A urologist is a physician who has attained certification by the American Board of Urology (ABU) and has specialized knowledge and skill with regard to problems of the male and female urinary tract and the male reproductive organs.
Although urology is classified as a surgical subspecialty, because of the wide variety of clinical problems encountered, a knowledge of internal medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, and other specialties is required by the urologist.
In recognition of the wide scope of urology, the American Urological Association has identified eight subspecialty areas:
• Pediatric Urology -- The treatment of urological problems in children, especially hypospadius, undescended testicles, circumcisions, and kidney cancer.
• Urologic Oncology -- The treatment of cancers of the male and female urinary tract and the male reproductive organs (including prostate, bladder, penile, and the testicular cancer in men, and kidney and bladder cancer in women).
• Renal Transplantation -- Kidney transplants
• Male Infertility -- The treatment of problems men have in fathering children.
• Urinary Tract Stones -- The treatment of kidney stones, which are formed when urine becomes too concentrated and chemicals that usually dissolve instead crystallize, sometimes causing severe pain.
• Female Urology -- The treatment of urinary incontinence, pelvic outlet relaxation disorders, and genitourinary trauma (any injury to the genitals or urinary system).
• Neurourology -- The treatment of voiding disorders caused by neurological trauma, or neurological diseases such as neurological disorders multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson's disease, or spinal bifida. Also, urodynamic evaluation of patients.
• Erectile dysfunction or impotence -- The treatment of difficulties men have in achieving erection.
Patient Information
An inflatable artificial sphincter is used to treat stress incontinence when the urinary sphincter isn't working well. It is implanted in the lower urinary tract to provide control of urine flow.
The "No-Scalpel" Vasectomy technique is a technique to do the vasectomy thru one single puncture. This puncture is made into the scrotum and requires no suturing or stitches.
The urinary bladder is a rather simple organ. The urine, produced by the kidneys, is transported by the ureters towards the bladder to be stored there.