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Urology is the medical specialty responsible for diagnosing and surgically treating all structural or functional diseases involving the urinary system organs, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra, and prostate, as well as the male reproductive system in both women and men. Providing services across a broad spectrum ranging from stone diseases and urinary incontinence problems to urological cancers and sexual dysfunctions, this department carries out diagnostic and treatment processes supported by current technologies. In conditions such as infections, obstructions, or tissue disorders associated with the urinary tract and reproductive organs, the support of urology specialists should be sought to ensure that the necessary interventions are planned in a timely manner and that a healthy quality of life can be maintained.
Which Department Should Be Consulted for Kidney Diseases: Urology or Nephrology?
When a kidney-related health problem occurs, the first question that comes to mind is the difference between urology and nephrology. If the source of the problem is related to the kidney’s blood-filtering function or damage to its filters, nephrology is generally consulted. Nephrology plans treatment using methods such as medication or dialysis. The main conditions managed by nephrology are as follows:
- Protein leakage in the urine
- Chronic kidney failure
- Kidney-related resistant hypertension
- Systemic kidney diseases
If the problem is a mechanical obstruction or structural abnormality, it falls within the field of urology. Stones, cysts, or tumors in the kidneys or urinary tract may require surgical intervention. A stone lodged in the urinary tract may block urine flow and cause swelling of the kidney. In urology, modern closed and sutureless methods are frequently preferred to relieve these obstructions. In kidney masses, minimally invasive surgical methods are aimed at preserving as much healthy kidney tissue as possible and allowing the patient to recover more quickly.
Which Doctor Should Women Consult for Lower Urinary Tract Complaints: Urology or Gynecology?
Complaints involving the urinary tract or pelvic floor in women are frequently referred to obstetrics and gynecology specialists because of the anatomical structure of the region. Gynecology focuses on infections or hormonal processes involving the uterus, ovaries, and vagina. However, functional disorders of the bladder, urethra, and pelvic floor muscles fall within the scope of urology and, specifically, urogynecology.
Consultation with the urology department is recommended when the following symptoms occur:
- Stress urinary incontinence
- Overactive bladder
- Bladder prolapse
- Painful bladder syndrome
Tests that measure bladder capacity are used to identify the source of these problems. In cases of urinary leakage while coughing or exerting effort, special sling procedures designed to support the urethra become prominent. In painful bladder conditions, the inside of the bladder may be examined with a camera, and soothing medications may be administered to relieve the patient’s complaints.
Which Department Should Be Consulted for Genitourinary Diseases in Childhood: Pediatric Surgery or Pediatric Urology?
Urinary system diseases encountered in children are quite different from those seen in adults. Because children have continuously developing structures, delicate tissues, and potential microsurgical requirements, it is more appropriate to refer this age group directly to pediatric urology.
The most common conditions encountered and followed by pediatric urology are as follows:
- Undescended testis
- Hypospadias
- Vesicoureteral reflux
- Bedwetting
In cases of hypospadias, it is important that the child not be circumcised before being evaluated by pediatric urology. The foreskin is an extremely valuable tissue that may be needed for urethral reconstruction. In undescended testis cases, leaving the testis in an elevated position at body temperature for an extended period may negatively affect reproductive health in later years. Therefore, surgical placement of the testis into the scrotum is generally planned by the age of one.
Which Doctor Should Be Consulted for Varicocele and Male Infertility: Urology or General Surgery?
For infertility and vascular problems in men, the appropriate department is not general surgery but andrology, a subspecialty of urology. Varicocele is one of the leading correctable causes of male infertility. Varicocele is the enlargement of the veins surrounding the testis. This vascular enlargement may increase testicular temperature and directly affect sperm production and quality.
The following methods are used to evaluate suspected varicocele:
- Detailed physical examination
- Semen analysis
- Color Doppler ultrasonography
The most widely accepted treatment method is microsurgical varicocelectomy performed by physicians experienced in andrology. Using a microscope during the procedure allows the arteries and lymphatic channels supplying the testis to be seen more clearly and safely preserved. In patients with azoospermia, where no cells are found in the semen, the Micro-TESE procedure can be performed by examining the testicular tissue under a microscope to search for viable cells.
Which Department Should Men Consult for Hormonal and Sexual Disorders: Urology or Endocrinology?
Although conditions such as erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, or late-onset male hormone deficiency may appear to be related to hormones, they are also directly connected to pelvic anatomy and vascular structure. Therefore, andrology and urology specialists are consulted first.
When hormone deficiency is suspected, physicians request blood tests early in the morning in accordance with the body’s natural rhythm. When planning treatment, the patient’s general cardiovascular health and especially the structure of the prostate must be taken into consideration.
