Urology: Treatment, Effect & Risks

Urology represents a branch of medicine. It deals predominantly with the urine-forming and urine-diverting organs (kidneys, bladder and co.). Incidentally, the roots of urology go back to ancient times, although urology itself is still a young independent specialty of medicine.

What is urology?

Urology represents a branch of medicine. It deals predominantly with the urine-forming and urine-diverting organs (kidneys, bladder and co.). In modern orthodox medicine, urology is the branch of medicine that deals predominantly and in detail with the urine-forming and urine-diverting organs – i.e. the kidneys, the bladder, the ureter and the urethra. However, the treatment spectrum of urology also includes diseases and complaints affecting the male reproductive organs, i.e. the testicles, epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, penis and prostate. This covers the specialty and sub-specialty of andrology. Another sub-specialty and a separate specialty of urology is nephrology, which deals specifically with the kidneys. In addition, there is often overlap between urology and gynecology, neurology, oncology, and surgery.

Treatments and therapies

Urology has the medical task of preventing or treating diseases and disorders of the urinary and urinary-diverting organs. The same applies to the male internal and external sex organs. Therefore, regular preventive examinations are just as much a part of the treatment spectrum of comprehensive urology as diagnosis and therapy in the event of diseases and complaints. Common diseases that fall under the specialty of urology are, for example, bladder stones, bladder tumors, urinary stones, urinary tract infections, bladder weaknesses and incontinence. The sub-specialty of nephrology, on the other hand, is responsible for diseases of the kidneys, for example, cavernous kidneys, kidney stones, kidney malfunctions and kidney injuries. Urology also includes diseases such as permanent erections of the male member, erectile dysfunction, potency disorders, impotence, malformations of the member or the testicles, benign prostate enlargement, hydrocele (water retention in the testicles), narrowing of the foreskin and any injuries to the internal or external male sex organs. Examples include a penile fracture, which often involves not only the corpora cavernosa but also the urethra. In this case, surgery may be necessary, as well as in the case of foreskin constriction. However, many urologists perform such routine procedures themselves, provided they are authorized to do so (additional surgery). Cancers such as testicular cancer and prostate cancer, on the other hand, are usually diagnosed by the urologist, but are treated by an oncologist (by referral to oncology) as a result. However, the earliest possible detection of serious diseases such as cancerous tumors and more, is also a central task of urology. Once the cause of the symptoms or the disease is apparent, various therapeutic approaches can be taken. Inflammations of the urinary tract, bladder, etc. are usually treated with medication. Likewise, physically caused potency disorders, such as poor blood flow to the erectile tissue of the penis, can be treated with so-called sexual enhancers (agents that promote blood flow to the genitals). On the other hand, tumors or malformations that affect the function of organs or the body, or that have a negative impact on the patient’s life due to pain and emotional distress, can often be treated surgically. A typical example of this is the removal or trimming of the foreskin of the penis in cases of constriction. Yes depending on the diagnosis present, however, it may be necessary for the urologist to consult another medical specialty or refer the patient to it altogether.

Diagnosis and examination methods

In most cases, the diagnosis of present complaints and diseases takes place through different examination methods. One of these is the close observation and examination of the externally visible organs of the urinary tract.However, since this is only possible to a limited extent in both female and male patients, the urologist often resorts to diagnostic procedures such as ultrasound examinations, bladder and kidney endoscopies, urine examinations, computer and magnetic resonance tomographies, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and, in rarer cases, X-ray examinations. However, in urology, as in gynecology, the latter is refrained from as much as possible in order not to put too much stress on the reproductive organs of men and women.