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The medical specialty that men experiencing prostate-related complaints should consult is the Department of Urology. For any functional or structural problem developing around the bladder and urinary tract, you should schedule an appointment with a urologist to manage the diagnosis and treatment process. If you have changes in urinary flow, discomfort in the pelvic region, or concerns about prostate health, urologists with comprehensive expertise in surgical and medical treatment should be your first point of contact on your healthcare journey. Urology outpatient clinics, which directly identify the source of the problem using modern diagnostic methods, provide personalized solutions designed to preserve your quality of life. Seeking specialist advice to maintain the healthy functioning of the male reproductive and urinary systems is the most reliable step toward preventing possible complications.
Why Should You Go Directly to the Department of Urology for Prostate Complaints?
When many people experience a urinary tract problem or notice changes in their toilet habits, they may assume that it is a general internal medicine or kidney-related issue. For this reason, they frequently consult intermediary departments such as Internal Medicine or Nephrology. However, problems caused by the prostate most commonly arise because the gland creates a physical and mechanical obstruction in the urinary tract. In such cases, the Department of Urology is the specialty capable of examining the organ’s structure in detail, organizing medication treatments, and successfully performing surgical interventions when necessary. Urologists are surgically trained physicians who have comprehensive knowledge of the anatomy of the system comprising the kidneys, bladder, urinary tract, and prostate. Since departments such as Internal Medicine or Nephrology do not perform surgical procedures, they do not carry out interventions to relieve tissue-level obstructions. Therefore, consulting a urologist directly when prostate complaints begin is generally the most appropriate approach for ensuring timely intervention.
Which Doctor and Urology Subspecialty Should Be Consulted for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)?
With advancing age, benign enlargement of the prostate gland may occur in a large proportion of men. This condition, known as BPH, does not mean cancer; however, it may significantly reduce the patient’s quality of life by narrowing the urinary tract. It is sufficient for individuals experiencing symptoms of benign enlargement to consult a general urology outpatient clinic. Today, with advances in technology, the field of urology has been divided into subspecialties that provide more specific treatments. If a surgical procedure is being considered, urologists who focus on minimally invasive surgical methods may be consulted.
The most common complaints for which patients seek medical care in this field are:
- Slowing of urinary flow
- Frequently waking at night to urinate
- Feeling of incomplete bladder emptying
- Dribbling
- Difficulty initiating urination
Individuals with these symptoms may receive support from specialists interested in endourology for methods considered appropriate. The physician evaluates the condition and attempts to determine the treatment option aimed at improving urinary flow.
Which Department and Specialist Should Be Consulted for Prostate Inflammation (Prostatitis)?
It is a common misconception that prostate disorders occur only at advanced ages. Inflammation known as prostatitis is particularly common among young and middle-aged men. This condition, which manifests through pain in the groin, lower back, or during urination, may cause patients significant discomfort. General urology outpatient clinics should be consulted for the treatment of infections that may have an acute or chronic course. Chronic inflammation may sometimes affect male reproductive health and quality of life more deeply. In such cases, consulting physicians specializing in andrology, the area of urology focusing specifically on male sexual health, may be beneficial in managing the process. After obtaining a detailed medical history and performing the necessary examinations, physicians aim to relieve symptoms by creating a long-term treatment plan that requires patience.
Which Doctor and Surgical Department Should Be Consulted When Prostate Cancer Is Suspected?
If a suspicious condition is detected in routine blood tests or a risky finding is identified during a physical examination, the situation becomes more specific than general urology. When the possibility of prostate cancer arises, management of the process becomes specialized. In such cases, the urologic oncology subspecialty, which focuses on cancer surgery within urology, should become involved. Urologic oncologists focus on determining the risk level of the cancer, selecting biopsy methods, and planning surgical procedures.
The main stages managed by the urologic oncology department are as follows.
- Risk analysis
- Biopsy planning
- Staging examinations
- Surgical evaluations
- Medical oncology referrals
Patients diagnosed with cancer are advised to remain under the supervision of urologic oncology specialists who have the necessary technological resources and experience. During removal of the tumor tissue, the surgical process is managed with great care to preserve the surrounding healthy tissues.
Which Doctor Should Be Consulted for Routine Screening When There Are No Symptoms?
Prostate-related problems may not always produce clear signs during their early stages. Malignant cellular changes, in particular, may progress very silently. Therefore, just as people attend regular heart or eye examinations, it is important for men to undergo routine checkups with a urologist after a certain age. A family history of the disease lowers the recommended age for the first consultation. Depending on the individual’s risk profile, general urology departments perform the initial evaluation.
The main risk groups considered for routine screening are:
- Standard-risk group
- High-risk group
- Very high-risk group
Individuals without a family history of similar conditions may generally undergo their first checkup at a general urology clinic around the age of fifty. However, those whose father or brother has experienced such a condition should begin follow-up with a urologist from the age of forty or forty-five. Physicians use the initial findings as a reference and determine the frequency of future follow-up examinations.
Which Tests May the Doctor Request During a Visit to the Department of Urology?
During your first consultation with the doctor, a comprehensive examination process is initiated to understand the cause of your complaints and how they affect your daily life. These examinations provide the urologist with important guidance in determining the nature of the problem. Initial tests may largely clarify whether the underlying cause of the complaints is a simple inflammation, age-related enlargement, or a more serious condition. The test results determine the course of treatment.
The basic examinations the doctor may request are:
- Blood test
- Urine analysis
- Ultrasonography
- Urinary flow test
- Prostatic fluid examination
- Questionnaire forms
Based on these results, the urologist can generally determine clearly whether the condition is an infection or a cellular change. These tests are routinely performed in general urology outpatient clinics to understand the nature of the disorder.
Which Surgical and Treatment Methods Are Used in the Department of Urology?
After the diagnosis is established, the physician determines a roadmap according to the patient’s lifestyle, general health condition, and severity of the disease. If the symptoms are mild, intensive treatment is not initiated immediately; instead, the patient is monitored and advised to adjust daily habits. When the complaints begin to significantly impair quality of life, medical treatment is used first. Medications that relax the muscles or help reduce prostate volume are prescribed by general urologists.
In advanced cases where medications are insufficient, urination becomes difficult, or recurrent infections occur, surgical interventions performed by urologists become necessary. Today, thanks to medical technology, many operations can be performed through the urinary tract using minimally invasive techniques. Laser-based systems or conventional methods are used to remove most of the tissue causing the obstruction and relieve urinary flow. In cases involving malignant cells, different procedures aimed at removing the entire affected tissue are planned. The surgical method to be applied is determined jointly by the urologist and the patient according to the patient’s age and accompanying medical conditions. Every stage of the process is shaped under the supervision of these specialists.
Prof. Dr. Berkan Reşorlu, born in Ankara in 1979, completed his medical education at Ankara University between 1997 and 2003, and his specialization in urology at Ankara University Faculty of Medicine between 2003 and 2008. Academically, he received the title of associate professor in 2013 and professor in 2022.
He has conducted extensive case series studies in the field of endoscopic stone surgery, contributed surgeries performed on children under the age of 1 to the literature, and has gained international recognition with his stone scoring system and experimental surgical models.
