Urology is the branch of medicine dealing with the male and female urinary tract along with the male reproductive system.
What is it?
Urology addresses conditions of the male and female urinary tract system and the male reproductive organs. The target body areas for urologists include the kidneys, ureter, urethra, bladder, prostate, and male genital structures, with some urologists even investigating infertility and male sexual dysfunction.
What are the Subspecialties?
The American Urological Association has identified seven subspecialty areas of urology. They include pediatric urology, urologic oncology, renal transplantation, male infertility, calculi, female urology, and neurourology. Neurourology is focused primarily on the nerves and muscles associated with the urological organs.
What are the Commonly Associated Medical Diseases and Symptoms?
Since the specialty of urology has different focuses for both men and women, there are various commonly associated medical diseases and symptoms. Among the most common urology diseases are benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), urinary incontinence, urinary tract infection (UTI), and kidney and ureteral stones. Benign prostatic hyperplasia is an enlarged prostate. Urinary incontinence is a loss of bladder control. Urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria or viruses entering the urinary tract and causing infection. Kidney and ureteral stones are hard mineral deposits that lodge in the affected area of the urinary tract. Common symptoms are urinary incontinence and an overactive bladder. Urinary incontinence is a total lack of bladder control.
What are the Commonly Associated Procedures?
Among the most common procedures for urology are kidney transplants, vasectomies, which are performed on men, nephrectomies, which remove the diseased parts of a liver, and lithotripsies to treat kidney stones.
What are the Preventative Measures that I can take?
To benefit your urological health, it is important to keep hydrated and maintain a healthy weight. Beverages such as cranberry juice can help prevent urinary tract infections. Quitting smoking can also facilitate urological health.
What are the Common Misconceptions?
Many people commonly associate urology with general surgery because similar organs are subject to operation in urological procedures, such as the liver and kidneys. Urological procedures on these organs differ from general surgical procedures, because urology corrects the excretion functions of these organs, especially those procedures performed on the urinary tract. Urinary tract function and its associated organs are the main differences between urology and general surgery with regard to specialties.
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