) have trouble holding urine, particularly when they cough, sneeze or exercise. Caused by obesity, pregnancy later in life, childbirth and even menopause, UI affects roughly 57 percent of women between the age of 40 and 60. Treatments for the condition include exercises for strengthening pelvic muscles, medication, implanted devices, injections and surgery.

3. Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Even though urinary tract infections commonly occur in women and can be quickly treated with antibiotics and other measures, recurrent infections may be a sign of a larger issue requiring the attention of a urologist. Women experiencing two or more urinary tract infections in 6 months, or even three or more UTIs in one year should see a urologist to explore the possibility of having a recurrent problem. The urologist will diagnose the issue using kidney scans, culture test and other tests, identify the actual cause of the recurrent infection, and recommend effective treatment for breaking the series of recurrent infections.

4. Kidney stones

While kidney stones are a more common problem in men than women, about 7 percent of women will have kidney stones at some stage of their life. There is a higher risk for a woman to develop kidney stones if she does not drink enough water, frequently eats meals high in protein, takes medicines that can cause kidney stones as a side effect, has had a stone before, has certain diseases, or is over 50. The stones can form in the bladder, ureters or kidneys and may be passed out on their own with high fluid intake or removed through different treatment options. If you are a woman experiencing extreme pain on your back, side, lower abdomen, groin, or pain during urination, vomiting, nausea or blood in urine, please visit St. Pete Urology in St Petersburg for immediate help.

5. Fallen bladder and bladder cancer

The bladder is usually held in position by the pelvic floor. But when the pelvic floor is stretched or weakened, particularly due to aging, menopause, obesity or prior pelvic surgery, the bladder may drop into the vagina, resulting in complications such as overactive bladder, urinary tract infections and urinary incontinence. Pelvic floor prolapse (also called fallen bladder or cystocele) can be corrected either surgically or nonsurgically by placing a pessary in the vagina to hold up the organs. Apart from fallen bladder, urologists are also recommended to treat bladder and kidney cancer.

Conclusion

If you are experiencing symptoms such as blood in urine, frequent urination, burning or pain when urinating, or pelvic pain, call or visit St. Peter Urology for help. Our urologists offer top-of-the-line comprehensive urological services to women and are committed to patient satisfaction. Evaluation of urological conditions includes a complete patient history, medical exam, urodynamics (bladder EKG), imaging, cytoscopy and all necessary lab tests. For more information on the treatment of urological conditions in women, visit the site, St Pete Urology.

Why Interstim Therapy is For Both Men and Women

For men who suffer from embarrassing and frustrating bladder control problems like retention and overactive bladder, it is typically difficult to control when and how much you urinate. As a result, you may be compelled to cut back on your everyday activities, feeling trapped by the fear of accidental leaks and being unduly preoccupied with your bladder. Unfortunately, you also may find out that common treatments such as behavior modification, drugs, dietary changes, use of catheters to empty your bladder or pelvic floor exercises do not effectively treat your symptoms. What can you do when traditional treatments for bladder problems fail or are intolerable? Never despair. Instead, just visit a competent urologist to administer InterStim therapy.

What is InterStim Therapy?

Also called Sacral Nerve Stimulation (SNS), InterStim is a reversible therapy for treatment of urinary incontinence, urgency (frequency), urinary retention and overactive bladder. It involves implanting an InterStim device (neurostimulator) into the skin in order to send mild electrical pulses to the sacral nerves (nerves located above the tailbone) which control the bladder and muscles associated with urinary function. As a result, the electrical stimulation of the sacral nerves promotes communication between the brain and bladder, improves bladder control functions and eliminates symptoms of overactive bladder and urinary incontinence.

Effective for Both Men and Women

Many people tend to consider InterStim therapy as an exclusive treatment for women with bladder control problems. In truth, however, the therapy is also ideal for men who have failed medications, experience serious adverse effects with bladder medications or do not like using catheters to empty their bladder. Incontinence is a common problem affecting both men and women and any person experiencing the problem can explore InterStim therapy as an effective and convenient option regardless of their sex.

