Urologen

Urologen, or urologists, are medical doctors who specialize in the urinary tract and the male reproductive organs. They diagnose and treat disorders affecting the kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra, prostate, penis, and testes. Urology covers both sexes, with pediatric urology as a common subspecialty. Conditions managed include urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, kidney stones, urinary infections, blood in the urine (hematuria), congenital abnormalities, and cancers of the urinary tract and male genitalia.

Diagnosis and treatment typically begin with patient history, physical examination, and laboratory tests, complemented by imaging such as ultrasound, CT, or MRI. Procedures performed in and out of the operating room include cystoscopy, urodynamics, endoscopic stone removal, stent placement, urethral dilation, and repair of urethral strictures. More complex surgeries may be done laparoscopically or robotically to treat cancers of the prostate, bladder, or kidney, as well as reconstructive urologic procedures. Medical therapies address conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, erectile dysfunction, and male infertility, and antibiotics are used for infections when appropriate. Urologists often collaborate with other specialists, such as nephrologists and oncologists, for comprehensive cancer care or kidney disease management.

Training and practice: After medical school, doctors complete a residency in urology, with board certification or equivalent in many countries. Subspecialty fellowships exist in areas such as pediatric urology, urologic oncology, reconstructive urology, and endourology. Urologists work in hospitals, academic centers, and private clinics, providing long-term care and follow-up for chronic or recurrent conditions.