What to Expect When Visiting A Urologist?

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN VISITING A UROLOGIST?

Best Urologist Cape Town Who are urologists and what do they do?

A urologist is providing treatment for the disorders of both male and female urinary tract system. They are special expertise in the treatment of diseases and conditions affecting the bladder, ureter, urethra, kidney, and the urinary system. A urologist is also capable to do surgery if needed to remove blockage and cancer from the urinary tract.

When should you visit a urologist?

You can consult a urologist for all kinds of urinary problems like urinary tract infections (UTI) to critical diseases like cancer. In most cases, your primary doctor refers you to a urologist if your symptoms persist for long duration or don’t improve.

Signs of Urological Problems Below mentioned is a list of symptoms that indicate that you have a problem in the urinary tract and need to visit a urologist.       

Presence of blood in the urine, a condition also called hematuria A recurring need to urinate urgently Burning sensation or pain during urination Difficulty urinating If you experience pain in your lower back, pelvis, or sides Urine leakage Weak urine flow, dribbling

If you are a man and have the following symptoms, you must visit a urologist.   

A decrease in sexual desires A lump in one of the testicles Trouble getting and keeping an erection

What to expect from your consultation?

Best Urologist Cape Town

Usually, the urologist will have notes regarding your condition from the referring doctor, but they will still do an examination of the patient’s medical history and conduct a physical examination.

The examinations done by your urologist are:  

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The first thing to do is to locate the problem. It is done by imaging tests like MRI scans, ultrasound, or CT scans.

Cystoscopy, a medical imaging procedure that enables your doctor to examine the inside of the urinary tract by a cystoscope. The cystoscopy can also be used to collect tissue samples for testing.

A basic urine test to check for the presence of bacteria or other signs of disease.

Biopsy Urodynamic testing to determine how fast urine leaves the body, the amount of urine that stays in the bladder after urinating, and the pressure in the bladder.

After the examination, various treatment methods can be employed depending on the current condition. They can use surgical methods also if required.

Your urologist will prescribe the following medications for treatment.      

Antibiotics to treat infections Hormone treatment for prostate cancer Drugs to act on the smooth muscle of the bladder for urinary incontinence Chemotherapy drugs for cancer PDE5 inhibitors like Cialis or Tadalafil for erectile dysfunction The surgical treatments that may be performed are open surgery, laparoscopic, and laser therapy. Surgical procedures are carried out to remove tumors, kidney stones, parts of the kidney, strictures in the urethra, and kidney transplant.

Urologists are also responsible for carrying out vasectomy, a surgical procedure for permanent contraception in men.

Common diseases treated by a urologist There are many urologic diseases and disorders that urologists treat. These diseases can affect anyone, regardless of age. Generally, urologic diseases affect the urinary tract and reproductive organs in males, and the urinary tract in females.

In men, urologists treat:        

Cancers of the prostate, kidneys, bladder, penis, testicles, and adrenal glands Enlarged prostate gland or prostatitis Erectile dysfunction Infertility Painful bladder syndrome or interstitial cystitis Kidney diseases and kidney stones Urinary tract infections (UTIs) Varicoceles, or enlarged veins in the scrotum

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Peyronie’s disease — In this disease, a fibrous layer of scar tissue forms under the skin of the penis leading to bending or curving of the organ.

Some forms specific to women that urologists treat are: 

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Bladder prolapse, a condition in which the bladder bulges into the vagina. It occurs when the supportive tissue between the bladder and vaginal wall weakens and stretches.

Cancers of the bladder, kidneys, and adrenal glands Urinary incontinence. Though the condition affects both genders, it is more common among women.

It is another situation that women are more prone to developing. UTIs are infections that can affect any part of the urinary system, such as the bladder, kidneys, or the urethra.

Other common conditions include interstitial cystitis, kidney stones, and overactive bladder.

In the case of children, urologists treat bed-wetting, undescended testicles, blockages, and other issues with the urinary tract.

How to find the right urologist?

In most cases, your primary care doctor will refer you to the best urologist. The best urologist will treat the disease as well as guide you through what needs to be done to ensure a healthy urinary tract. Therefore, you must find the one who’s best for you.

Here are some factors that you need to think about.

1) Start with getting referral 2) Find out about their credentials 3) Consider the urologist’s experience 4) Find out about the quality of care provided at the hospital 5) Evaluate their communication style 6) Go through patient satisfaction surveys (Reviews) Best Urologist in Cape Town. If you have any queries so call us at: +27 (0) 21 424 1626, or email us at leilah@urologycapetown.co.za,

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