How is the Procedure Performed?

InterStim therapy is a two-stage process involving minimally invasive testing (test stimulation) and the eventual placement of the InterStim device. The urologist conducts the non-invasive test to determine the possible response to the actual device while allowing patients to see if InterStim would be appropriate for them. After successful testing, the InterStim device is placed using a minimally invasive technique in which small and inconspicuous incisions are made on the skin.

InterStim improves the quality of life and will help you to return to your normal life quickly with no more worries of accidental urine leaks. Doctors at St Pete Urology have conducted hundreds of InterStim therapy since the device was approved by the FDA. We help both men and women regain their confidence and dignity. For more information on treatment of bladder control problems, visit the site, St Pete Urology.

2 Effective Screening Tests for Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed non-skin cancer in men in the United States, currently carrying a lifetime risk for diagnosis of around 15.9 percent. In most cases, prostate cancer shows a good prognosis even when not treated, though some may be quite aggressive. Presently, the lifetime risk of death due to prostate cancer is 2.8 percent, and the condition is quite rare in men younger than 50. In fact, very few men die of the cancer before age 60, and more than 70 percent of the deaths due to the cancer occur after age 75.

Even though prostate cancer typically grows very slowly or not at all, it is still advisable to start screening early before the symptoms appear. Early prostate cancer screening may help to discover any aggressive type of the cancer and ensure prompt treatment. Today, there two most effective and recommended tests for screening are prostate specific antigen (PSA) test and digital rectal exam (DRE).

PSA

All contemporary recommendations for prostate cancer screening incorporate the prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels in serum because there is convincing evidence that PSA-based screening detects many cases of asymptomatic prostate cancer. Studies also have shown that a vast majority of men who have asymptomatic cancer detected through the PSA test have tumors that either will fail to progress or will grow so slowly that they would have shown no symptoms for the patient’s lifetime. If your PSA level is high, your urologist will recommend either waiting for a period and then repeating the test or doing a prostate biopsy to confirm if you have the cancer. When interpreting your PSA results, your urologist will consider many factors, such as race, age and family history.

Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)

During DRE, the urologist inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to feel for any hard areas or bumps on the prostate, which might indicate cancer. The exam may be slightly uncomfortable, but is never painful and just takes a short time. While the digital rectal exam may be less effective than the PSA in detecting prostate cancer, it sometimes can detect cancer in men with normal PSA levels. For this reason it is a critical component of prostate cancer screening.

What next after screening?

PSA and DRE tests are simply used to detect the warning signs of prostate cancer, but in reality they do not actually confirm if you have cancer. If the test results are abnormal, your urologist will use a prostate biopsy for confirmation. If there is cancer, a prostate biopsy also will help determine the aggressiveness and influence the urologist’s decision as to whether or not you need treatment. Not every patient must be treated and those with non-aggressive cancer will just be actively monitored. The decision on whether you get treated is very important and is usually based on results of these tests. For more information on early prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment, visit the site, St Pete urology.

Infographic: Everything You Need to Know About Kidney Stones

Everything You Need to Know About Kidney Stones

People sometimes may have kidney stones for several years without experiencing severe symptoms. The stones may pass out in urine with little pain and just a few mild-to-moderate symptoms. However, whether you have not had a kidney stone or only experienced a little pain when passing a stone, it is advisable to take precautionary steps to avoid more serious problems. For example, eating certain types of foods such as large amounts of lemons and oranges may cause kidney stones. But before eliminating various food items from your diet, you should consult a urologist. The urologist will conduct a proper evaluation of your current health status and provide clear guidance on which foods may cause kidney stones.

