Urology

Urinary tract infection is one of the most common diseases treated by urologists and can affect different parts of the urinary system, such as the bladder (cystitis), urethra, or kidneys (pyelonephritis). This condition often manifests itself through burning when urinating, pain in the bladder, constant urge to urinate, and, in more severe cases, fever.  

Treatment for urinary tract infections depends on the severity of the case and may include antibiotics and increased fluid intake. When it affects the kidneys, it is known as a kidney infection, a more severe form that requires specialized medical care. 

Kidney stones, also called renal calculi, form due to the accumulation of mineral salts in the urine. This condition causes intense pain in the kidneys, known as renal colic, which may be accompanied by nausea, blood in the urine, and difficulty urinating.  

In some cases, the stones are expelled naturally; in others, medical treatment or urological surgery is necessary. When left untreated, it can cause inflammation and kidney complications. 

Urinary incontinence and overactive bladder are conditions that cause involuntary urine leakage or a sudden urge to urinate, affecting women in particular, but also men, especially after prostate surgery. These problems are often associated with pelvic floor weakness, neurological or hormonal changes.  

Overactive bladder manifests itself through the urge to urinate, even when the bladder is not full, while urinary incontinence causes urine leakage in simple situations, such as coughing or laughing. Treatment may include pelvic physiotherapy, medication, or, in more advanced cases, surgery. 

Urologists treat various diseases associated with the prostate and sexual function, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (or enlarged prostate), prostatitis, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction (impotence), and premature ejaculation. They are also responsible for diagnosing and treating male infertility, performing procedures such as vasectomies.  

Early diagnosis is essential and may include a prostate exam and PSA test. Treatment for these conditions may involve medication, prostate embolization, or prostate surgery, depending on the severity and progression of the case. 

Among the conditions treated by urology are also diseases of the testicles such as testicular torsion, varicocele, and testicular cysts or nodules.  

Testicular torsion causes sudden and intense pain in the testicle, swelling, and redness, and is a medical emergency. Testicular varicocele can cause mild, continuous pain, a feeling of heaviness, and, in some cases, male infertility. Cysts or nodules in the testicles require evaluation through scrotal ultrasound or scrotal Doppler ultrasound to distinguish benign lesions from more serious conditions.