Urology Q&A Center

General Urology

A urological evaluation is recommended for symptoms such as a burning sensation when passing urine, frequent urination, blood in the urine, kidney stone pain, testicular swelling, erectile dysfunction, prostate complaints, or recurrent urinary tract infections. Sudden inability to pass urine, flank pain accompanied by a fever, or visible blood clots in the urine require more urgent evaluation.

General Urology

A urological examination is usually brief and well tolerated. What the examination involves depends on your symptoms. It may require a urinalysis, an ultrasound scan, a physical examination, or a prostate assessment. Delaying an appointment due to fear of pain can lead to a delayed diagnosis of certain conditions.

A urinalysis may be requested for symptoms such as burning when passing urine, urinary frequency, blood in the urine, foul-smelling or cloudy urine, lower abdominal pain, flank pain, or fever. A urinalysis provides initial information regarding infection, bleeding, stones, or kidney and urinary tract issues.

A urine culture is performed to determine whether bacteria are present in the urine and, if so, which antibiotics they are sensitive to. It is particularly important in cases of recurrent infections, male patients, pregnancy, urinary tract infections with a fever, or symptoms that persist despite treatment.

An ultrasound scan is a safe imaging method that does not use radiation and is commonly used to assess organs such as the kidneys, bladder, prostate, and testicles. It helps investigate conditions such as stones, cysts, hydronephrosis, bladder volume, prostate size, or scrotal swelling.

Prostate

No. PSA (prostate-specific antigen) is a protein produced by prostate tissue, and a raised level can also result from benign prostate enlargement, prostatitis, some recent procedures or temporary irritation of the prostate. What counts as "normal" varies with age, prostate volume and laboratory, so a single number should never be judged alone; the result must be interpreted by a urology specialist together with age, examination, previous values and, if needed, tests such as prostate MRI.

Prostate

The frequency of PSA testing varies depending on age, family history, previous PSA levels, physical examination findings, and individual risk profile. A single testing interval is not suitable for every man. The potential benefits and limitations of PSA screening should be discussed with a doctor beforehand.

Prostate

Benign prostate enlargement is not prostate cancer and does not turn into cancer. However, a person with an enlarged prostate can also develop prostate cancer separately. For that reason PSA, examination and any necessary tests are assessed independently.

Prostate

Waking up at night to urinate can be associated with prostate enlargement, but the prostate is not the sole cause. Excessive fluid intake, sleep disorders, diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, reduced bladder capacity, or an overactive bladder can also lead to night-time urination.

Urinary Tract / Bladder

A urinary tract infection can recur due to bacterial re-infection, inadequate treatment, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, incomplete bladder emptying, stones, post-menopausal changes, factors related to sexual activity, or underlying structural issues. In cases of recurrent infections, a urine culture and thorough medical evaluation are important.

Urinary Tract / Bladder

No. Cystitis is a lower urinary tract infection that usually affects the bladder. A kidney infection, or pyelonephritis, can follow a more serious course and may present with fever, chills, flank pain, nausea, vomiting, and feeling generally unwell. If these symptoms are present, prompt medical evaluation is necessary.

Urinary Tract / Bladder

Seeing blood or blood clots in the urine should never be ignored. It can arise from various causes, including stones, infection, prostate disease, or bladder and kidney tumours. A urological assessment is necessary, particularly if there is painless blood in the urine, blood clots, recurrent bleeding, or a history of smoking.

Urinary Tract / Bladder

Bladder training is a behavioural technique aimed at gradually regulating the intervals between urination to reduce urinary frequency and sudden urgency. It may form part of the treatment plan for overactive bladder and certain types of urinary incontinence.

Men's Health

No. Erectile dysfunction medications can be unsafe, particularly for individuals using nitrate-based heart medications or those with certain cardiovascular conditions. These medications should not be used without a doctor's evaluation. Furthermore, erectile dysfunction can sometimes serve as an early warning sign regarding cardiovascular health.

Men's Health

Yes, premature ejaculation is a treatable sexual health issue that can be clinically evaluated. Treatment options may include behavioural techniques, counselling, certain medications, or combined approaches. The treatment plan varies depending on the duration of symptoms, relationship dynamics, and whether there is co-existing erectile dysfunction.

Men's Health

A varicocele can affect sperm count, motility, or morphology in some men; however, not every varicocele causes infertility. A urological evaluation is important if there are difficulties conceiving, a palpable varicocele, and abnormal semen analysis results.

Men's Health

A semen analysis is typically requested when pregnancy does not occur while trying to conceive, when a varicocele is suspected, following previous testicular disease or surgery, when a hormonal disorder is suspected, or as part of a male infertility evaluation.

Although urinary incontinence is common, it should not be considered normal or ignored. There are different types, such as stress incontinence, urge incontinence, or mixed incontinence. Treatment can be tailored to include pelvic floor exercises, bladder training, medications, bladder Botox injections, or surgical options.

Kegel exercises aim to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. They can be particularly beneficial for stress urinary incontinence, postnatal pelvic floor weakness, and certain mild incontinence issues. However, engaging the correct muscles is essential, and they may not be sufficient on their own for every type of incontinence.

Yes, hormonal changes after menopause can affect vaginal and urinary tract tissues, increasing the risk of urinary tract infections in some women. In recurrent infections, urine culture, investigating underlying causes, and personalised preventive approaches are important.