Common symptoms

A kidney stone often shows no symptoms until it has moved into the ureter. And when symptoms finally show, they commonly include:

  • Sudden, severe pain in the groin or in the side of your abdomen
  • A burning sensation during urination
  • Pain and difficulty during urination
  • A persistent urge to urinate
  • Reduced quantity of urine excreted
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Blood in urine
  • Pus/white blood cells in urine
  • Chills and fever (if there is an infection)
  • Causes of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones typically vary in size, with some capable of growing as large as golf balls. The most common cause of the stones is lack of water in the body. The condition is often found in people who drink less than the recommended 8-10 glasses of water per day. When there is inadequate water in the body to dilute uric acid (a core component of urine), the urine will become more acidic and create a perfect environment for formation of the stones. Medical conditions like renal tubular acidosis, Dent’s disease, medullary sponge kidney, hyperparathyroidism, urinary tract infections and Crohn’s disease also increase the risk of kidney stones.

For prevention of kidney stones, you should:

  • Drink 2.5-3 liters of water every day
  • Reduce sodium or salt intake in your diet
  • Follow a healthy diet and avoid red meat. Daily or frequent consumption of red meat may cause kidney stones.
  • Exercise regularly and make sure to get enough sleep
  • Quit smoking and avoid alcohol
  • Treatment for kidney stones

The treatment is usually focused on managing the symptoms since passing a stone may be really painful. In the hospital, a urologist may choose:

  • Rehydration via an intravenous tube, accompanied with anti-inflammatory medication. Narcotics may be used to reduce the pain of passing the stones while antiemetic medication may be given to stop nausea and vomiting.
  • Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) may be performed by a urologist to break a kidney stone into small pieces to enable it to pass.
  • Laser surgery with ureteroscopy may be performed for large stones located in areas that do not allow for lithotripsy.
  • PNL/PCNL, flexible ureteroscopy, also may be considered by a urologist.

At St. Pete Urology, we offer many options and state-of-the-art facilities for successful treatment of kidney stones. For more information, visit the site, St Pete Urology.

Are vasectomies permanent?

You may have made the permanent decision to go for a vasectomy so you do not father any more children. But now, the circumstances of your life have changed and you and your partner want a baby. Can you reverse your condition? Well, yes.

Vasectomy reversal surgery can allow you to father a child again. In the U.S. about 600,000 vasectomies are performed each year, but 5 percent of men also seek a vasectomy reversal surgery annually. While there is no guarantee that your fertility will be restored after reversing a vasectomy, the American Urology Association has confirmed that 75-99 percent of men will have sperm return to their semen after the reversal and 30-75 percent of female partners become pregnant following the reversal.

Vasectomy Reversal Procedure

Surgery to reverse a vasectomy is a risk and takes longer to complete than the initial vasectomy procedure, usually 2-4 hours when performed by an experienced urologist. The urologist will apply a local anesthesia or just use general anesthesia. With the help of a powerful surgical microscope, the urologist will reattach the previously severed sperm ducts or vas deferens, with various incisions made on the scrotum to expose the ends of the vas deferens that were severed. The task takes a patient and skilled surgeon to reattach the ends successfully. After reversal surgery, a jockstrap and dressing is applied to create pressure on the incisions. Intermittent ice packs and pain medication are prescribed to reduce swelling and discomfort. The stitches will dissolve in ten days.

What Results Should You Expect?

A critical factor that determines the success of a vasectomy reversal is how long ago the original vasectomy procedure was performed. For instance, if you opted for vasectomy reversal 3-10 years after the original vasectomy, you have up to 97 percent chance of success in rebuilding your vas deferens and at least 50 percent chance of impregnating your partner. Waiting for more than 15 years reduces pregnancy rates to 30 percent. Secondly, one of the effects of a vasectomy is that your body may actually stop recognizing its own sperm, developing antibodies against them. If this occurs, there is a very low chance that vasectomy reversal will restore your ability to impregnate your partner. The urologist will help you determine if this has occurred.

Even though vasectomy reversal is a tempting option, a vasectomy should always be considered permanent. Remember, pregnancy success rates after a vasectomy reversal are very low, influenced by length of time since the original vasectomy, your general health and age, your partner’s fertility, presence of sperm antibodies, and the technique used for reversal. Therefore, you must never take a vasectomy as a sort of experiment that you will reverse in the future. Similarly, results for a vasectomy reversal are not immediate, often taking up to 15 months for sperm to reappear.

