Why Men Need to See a Urologist
To all the men out there and the women who care about them, this one’s for you! As men age, their physical health needs to be looked after to screen for any issues and prevent things from getting overlooked. The prostate changes over time, as well as urinary and sexual function. It’s important to find a urologist you like and trust so you can begin to build a relationship. Starting around age 40, you should visit a urologist and make sure you continue with yearly checkups and screenings to keep you healthy.
What Does a Urologist Do?
Urologists deal with issues in men and women concerning the urinary tract. Specifically, in men, urologists deal with the male organs including the penis, testes, scrotum, and prostate. It is important for all men to see a urologist as they get older because health problems can happen to anyone.
Since urology is a surgical specialty, urologists can provide you with a wealth of information on a variety of health topics. Urologists encounter a wide range of health issues in their patients so please ask them about anything concerning you health-wise and they will help decide the best treatment for you.
Urology Problems in Men
Men who have a family history of prostate, testicular, kidney, and other cancers should start seeing a urologist around the age of 40. Your physician will do a complete medical history and screening exam to determine if you are at risk. Be sure to check with your insurance to see if you need a referral from your primary care doctor before seeing a urologist.
- Prostate cancer screenings are important so a physician can check for abnormalities of the prostate. While prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, it can often be treated successfully. Signs and symptoms include trouble urinating or the urge to go often, blood in the urine, or trouble getting an erection.
- Testicular cancer screenings are important so that a physician can check for abnormalities such as growths or lumps on the testicles. Other signs and symptoms of testicular cancer include those who have gone through early puberty, have lower back pain or breast growth or soreness.
- Kidney stones occur when chemicals in the urine crystalize and form stones. These stones will start out small but may grow to an inch or larger. Signs that you may have a kidney stone include pain in the lower back or when urinating, nausea/vomiting, blood in the urine and being unable to urinate, or feeling like you have to go often. You may be at risk if you are dehydrated, have frequent urinary tract infections, blocking in the urinary tract, or a family history of kidney stones.
Urologic Advances in Technology:
As technology continues to change and advance, we are able to provide you with the most advanced, cutting-edge treatments. If it is determined that you will need surgery, be sure to discuss with your doctor which procedure is best for you.
Prostate Cancer Focal One
Focal One is the world’s most advanced high-intensity focused ultrasound. If you are diagnosed with localized prostate cancer, your physician may recommend Focal One which can destroy the tumor with high-intensity ultrasound waves. With this advanced procedure, we can treat your prostate cancer with less damage to surrounding healthy tissue and with fewer side effects.
Erectile Dysfunction
In addition to oral medications and injections, at Saint John’s Cancer Institute we are studying new treatments for erectile dysfunction. Penile stem cell injections and shockwave therapy are being studied as additional treatment options.
Urinary Obstruction
Surgeries for urinary obstructions are now being performed robotically. A scope is put through small incisions in the abdomen while surgical equipment is inserted through other incisions. Your physician will use a robotic consult to use the surgical equipment during the procedure.
Bladder Cancer and Robotic Cystoprostatectomy
If you are diagnosed with bladder cancer, Saint John’s Cancer Institute uses the da Vinci Surgical System. A console is used to control miniature surgical equipment to provide you with a minimally invasive surgery which leads to a faster recovery.
Visit our urology treatment pages, to find more information on different types of treatments for all urological conditions and diseases, please visit the following link.
Attention all Men – Do Not Ignore These Symptoms!
Please be sure to see a physician for an evaluation if you experience any of the following symptoms. While some symptoms may not lead to something serious, it is important to have it checked to make sure if something is wrong, it is found early.
- Testicular mass
- Smelly urine
- Blood in the urine
- Erectile dysfunction
- BPH, enlarged prostate
Contact Our Urologists:
Saint John’s Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, CA strives to provide all patients with personalized comprehensive care using the most advanced treatments and cutting-edge technology to the whole patient. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns and schedule an appointment with one of our urologists. You can fill out a form and submit an online appointment request or call 310-582-7137. You can also discuss if a virtual doctor visit would be the right decision for you.
References/Resources:
https://www.urologyhealth.org/
https://www.auanet.org/membership/publications/mens-health-checklist
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases