Urology

What is urology?

Urology is the field of medicine that focuses on diseases of the urinary tract and the male reproductive tract. Some urologists treat general diseases of the urinary tract. Others specialize in a particular type of urology, such as:

• Female urology, which focuses on conditions of a woman’s reproductive and urinary tract
• Male infertility, which focuses on problems that prevent a man from conceiving a baby with his partner
• Neurourology, which focuses on urinary problems due to conditions of the nervous system
• Pediatric urology, which focuses on urinary problems in children
• Urologic oncology, which focuses on cancers of the urinary system, including the bladder, kidneys, prostate, and testicles

Which conditions do urologists treat?

Urologists treat a wide variety of conditions that affect the urinary system and male reproductive system.

In men, urologists treat:

• cancers of the bladder, kidneys, penis, testicles, and adrenal and prostate glands
• prostate gland enlargement
• erectile dysfunction, or trouble getting or keeping an erection
• infertility
• interstitial cystitis, also called painful bladder syndrome
• kidney diseases
• kidney stones
• prostatitis, which is inflammation of the prostate gland
• urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• varicoceles, or enlarged veins in the scrotum

In women, urologists treat:

• bladder prolapse, or the dropping of the bladder into the vagina
• cancers of the bladder, kidneys, and adrenal glands
• interstitial cystitis
• kidney stones
• overactive bladder
• UTIs
• urinary incontinence

In children, urologists treat:

• bed-wetting
• blockages and other problems with the urinary tract structure
• undescended testicles