Talk to your urologist to determine if you can reverse your vasectomy. For more information on reversing vasectomies, visit the site, St Pete Urology.

Causes of Kidney Stones and Treatment Options

The United States has been experiencing a rise in the number of people with kidney stones over the last 30 years. While less than 4 percent of the population had the disease in the late 1970s, the portion of the population with the disease increased to over 5 percent by the early 1990s, and today 1 in 11 Americans has kidney stones. The stones occur more frequently in men than women, with Caucasians being more prone to developing the stones than African Americans.

The prevalence of the stones increases dramatically as men reach their 40s and continues to increase into their 70s. But for women, the occurrence of the stones peaks in their 50s. After a person gets more than one stone, the chance of other stones developing increases radically.

What causes kidney stones?

The major cause of kidney stones is a lack of fluids in the body, which allows minerals and salts to concentrate and crystallize over weeks or months to form the stones. Most often, the stones result from a build-up of certain chemicals in the body, such as ammonia, calcium, uric acid or cysteine. You are more likely to have kidney stones if you do not drink enough fluids.

It is also believed that high-oxalate foods such as spinach, peanuts, sweet potatoes, chocolate, okra, black Indian tea, wheat germ, beets and rhubarb, may increase the risk of developing kidney stones. In the South, often referred to as the stone belt, people tend to be dehydrated in the summer and drink a lot of tea, increasing the chances of developing stones.

You are also more likely to have kidney stones if you:

  • Are between 30-50 years old
  • Have a family history of kidney stones
  • Have hypercalciuria (unusually high amounts of calcium in urine).
  • Are taking certain medicines, such as diuretics (like triamterene) or protease inhibitors (like indinavir)
  • Are taking too much antacids, calcium, vitamin C or vitamin D supplements.
  • Have metabolic syndrome (a combination of many heart disease risk factors like high blood pressure, high sugar, unhealthy cholesterol levels and obesity)
  • Have a condition such as hyperthyroidism, gout or high blood pressure
  • Have cystitis
  • Have a condition that affects the structure or shape of your ureters or kidneys

Even though small kidney stones are often asymptomatic and may pass with little or no pain, large stones that block the urine’s path may cause severe symptoms. These could include sharp pain in the lower back or abdomen, painful urination, fever and chills, nausea and vomiting, blood in urine, and abnormally colored urine. It is important to visit your urologist if you experience such symptoms. The urologist will order blood and urine tests and imaging, and recommend appropriate treatment.

At St Pete Urology in St. Petersburg, we use minimally-invasive techniques and have a wide array of treatment options for kidney stones. If you think you may have kidney stones or have questions about the condition, visit the St Pete Urology website.

How much can a vasectomy cost?

If you and your partner have decided that you do not want any more children, you may be considering a vasectomy. If so, you are definitely not alone. About 600,000 men get vasectomies every year in the United States. And even though you may have questions about the techniques, safety, success rate, reversal, pain or side effects of the procedure, it is also important to consider the cost of a vasectomy.How much does a vasectomy cost? Across the United States, prices vary from one clinic or surgeon to another, ranging between $300 and $3,000 in many urology clinics, or as high as $4,000 to $5,000 in others. Follow-up analysis of semen for the presence of sperm may also cost an extra $75 per visit, though some practices include this fee in their overall package price.

Factors that determine the cost of a vasectomy include:
Where you live – Your residential area or city determines which hospitals and urologists are available. Some areas generally have higher prices than others.

Your personal health status – You will have additional expenses if there are pre-existing health problems.
The technique used for the vasectomy – Various surgical procedures have different degrees of complexity and therefore different costs.

Risks of the procedure – You may have unexpected or additional costs if any emergencies occur during the procedure.

Your health insurance plan – Depending on whether the urologist is in network or out-of-network, your co-insurance, deductible and co-pay amounts will vary, affecting your out-of-pocket payments.

