What does a urologist do? A lot of people don’t know much about this medical specialty. In short, urologists specialize in diagnosing and treating diseases of the urinary system and the male reproductive organs. Keep reading if you want to find out more.
A urologist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treatment of disorders affecting the male and female urinary tract and the male reproductive system. If you’re thinking about a career in urology, first find out: what does a urologist do?
What Does a Urologist Do? Job Description
Have you ever wondered: what does a urologist do, exactly? A urologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of problems affecting the urinary tract, which includes the kidneys, bladder, adrenal glands, ureters, and urethra. Urologists also treat male reproductive organs, such as the testes, scrotum, and prostate.
Some common conditions that urologists treat include urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and prostate problems. Urologists may also perform surgery, such as a vasectomy or circumcision. They work closely with oncology specialists and surgeons to provide the best care to their patients.
In addition to treating patients with urological conditions, urologists also conduct research on these disorders and develop new treatments for them. Now let’s talk a bit about the conditions and symptoms they treat.
What Does a Urologist Do? Types of Diseases
A urologist is a doctor who specializes in the treatment of conditions affecting the urinary tract and male reproductive organs. Urological conditions can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
Some common benign urological conditions include:
- urinary tract infections (UTIs);
- kidney stones;
- enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH);
- erectile dysfunction (ED);
- male infertility.
Common malignant urologic conditions include:
- prostate cancer;
- bladder cancer;
- kidney cancer;
- testicular cancer.
A urologist may also treat other conditions, such as:
- overactive bladder (OAB);
- urinary incontinence;
- low testosterone levels;
- pelvic floor prolapse.
What Does a Urologist Do? Types of Examinations and Procedures
A urologist is a doctor who specializes in the urinary tract and the male reproductive system – we already know that. But what does a urologist do to help the patients? Urologists perform a variety of examinations and procedures, including:
- Cystoscopy: a cystoscopy is an examination of the bladder and urethra using a small camera called a cystoscope. This procedure allows the doctor to check for abnormal growths, blockages, or other problems.
- Kidney stone removal: kidney stones are small, hard deposits that can form in the kidneys. Urologists can remove kidney stones using a variety of methods, including shock wave lithotripsy, which breaks up the stone with sound waves; ureteroscopy, which uses a small camera to remove the stone; and percutaneous nephrolithotomy, which makes a small incision in the kidney to remove the stone.
- Prostate biopsy: a prostate biopsy is a procedure to remove tissue from the prostate gland for examination under a microscope. This test is used to diagnose prostate cancer.
- Vasectomy: a vasectomy is a surgical procedure to block the vas deferens, the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles. This procedure is used as a form of permanent birth control for men.
When to See a Urologist?
There are a number of different reasons why you might need to see a urologist. If you have any concerns about your urinary system, or if you are experiencing any problems with urination, then it is best to consult with a specialist. Some of the most common reasons for seeing a urologist include:
- you have difficulty urinating;
- you experience pain during urination;
- you have blood in your urine;
- you have a family history of urinary problems;
- you experience an abnormal urge to urinate;
- you are a man over the age of 50;
- you are a woman over the age of 40 who has experienced menopause.
Career in Urology
In order to become a urologist, one must first complete an accredited medical school program and earn a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. After medical school, urologists-in-training must then complete a five-year residency program in urology. During this time, residents learn about the various disorders and diseases of the urinary system and how to treat them. After completing their residency, urologists must then obtain a license to practice medicine in their state.
Specialties in Urology
What does a urologist do when it comes to the specialization? There are many different subspecialties within the field of urology, so after completing their training, urologists may choose to focus their practice on a particular area. The most common subspecialties are:
- Pediatric urology – this subspecialty focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract disorders in children.
- Urological oncology – this subspecialty focuses on cancers of the urinary system.
- Neurological urology – this subspecialty focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract disorders that are caused by or related to nervous system disorders.
- Male infertility – this subspecialty focuses on male infertility, including low sperm count in semen.
- Female urology – this subspecialty focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract disorders in women.
- Reconstructive urology – this subspecialty focuses on the reconstruction of the urinary tract.
Urologist Job Outlook
Urologists are in high demand and the job outlook for this career is quite favorable. With an aging population, the need for urology services is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. In addition, advances in medical technology have resulted in more effective treatments for conditions that were once considered untreatable. As a result, more people are seeking urologist services to treat their condition.
The vast majority of these new positions will be in hospitals, although some will be in private clinics and medical offices. Hospitals are expected to experience the greatest growth in demand for urology services, as the number of people age 65 and over is projected to grow significantly in the coming years. This demographic group is more likely to suffer from conditions that require urologist services.
What does a urologist do? We hope you already know that after reading our article!
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