Reasons to See a Urologist

When should you see a urologist? Area urologists weigh in.

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Physician Teresa Danforth, UBMD Urology, Buffalo:
• “Blood in the urine.
• “Urinary tract infections.
• “Kidney stones.
• “Urinary incontinence.
• “Vasectomy.”

Physician JC Trussell, associate professor of urology at Upstate University Hospital:
• “Weak erections.
• “Curved erection (Peyronie’s disease).
• “Slow urine stream or post void dribbling.
• “Blood in the urine or ejaculation.
• “Leakage of urine with coughing or standing.
ª “Birth control (vasectomy is safer and fails less than a tubal ligation).
• “If a dad or brother has a history of prostate cancer.”

Jeanne O’Brien, professor of Urology and Male Infertility at URMC Urology:
• “Infertility. For men, being unable to conceive for six months to a year is a reason to see a urologist. One-third of cases of infertility involve the male partner. Another third is women and the remaining third is mixed or unknown. Often, men who are coming to see me for infertility, it’s their first doctor visit since their last pediatrician visit.
• “Patients should come in to voice issues like testicular masses, lumps, and bumps.
• “See us about things like the inability to urinate.”

Physician Kent Chevli, president of Western NY Urology Associates, Buffalo:
• “Urology is a very broad and diverse field. We take care of men, women and children and the elderly. It covers the entire gamut.
• “There is a specialty of pediatric urology. For adolescent or older, generally, urology manages them.
• The conditions involve the bladder, kidney, prostate, including many forms of cancer. Urologists diagnose 25 percent of all cancers, more than any other field. Prostate, bladder and kidney cancers are all diagnosed by urologists and they’re in the top 10 of all cancers for prevalence. No other field covers three of the top ten. Urologists are almost always cancer doctors as part of our training.
• “We also take care of kidney stones, troubles urinating for men and women, including bladder control problems or inability to urinate.
• “We take care of fertility problems in men.
• “We want to see men about their kidney pain or flank pain.”


Urology: Not Just for Men

According to Urology Care Foundation:

“Urology is a part of health care that deals with diseases of the male and female urinary tract (kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra). It also deals with the male organs that are able to make babies (penis, testes, scrotum, prostate, etc.). Since health problems in these body parts can happen to everyone, urologic health is important.

“Urology is known as a surgical specialty. Besides surgery, a urologist is a doctor with wisdom of internal medicine, pediatrics, gynecology and other parts of health care. This is because a urologist encounters a wide range of clinical problems. The scope of urology is big and the American Urological Association has named seven subspecialty parts:

• Pediatric Urology (children’s urology)
• Urologic Oncology (urologic cancers)
• Renal (kidney) Transplant
• Male Infertility
• Calculi (urinary tract stones)
• Female Urology
• Neurourology (nervous system control of genitourinary organs)”