Vasectomies in the United States are evenly divided between providers offering the traditional procedure versus the no-needle, non-scalpel procedure. Typically, the traditional incision vasectomies take 20-30 minutes to perform while non-incision techniques take less time. The recovery time is the same for the traditional and non-incision non-scalpel technique, which is 1 or 2 days of rest followed by a week of no strenuous exercise or work. Pregnancy is still possible after a vasectomy and you are expected to get follow-up sperm counts to confirm complete sterility. Using another form of contraception, such as condoms, is recommended for 2-4 months (12-24 ejaculations) while the presence of sperm in semen is still being monitored.

Cost of Vasectomy Reversal Surgery

While vasectomies are considered permanent, a change in circumstances may call for a reversal. Reverse vasectomy, also called Vasovasostomy, means reconnecting the tubes (vas deferens) that were cut during a vasectomy. Vasectomy reversal surgery has a success rate of 85%-98%, but the procedure is not inexpensive, costing at least $4,900 compared to the lowest vasectomy cost of $300.

At St Pete Urology, we understand that cost is not the only consideration when selecting a urologist for your vasectomy procedure. Therefore, we strive to provide competitive rates for all our procedures without compromising the quality of our health care. We offer many treatment options and we are committed to making the procedure as quick and comfortable as possible. For more information about our medical services and rates, visit St Pete Urology in St Peetersburg, Florida.

When Should You Get A PSA Test?

When should you take the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test? The question of screening is typically a personal and complex issue that requires a consultation with a urologist. Currently, the medical community does not share a unanimous opinion regarding the benefits of prostate cancer screening.

Most physician-led groups, like the American Urological Association and the American Society of Clinical Oncology, insist that PSA screening ought to be considered within the context of a man’s life expectancy and level of risk given other prior or existing medical conditions. Other groups have advised that PSA screening for healthy men under 40 comes with a risk of harm that may outweigh the benefits depending on the patient’s medical history.

When should you start screening?

The decision on when to start screening should depend on your overall health, level of risk, life expectancy, and desire for treatment should you be diagnosed with prostate cancer. While the time to start screening depends on individual factors, the age of 40 years is a reasonable time to begin, particularly for those with genetic predispositions or a family history of cancer. Likewise, for healthy men at high risk, such as African American men with a family history of prostate cancer, starting at age 40 is advisable.

For men at average risk, a urologist may recommend the initial DRE or PSA test at age 40 or 45, while some urologists may recommend starting at age 50. In general, most men have discussed PSA testing with their doctor by the time they reach age 50. This means that men above 40 years should consider discussing PSA screening with their urologist to determine if and when the test is right for them. All men should develop a proactive prostate health plan based on their family history and lifestyle.

When should you visit a urologist?

The above recommendations are specific to prostate cancer screening for healthy men showing no symptoms. If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer and a confirmation is made using a biopsy, your urologist may recommend routine PSA testing for risk assessment and post-treatment monitoring.

The right time to start PSA screening is an individual decision that depends on your risk level and family history. Visit your urologist to discuss the timing of this important medical test for men. For more information on the screening and treatment of prostate cancer, visit St Pete Urology in St Petersburg, Florida.

Why is InterStim Therapy Effective against Overactive Bladder?

Overactive Bladder (OAB) is characterized by an uncontrollable urge to urinate, a frequent need to pass urine during the day and night, accidental urine leakage, and inability to get to the bathroom in time due. This condition greatly affects quality of life by having life revolve around uncontrollable urination problems. Those afflicted avoid social functions due to fear of urine leaks, foul smell and embarrassment, wake up too many times at night to urinate, stay home to avoid public shame, or reduce food and liquid consumption to avoid triggering bladder spasms. While there are several treatment options for OAB that include medications and pelvic floor exercises, a number of patients either do not respond to these treatments or find them intolerable. For such patients, InterStim therapy offers the best hope for controlling the bladder, relieving symptoms and improving quality of life.

How Does the InterStim Procedure Relieve Overactive Bladder?

