If you have never been to a urologist, you may feel uneasy about your first visit. You may be seeing the urologist about a very awkward and distressing condition. In truth, though, there is no reason really to worry or feel squeamish. Urologists make every effort to keep their patients at ease and as comfortable as possible. So you can be sure that you’ll meet warm, friendly and candid professionals in the urologist office, be handled with respect, courtesy and friendliness, and have your problem solved.
Who is a urologist?
Urologists are physicians with specialization in diseases of the genitourinary tract — urinary bladder, kidneys, urethra, male reproductive organs, adrenal glands and urethra. In men, urologists tackle disorders of the prostate, penis, epididymis, testes and seminal vesicles and help resolve male sexual dysfunction and infertility. But most routinely, they see both men and women for various reasons, including recurrent urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence, kidney disease, renal transplants, urologic cancers, bladder prolapse, enlarged prostate, urethra stricture, erectile dysfunction, Peyronie’s disease, painful bladder syndrome, ureteral and kidney stones, and prostatitis. They also may see children with urological problems that are too complex to be handled by non-specialized pediatricians.
Prostate and bladder cancer
For most men, a visit to the urologist is often associated with the prostate exam. The exam is quite a crucial part of assessing the overall prostate health and enables the urologist to plan well for treatment of any prostate problems. But the prostate exam is no longer at the heart of every urologist visit and you now can see a urologist and leave without being examined. In fact, with increased use of PSA tests to screen for prostate cancer, the exams are now just performed when very crucial. You shouldn’t avoid those necessary visits to a urologist merely because you don’t like prostate and rectal exams.
Remember also that if after testing you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, your urologist can help by offering timely, lifesaving care. Actually, because the physician can detect and help you recover from a disease that can potentially incapacitate you and reduce your joy of life and the time you spend with your family and your loved ones, it’s very important to visit a urologist whenever you are directed to do so.
Urologists use some of the best medical techniques and technologies to deliver safe, painless and effective treatment for urologic cancers. For example, if your urologist opts for robotic surgery then you will not be in the hospital for more than a week after a kidney, prostate or bladder cancer surgery. Most likely, you will take only a few days, even a single day — leaving soon after procedure. That’s fast and convenient, indeed. So you shouldn’t suffer in silence and have your prostate cancer spread to other areas of the body just because you believe the treatment will be painful, uncomfortable or inconvenient.
Prostate enlargement
If you have had to habitually wake up at night to pass urine and always find it difficult to produce a steady, quick urine stream as you once did, you probably have an enlarged prostate and a urologist can help you overcome the condition. This specialist doctor is quite similar to that neighborhood plumber you call to your home when pipes are clogged. So when you visit a urologist, are examined and found to have an enlarged prostate, the doctor will use a number of techniques such as laser therapy and steam treatment to remove the pressure on your bladder and obstruction on your urethra, relieving your urinary symptoms. And you can return home the same day you undergo treatment.
Erectile dysfunction
As men get older, they may experience erectile dysfunction. In fact, for men in their 40s or 50s, erections aren’t what they once were. So what should you do when you have issues with your erections? Well, one great option — a visit to a specialist who can identify the cause of your erectile problems and provide effective treatment. And that’s a urologist — a physician with training and experience in treating erectile dysfunction and male infertility issues. Since erectile dysfunction also may indicate that you have health problems in other areas of your body which may require more careful attention, a visit to a urologist can help detect a more serious disease and save your life.
Kidney stones
The pain and discomfort of a major kidney stone is something you may never forget. But with a visit to a urologist, kidney stones of all sizes can be broken down and removed from your system. A urologist sees such cases routinely, knows exactly what to do and will help you find quick relief from the pain and discomfort of the stones. And since kidney stones may recur, you will require the long-term care and well-coordinated follow-up provided by urologists. The urologist will recommend effective ways you can use to prevent kidney stones and manage any painful stones you may develop. That means you can rest easy before or after you have kidney stones knowing that you have an expert to help you deal with such troubles. So if you suspect that you have or are at risk of kidney stones, visit a urologist for proper examination and treatment.
What if you are a woman?
Urologists see women too and there is no discrimination in terms of sex. In fact, because kidney stones and bladder problems can occur in both men and women, the doors of all urologists are always open for both sexes. Nevertheless, about two-thirds of all patients seen by urologists are still men because of the lower awareness levels among women on how these specialist physicians can help them. Likewise, visits to urologists are generally practice-specific and vary according to a doctor’s area of specialty training.
While it doesn’t really matter whether you see a male or female urologist — as the quality of care will be the same — some women prefer to be treated by female urologists while some men prefer seeing male urologists. That’s just a matter of choice and you are encouraged to see the urologist you feel most comfortable with. But as you do so, remember that all urologists are focused on holistic care, effective treatment, superb outcomes and improved quality of life for all. So even if you are a guy who is generally bashful when around females, you shouldn’t fear seeing a female urologist, for whatever condition you have isn’t something the female urologist hasn’t seen before. Don’t suffer in silence because you are anxious about being attended to by a urologist of opposite gender.
What of pain?
Pain isn’t part of the treatment process. So every time you see a urologist for a procedure, you should expect the use of an anesthetic to prevent pain and keep you comfortable. For instance, before undergoing a bladder scope, you’ll be numbed first; while the first step during a vasectomy is the injection of a nice, healthy-sized local anesthesia. Similarly, before a prostate biopsy, a prostate block is done. Whereas you may feel things moving around or some pressure during a procedure, you should not feel pain. And the point here is that you should know urologists are there to help you deal with inconveniencing problems, such as sexual function issues, urinary problems, cancer or kidney stones. But when doing so, they endeavor to keep you as comfortable as possible, aiming to eventually improve your quality of life.
Friendly, compassionate care
Urologists are skilled and experienced in treating problems that people are often unwilling to talk about or which are found in body areas that people find difficult to discuss. So your urologist knows that you are already distressed, embarrassed and feel awkward about your condition even before you visit, and has already taken steps to make you feel as comfortable as possible. By being frank and friendly throughout the treatment process, with humor coming in handy to help lighten the mood around your discussions, the doctor will ensure that you feel at home as your problem is tackled. Hence, don’t be surprised when some “potty” humor is thrown your way during your chat with the urologist.
Well, that’s it. There is nothing to dread or feel restless about in seeing a urologist. In fact, you will find a long-term friend who will help you overcome troubling urological issues and improve your quality of life. At St Pete Urology, we have a big pool of skilled, experienced, board-certified urologists to help you find relief from embarrassing and distressing genitourinary problems, such as kidney stones, urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction and enlarged prostate. And we have a culture of collaborative, compassionate, patient-centered care that helps us deliver the high-quality of treatment and care we promise our patients. Find out more about our services by visiting the “St Pete Urology” site.
