What is Urology?
Urology is a medical and surgical specialty related to the health and well being of diseases related to the urinary system of men, women and children, as well as the male sex organs and glands associated with the genitourinary system, like the adrenal and parathyroid glands. This comprises a rather well-defined area of the human body, although there is some overlap between different medical specialties.
Urologists Concern Themselves With:
- Disorders of the urinary outlet of the kidney, such as obstructions of the ureter or stones, but also benign or malignant tumors and inborn diseases. Kidney transplants are performed by specialized surgical teams usually including urologists.
- Disorders of the urinary bladder, like stones, tumors and inborn disorders. Incontinence in both women and men.
- Disorders of the urethra and prostate, like tumors, obstructions and infections.
- Disorders of the penis, like impotence, tumors and inborn disorders.
- Disorders of the testicle and connected structures, like infections and tumors, but also sterilization. Male infertility also belongs to the domain of the urologist.
Urology has always had its own place within the medical profession...
The treatment of malignant disease is a very large portion of urologic practice. Some of the most encouraging results in the medical and surgical management of solid tumors have involved genitourinary tumors. Newer diagnostic methods for the detection of prostate cancer have recently emerged and currently the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer occupies much of many urologists' time. Another area of major urologic concern is that of congenital anomalies. Pediatric urology is the diagnosis and treatment of congenital (i.e., present at birth) and acquired urological conditions and diseases in children.
Pediatric Urology
A pediatric urologist is someone who specializes in the treatment of children and young adults who have problems involving the kidney, bladder, urethra, and reproductive organs (ovaries, uterus, vagina, testicles and penis). Pediatric urologists have undergone several years of additional training following their general urology training. The treatment given by a pediatric urologist may require surgical correction, medication or even behavior modification.