Definition – What is a urologist?
A urologist is a doctor who deals with the urine-forming and urinary organs of the body. These include the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. In addition to the urine-specific organs of both sexes, a urologist also deals with the gender-specific organs of men. These include the testicles, epididymis, prostate gland, seminal vesicles, vas deferens and the penis. In order to be allowed to be called a urologist, the doctor must undergo further training in the field of urology and thus become a specialist in urology.
Training
In order to become a urologist, every doctor must first complete basic studies in human medicine. The basic studies last six years and are divided into a two-year pre-clinic, a three-year clinic and a one-year “practical year”. If all examinations within this basic study period are passed successfully, the doctor can obtain his licence to practise medicine and then begin specialist training.
The specialist training lasts another five years. During these five years, the prospective urologist must perform a large number of operations and examinations independently. If these requirements are met, the doctor is admitted to his final examination and can take it.
If the examination is successful, he is awarded the title of “Specialist in Urology”. As a specialist in urology, a physician can and must also complete further training courses. These are intended to guarantee that each specialist is up to date with the latest knowledge and is always informed about new techniques. In the form of further training, the urologist can, for example, become a paediatric urologist or a certified male doctor.
What does a doctor do conservatively?
A urologist can perform both conservative and operative diagnostics and therapy. Conservative diagnostics includes all diagnostic methods for which no surgical intervention is necessary. Examples of this are preventive examinations with urine tests, PSA value determinations, ultrasound and X-ray diagnostics or the typical laboratory examinations with infection and fertility tests.
In addition to conservative diagnoses, conservative therapies can also be performed. These can include, for example, tumour after-care, treatment of urinary incontinence, cystitis and renal pelvic inflammation as well as individual pain therapy. The conservative tasks of a urologist also include the examination of men’s health as well as the clarification of unfulfilled childhood wishes and infertility.
Examinations of men’s health mainly refer to potency disorders or age-related problems of the man. Urine tests are among the basic diagnostic methods used in both urology and general medicine. The examination of the urine should provide information about the composition and nature of the urine, which can be used to draw conclusions about possible diseases (e.g. inflammation, diabetes mellitus). The urine sample is usually taken from the middle jet urine. Especially glucose, protein, nitrite, bacteria, pathogens or even blood can be examined in the urine samples and thus conclusions can be drawn.