The methods frequently used in evaluating sexual dysfunctions are as follows:
- Comprehensive blood tests
- Penile Doppler ultrasonography
- Physical evaluations
During treatment, patients are offered different options in addition to oral medications. Shock wave therapy applied to penile tissue, special injections, or, when other medical treatments are insufficient, permanent surgical options such as penile prostheses are discussed with patients in detail.
Which Doctor Should Be Consulted for Urethral Strictures: Urology or Another Specialty?
Narrowing of the urinary canal, or urethra, may develop because of various physical traumas, severe infections in the past, or previous medical procedures. These conditions, which may cause noticeable slowing of the urine stream, split urination, or a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying, should be referred directly to reconstructive urology.
During diagnosis, physicians use various imaging tests to evaluate the patient’s condition:
- Uroflowmetry test
- Contrast urethral imaging
- Cystoscopic examination
The treatment process is generally planned according to the length and location of the stricture. Short strictures are usually treated using closed methods to widen the urinary canal. However, in cases where the stricture frequently recurs, open procedures called urethroplasty may be considered. In these reconstructive surgeries, grafts taken from the patient’s own oral mucosa are used to restore the urinary canal to a healthy structure.
Which Department Should Be Consulted When Urological Cancer Is Suspected: Oncology or Urology?
The diagnosis and surgical treatment of tumors in organs such as the prostate, bladder, or testis fall within the field of uro-oncology. While medical oncology primarily manages medication-based treatment processes, the surgical removal of tumor tissue from the body is performed by urological surgeons.
In suspected prostate disease, current blood tests and high-resolution imaging methods are used. When necessary, targeted tissue samples are obtained using advanced biopsy techniques and sent for pathological examination. When surgery is required, robotic or laparoscopic methods may be preferred, aiming to preserve the nerves responsible for urinary continence without damage. In bladder diseases, the bladder is entered using closed methods to remove abnormal tissue. In kidney masses, organ-preserving surgeries are now preferred whenever possible, with only the tumor-bearing portion removed rather than the entire kidney.
Which Complaints and Symptoms Require Direct Consultation with the Urology Department?
When certain symptoms appear, consulting urology without delay is highly important for treatment. This approach aims to prevent possible complications and quickly improve the patient’s quality of life.
The conditions that require immediate consultation with urology are as follows:
- Painless blood in the urine
- Severe flank and kidney pain
- Frequent urination at night
- Severe difficulty urinating
- Painless hardness in the testis
Especially in conditions commonly seen with age, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, different surgical options may be considered when medication is insufficient or does not benefit the patient. With innovative closed surgical methods such as HoLEP, the enlarged inner portion of the prostate is separated from the capsule using a laser, reduced in size inside the bladder, and removed. This method can be applied even in very large prostates. After the procedure, while the pelvic floor muscles adapt to the new anatomy, some patients may experience temporary urinary leakage, but this condition generally improves over time. Accurate analysis of symptoms increases treatment success.
Frequently Asked Questions
Urology deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases involving the kidneys, ureters, bladder, urinary tract, and male reproductive system. Evaluation is recommended for burning during urination, frequent urination, bleeding, kidney pain, or sexual dysfunction.
In urinary tract infections, complaints, urinalysis, and culture results when necessary are evaluated. Treatment is planned according to the cause of the infection, and underlying structural or functional problems are investigated in recurrent cases.
Ultrasonography, computed tomography, and laboratory tests are used to diagnose kidney stones. Small stones may pass spontaneously, while large stones or conditions causing obstruction may require surgical or interventional treatment.
In prostate diseases, examination, PSA testing, imaging, and biopsy when necessary are evaluated together. These methods provide important information for distinguishing benign prostatic enlargement from prostate cancer and determining the appropriate treatment plan.
Urology does not provide services only to male patients. Urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, recurrent infections, and bladder dysfunctions in women are also evaluated, and appropriate treatment options are planned for the patient.
Semen analysis, hormone tests, physical examination, and imaging methods may be used in male infertility. Based on the findings, medication, surgical interventions, or assisted reproductive techniques may be planned.
In evaluating erectile dysfunction, vascular structure, hormonal balance, chronic diseases, and psychological factors are examined together. Depending on the cause, lifestyle changes, medication, or advanced treatment methods may be applied.
Pediatric urology covers the diagnosis, treatment, and regular follow-up of many conditions, including congenital urinary tract abnormalities, undescended testis, circumcision requirements, urinary incontinence, and recurrent infections.
During the initial evaluation, the patient’s complaints are heard, a physical examination is performed, and urinalysis, blood tests, ultrasonography, or advanced imaging methods may be requested when necessary. The diagnosis is made by evaluating these findings together.
Drinking enough water, avoiding smoking, exercising regularly, following hygiene rules, and seeking prompt evaluation for urinary complaints contribute significantly to the early diagnosis and prevention of many urological diseases.
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.
