Urology

Urology is the study of all conditions within urinary tract system. This includes the:

• Bladder
• Kidneys
• Male reproductive organs
• Ureters
• Urethra

From kidney and bladder health to testosterone deficiencies and prostate dysfunction, urological care is crucial to the overall health of both women and men. At our hospitals, our urological specialists are equipped to accurately diagnose and effectively treat most urological conditions.

Many urological conditions are originally recognized through changes in urinary habits and/or sexual function, including:

• Changes in urination frequency
• Discoloration of the urine
• Erectile dysfunction
• Inability to urinate
• Pain in the region

Should you notice any changes in your normal routine, you may want to schedule an appointment with your doctor for an evaluation. There are a variety of tests used to diagnose urinary conditions. Some tests that your physician may perform to diagnose many possible conditions include:

• Biopsy
• Computed tomography (CT) scan
• Cystogram (X-ray of the bladder)
• Cystoscopy (views the urinary tract through a small scope)
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
• Ultrasound
• Urine tests
• Urodynamic tests (measure the pressure and volume inside the bladder)

Erectile dysfunction is the inability to attain or maintain an erection of the penis that is firm enough for sexual intercourse. Often, erectile dysfunction occurs when there’s an issue with the nerve or blood vessels in the penis, such as:

• Nerve dysfunction—Nerve dysfunction can cause impotence, and there could be a number of things leading to nerve dysfunction. Diabetes, hardening of your arteries and spinal cord injuries all affect your nervous system and could be potential causes.
• Venous leak—In some cases, the blood vessels that hold the blood in the penis may be weakened or damaged, allowing blood to escape the penis.

Lifestyle habits can also cause a man to become impotent. Discuss your diet, drug and alcohol use, medications and any personal trauma with your healthcare provider.

Treating erectile dysfunction

There are several treatment options for erectile dysfunction, including:

• Changing your diet and/or lifestyle habits
• Hand-pump vacuum devices that pull air into the penis to initiate an erection
• Medications
• Penile implants, which can be inflated to simulate an erection
• Sex therapy to work through relationship issues, depression or anxiety
• Vascular surgery to repair blood vessel leaks

Kidney stones are made of a crystal-like material and form inside the kidneys or other areas of the urinary tract.

In some cases, people with kidney stones don’t experience symptoms and pass the stone during urination. However, symptoms of kidney stones may include:

• Blood in the urine
• Burning and/or pain during urination
• Fever
• Frequent urge to urinate
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain in the lower abdomen, groin or genital areas
• Sharp, stabbing pain in the mid-back that may occur every few minutes and last from 20 minutes to one hour

Diagnosis and treatment for kidney stones

To determine if you have kidney stones, your healthcare provider may recommend testing, which can include blood and urine tests, CT scans, ultrasounds or X-rays.

Your kidney stone treatment plan will vary based upon the size and location of the stone. Your treatment may include:

• Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)
• Increased water recommendations
• Medication
• Surgery

Male infertility is a man’s inability to help a woman conceive after a year of regular, unprotected sex. Men may be infertile due to:

• Having chronic issues with ejaculation
• Not producing enough sperm cells
• Producing poor quality sperm cells

These issues may be caused by:

• Abnormal hormone levels
• Cancer
• Chronic diseases, such as sickle cell anemia
• Exposure to workplace chemicals or heavy metals, such as lead and cadmium
• Genetic diseases, such as Klinefelter syndrome and Sertoli-Leydig cell syndrome
• Medications
• Obesity
• Physical abnormalities
• Tobacco and/or marijuana use
• Varicoceles, which are enlarged veins within the scrotum

Treatment for male infertility

There are several infertility treatment options for men. A doctor may recommend:

• Changing your lifestyle habits
• Changing the timing of sex
• Medications
• Surgery to treat a varicocele

Additionally, some individuals decide to use assisted reproductive technologies, such as artificial insemination, to conceive.

We offer a variety of treatments for urological conditions, including:

• Hormone therapy
• Kidney stone treatment
• Medication management
• Urological cancer treatment

Surgery for urologic conditions

We perform a variety of surgeries to treat urological conditions, including:

• Chordee repair
• Hydrocelectomy
• Hypospadias repair
• Kidney removal
• Lithotripsy
• Orchiectomy
• Surgery for urological cancers, including:
  • Kidney cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Testicular cancer
• Vasectomy reversal

Vasectomy

A vasectomy is a procedure that blocks the tubes (called the vas deferens) that allow sperm to pass from the testes to the penis. This surgery is a form of male birth control and is performed to make men sterile. There is an option to perform a reverse vasectomy, however, vasectomy reversal isn’t always successful.

You may not be sterile immediately following your vasectomy, but semen samples can be tested to ensure the vasectomy was effective. Patients should call their doctor if they experience signs of infection, swelling, excessive bleeding, difficulty urinating or excessive pain.

Robotic urologic surgery

When possible, our surgeons use minimally invasive, robotic-assisted surgical techniques. Robotic technology offers 3D, high-definition vision into the surgical site as well as special instruments that bend and rotate with more precision than the human hand.

During the procedure, your surgeon is in full control of the robotic arms and uses the platform's tools for increased dexterity and vision. Robotic surgery has changed the way we see urologic surgery, from start to finish.

There are many benefits of robot-assisted surgery, such as:

• Faster recovery time
• Less pain
• Less scarring
• Shorter hospital stay