Urology

What are common urological health issues?

Urology focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases that affect your urinary tract, including your kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, as well as the male and female sexual and reproductive tracts. 

Urologists also diagnose and treat issues that affect the prostate — a walnut-shaped gland that surrounds the urethra in men. The prostate secretes the fluid that protects sperm and the genetic code they carry. It also contracts to facilitate ejaculation. 

Some common urologic health issues include: 

BPH

BPH, also called an “enlarged prostate,” is a common health issue encountered as men age. Your prostate grows throughout adulthood. As it grows, it can compress your urethra and bladder, causing troublesome urinary symptoms. 

Prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is another common health issue of the male reproductive system that is encountered as men age. Around one in nine men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. It causes symptoms similar to BPH, so it’s critical to talk to the team at Maiden Lane Medical about any potential warning signs. 

Erectile dysfunction

While most men don’t want to talk about it, erectile dysfunction is common and affects men of all ages. If you have trouble achieving or maintaining an erection or ejaculation problems, talk to your Urologist. In most cases, the causes of erectile dysfunction are easily treated. 

Low testosterone

Testosterone contributes to many body functions in addition to your sex characteristics and reproductive function. While your testosterone levels decline slightly with age, symptoms like weight gain, fatigue, libido loss, and irritability could indicate abnormal or suboptimal hormone levels. The Urologists at Maiden Lane Medical are experts in diagnosing and treating this embarrassing issue. 

Cystitis

Cystitis is inflammation in your bladder that can be caused by bacteria, hygiene products, and drugs, among several possibilities. It causes painful urinary symptoms and often requires medication for treatment. 

Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

A UTI can develop anywhere in your urinary tract, from your urethra to your kidneys. Women are more susceptible to UTIs than men because of the proximity of their urethral openings to the vagina.

Kidney stones

Kidney stones develop when crystallized deposits of substances like calcium or uric acid form in your kidneys. Kidney stones range in size and cause varying symptoms. For example, you might have a microscopic kidney stone that passes without causing symptoms or a large stone that blocks a ureter and causes intense pain and infection.

What are the signs of a urologic health issue?

Urologic health problems cause many similar and overlapping symptoms, including:

• • Frequent and intense urges to urinate
  • Reduced urine stream
  • Painful urination
  • Problems emptying your bladder completely
  • Cloudy urine
  • Foul-smelling urine
  • Hematuria (blood in the urine appears pink or brown)
  • Pain in your low back or pelvic area
  • Fever
  • Flu-like symptoms

  
  If you develop any of these symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with the urologists at Maiden Lane Medical. While many urological health issues are benign and treated easily, in some cases, these symptoms could indicate a more serious problem. Having an exam and undergoing testing to diagnose the cause of your symptoms is critical to obtaining appropriate treatment. 

  How do you diagnose the cause of my symptoms?

  The Urology team at Maiden Lane Medical begins your exam by reviewing your symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle factors. They often use urinalysis and blood tests to check for signs of specific diseases. 

  Depending on your condition, your provider might recommend additional testing, including a prostate checkup, prostate biopsy, ultrasound, or cystoscopy. 

  A biopsy is a diagnostic procedure that extracts a small sample of cells, which is tested for signs of cancer or other diseases. In most cases, the Maiden Lane Medical team offers minimally-invasive needle biopsies to examine prostate tissue. 

  Cystoscopy is a minimally-invasive diagnostic procedure involving a small flexible cystoscope to examine the inside of your bladder – it takes just a few minutes, is done with local anesthesia, and is performed in the office.   The team might recommend an ultrasound to confirm a diagnosis of kidney stones or the presence of abnormal growth.

  What are the available treatments for common urological health issues?

The team offers personalized treatment plans tailored to address your specific needs. For example, they can prescribe antibiotics to cure UTIs and cystitis. They also provide treatments to break up kidney stones and medication to manage your pain and prevent infection while the stones pass.

The urologists also offer prostate-specific treatments. For example, they can prescribe antibiotics to treat prostatitis or Rezūm™ Prostate Therapy for BPH. 

Rezūm uses water vapor to heat and eliminate excess prostate tissue. Rezūm is a minimally invasive surgery that can be done in the office under local anesthesia, and requires just a few minutes to complete.  It has a short recovery time, allowing you to quickly get back to your regular activities. In most cases, you can also avoid or stop taking BPH medication after a Rezūm treatment.  

The team also offers innovative treatments to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) and enhance sexual function.

Do you offer vasectomies?

Yes, the Urologists at Maiden Lane Medical also offer the minimally invasive no-scalpel vasectomy procedure. It is performed painlessly in the office, in under 30 minutes with local anesthesia.  

A no-scalpel vasectomy is a quick, outpatient procedure with a rapid recovery. Many patients schedule their treatment on Fridays and return to work on Mondays as usual.

Schedule an appointment with Maiden Lane Medical today! 

Are you seeking top-notch urology care for yourself or your loved ones? Look no further than Maiden Lane Medical! 

Our esteemed medical practice offers specialized services in urologic oncology, and cutting-edge robotic surgery for urologic conditions, including kidney cancer and other urologic cancers.

Call us today to make an appointment online for expert diagnosis and personalized treatment!