InterStim therapy is a proven, minimally invasive treatment for overactive bladder. It helps to relieve the symptoms of OAB by delivering electrical impulses to the sacral nerves (found in the tailbone area), modifying abnormal reflexes in the pelvic and sacral nerves of the pelvic floor and bladder, and altering abnormal communications between the brain and bladder. The InterStim device is implanted under the skin around the location of the sacral nerves (upper buttock) so that mild electrical impulses are generated for stimulating the sacral nerves, correcting malfunctioning nerves and improving bladder control. In fact, InterStim therapy interrupts the abnormal signals transmitted in people with overactive bladder and reduces episodes of urinary incontinence.

Why is InterStim Therapy Effective against Overactive Bladder?

Unlike other therapies, the effectiveness of InterStim therapy can be assessed by physicians and patients through a test evaluation stage before commitment to long-term therapy. Roughly 80% of patients who undergo test evaluation have a successful response and can proceed to have the InterStim device implanted. According to studies, patients with successful trial stimulation will experience 50%-90% improvement in overactive bladder symptoms after the implant has been placed. In fact, people with overactive bladder have reported significant improvements in the number of incontinence episodes per week, with the majority of patients being completely free of incontinence after InterStim therapy. There is also a major reduction in the number of times patients urinate per day after treatment, while almost all patients report improvement in quality of life after InterStim procedure.

InterStim therapy is minimally invasive in nature and completely safe and reversible. Therefore, the patient can discontinue it any time it fails to meet expectations. It also does not prevent the use of alternative treatments and can easily be combined with any other treatment for a better outcome. If you or your loved one is suffering from overactive bladder and find other treatments ineffective or intolerable, do not hesitate to ask your urologist about InterStim therapy. For more information on treating urological problems, visit St Pete Urology.

What are the risks of getting a vasectomy?

Vasectomy is a popular and effective method of family planning. It carries less risk than the equivalent of tubal ligation in women, and it provides greater efficacy. In fact, it stands out as one of the best and safest forms of contraception provided that the patient fully understands potential risks associated with the procedure. For example, a common concern with vasectomy is that a man might later change his mind about wanting to have children. Although vasectomy can be reversed, there is usually no guarantee that the reversal will be a success and the reversal surgery is also more complicated and expensive. Therefore, before you opt for a vasectomy, be certain that you do not want to father a child in the future.

So what risks are associated with a vasectomy? For most men, vasectomy does not cause noticeable side effects and rarely causes complications. Nevertheless, while vasectomy is safe and highly effective, some problems might occur after surgery and over time.

Surgical Risks

Following the procedure, most men experience mild pain, discomfort, bruising and mild swelling, all of which disappear within two weeks. However, certain problems may require the attention of a health care provider. Bleeding or hematoma (blood clot) inside the scrotum or bleeding under the skin may cause painful swelling and requires urgent medical attention. As with any surgery, the area operated on may become infected. Scrotal redness, tenderness and fever are signs of infection.

Delayed Risks

The risk of delayed problems is quite small, but they do occur. One such possibility is the presence of a granuloma (lump in the scrotum) formed from leakage of sperm out of the vas deferens and into the tissue. Another is post-vasectomy pain syndrome, a chronic pain in the testicles that occurs in a small percentage of men. A spermatocele is an abnormal cyst that develops in the epididymis and a hydrocele is a fluid-filled sac that may form around the testicle and cause swelling in the scrotum.

Vasectomy failure, although extremely rare, is known to happen. There is a 1-in-1000 risk that a vasectomy will fail. If this occurs, pregnancy may occur and a repeat procedure may be necessary.

Some men have certain unfounded concerns about vasectomies. It is important to know that a vasectomy will not affect sexual performance or cause permanent damage or severe pain to your sexual organs, nor will it increase your risk of testicular or prostate cancer or heart disease.

At St Pete Urology in St Petersburg, Florida we have offered vasectomy services for many years. We have a team of experienced, board-certified urologists and medical staff to guarantee a successful procedure. At St Pete Urology, you will get an initial consultation, treatment, recovery advice and aftercare assistance 24/7. For more information, visit St Pete Urology at our clinic or online.