Urology is a medical specialty that deals with the urinary tract and reproductive system in men and women. Urologists are trained as physicians and surgeons, and may specialize in sub-specialties like urinary tract cancer or birth defects. They perform surgeries and procedures, and keep up with new treatments and medications. People may seek advice or treatment from a urologist for conditions like kidney disease, bladder infections, or incontinence.
Urology is a specialty in medicine that deals with the male and female urinary tract and reproductive system in men. Urologists are surgeons as well as clinical physicians. Not only do they examine and diagnose urological problems, but they also perform surgeries and procedures, which can be diagnostic or can help resolve problems. Within this specialty, there are several sub-specialties. Some urologists focus specifically on birth defects of the urinary tract or reproductive system in children. Others may specialize in urinary tract cancer or work in concert with gynecologists to solve problems unique to women, such as stress incontinence.
All urologists are first trained as physicians, then for at least one year as general surgeons. The next step toward board certification is several years, usually four, working as a resident in a urology program at a hospital. If a physician wants to work in one of the subspecialties of urology, he or she may require even more training of a year or so before practicing the subspecialty. In theory, though, most board-certified urologists are able to treat a variety of conditions that may fall into subspecialties, such as female incontinence or male reproductive problems.
There are a number of reasons people may want to seek advice, diagnosis or treatment from a urology specialist. People who have urinary tract malformations, a common birth defect, may require surgery to correct these conditions. In other cases, kidney disease, bladder infections that do not resolve, constant formation of bladder or kidney stones, erectile dysfunction or incontinence can all be reasons to consult a urologist.
Many of the procedures performed by urological surgeons do not require “open” surgical techniques. Indeed, thanks to the development of equipment such as the urethoscope, capable of visualizing the urinary tract, diagnosis and treatment can be performed without ever requiring a scalpel or sewing a stitch. New treatments of relatively common diseases, for example laser removal of kidney stones, mean the urologist must continue his education to keep up with the changes. Especially with common issues like male infertility, the field is ever-changing.
In addition to new surgical procedures, the urologist has to keep abreast of various medications that can help resolve urinary tract problems. Problems like frequent urination can now be solved with new medications rather than surgery. Urology is therefore a constantly changing specialty, with a primary focus on the urinary tract and other related issues and body systems.
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