Paediatric Urology

The ideal age for circumcision is evaluated based on the child's general health, family preference, stage of psychological development, and whether there is a medical necessity. Decisions regarding the neonatal period, pre-school period, or older ages can be planned following a paediatrician and urological assessment.

Paediatric Urology

An undescended testicle (cryptorchidism) is a condition that requires timely evaluation by paediatric urology. Whether the testicle descends spontaneously, the age of the baby, and physical examination findings are all important factors. Delayed treatment can pose risks to future fertility and testicular health.

Paediatric Urology

Bedwetting can be a normal part of development up to a certain age. However, if it persists as the child approaches school age, or if it is accompanied by daytime urinary incontinence, constipation, urinary tract infections, painful urination, or sudden-onset bedwetting, a paediatric urology evaluation is recommended.

Sexual Health

Condoms significantly reduce the risk of many sexually transmitted infections (STIs), but they do not eliminate it entirely. For infections that can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, such as HPV, herpes, or syphilis, there remains a risk of transmission from areas not covered by the condom. Medical evaluation and testing are important following any suspected exposure.

Sexual Health

In men, HPV often causes no symptoms at all. However, certain strains can cause genital warts. If you notice warts, raised bumps, or any changing skin lesions in the genital area, a urological or dermatological evaluation is advised.

Sexual Health

Yes, genital warts can recur in some individuals following treatment. Immune system status, the specific HPV strain, smoking, and partner management can all affect the risk of recurrence. Caustic over-the-counter or home treatments should not be used; appropriate treatment should be planned by a doctor.

Sexual Health

Yes, low sexual desire (libido) can be linked to hormonal changes, erectile dysfunction, chronic medical conditions, medications, stress, relationship issues, or psychological factors. A urological evaluation can address testosterone levels, sexual function, and any co-existing health conditions in a comprehensive manner.

Treatments

In some cases, a vasectomy reversal can be attempted using microsurgical techniques; however, success is not guaranteed. Factors such as the time elapsed since the original procedure, surgical technique, sperm production, and the partner's age influence the outcome. A vasectomy should be considered a permanent method of contraception when making a decision.

Treatments

HoLEP relies on the principle of using a laser to separate and enucleate prostate tissue from its capsule. TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate), on the other hand, involves removing the obstructive inner prostate tissue endoscopically piece by piece. Which method is suitable depends on prostate volume, bleeding risk, current medications, surgical expertise, and the patient's overall health.

Treatments

Some small stones can pass naturally on their own. The stone's size and location, whether it causes an obstruction in the urinary tract, the presence of an infection, and the severity of pain are key factors. Urgent medical evaluation is required if you experience fever, chills, uncontrollable flank pain, vomiting, or an inability to pass urine.

Symptoms

Flank pain can be associated with urological causes such as kidney stones, kidney infections, or urinary tract obstruction. If the pain is accompanied by fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, blood in the urine, or a burning sensation when urinating, a prompt medical evaluation is necessary.

Symptoms

Yes. Groin pain can be related to kidney or ureteric stones, varicoceles, testicular conditions, prostatitis, infections, or referred urological pain felt in the groin area. Urgent medical evaluation is required if there is sudden and severe testicular pain, fever, blood in the urine, or nausea and vomiting.

Men's Health

Sudden-onset, severe testicular pain requires urgent emergency evaluation if accompanied by retraction or elevation of the testicle, nausea, vomiting, redness, or swelling. In conditions such as testicular torsion, any delay can compromise testicular viability.

Urinary Symptoms

Difficulty passing urine may be related to prostate enlargement, urethral stricture, weak bladder muscle, prostatitis, certain medications, or urinary tract obstruction. A urological evaluation is recommended if you experience an interrupted flow, a weak stream, post-micturition dribbling, or a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying.

Sexual Health

Penile discharge can be associated with urethritis, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), or urinary tract infections. If the discharge is accompanied by a burning sensation when passing urine, redness at the tip of the penis, genital sores, or a history of unprotected sexual contact, medical evaluation for testing and treatment is required.

Prostate

Treatment depends on symptom severity, prostate volume and overall health. Mild symptoms may only need monitoring or medication, while surgical and minimally invasive options such as HoLEP or TUR-P come into play when medication fails or complications like urinary retention or recurrent infection appear. Surgery is not mandatory for every patient; the decision is individual. Please consult a urology specialist for your own situation.

Prostate

A digital rectal exam quickly provides information about the size, consistency and surface of the prostate and is a standard urological assessment. It usually takes a few seconds and causes only mild pressure rather than pain. Findings are interpreted together with PSA and imaging results; consult a urology specialist for assessment.

Prostate

Around age 50 is generally accepted as a starting point. Men with a family history of prostate cancer may need to start earlier. The personal starting age and check-up interval are set considering family history and previous PSA values, so it is best discussed with a urology specialist.

Sexual Health

Although ED becomes more common with age, it is not caused by ageing alone. Vascular problems, hormonal imbalance, diabetes, smoking, stress and certain medications can cause it in younger men too. If the problem persists, see a urology specialist to identify the cause.

Sexual Health

Clues such as whether morning erections continue, whether the problem started suddenly or gradually, and whether it occurs only in certain situations can be informative. A definitive distinction usually requires hormone tests, vascular assessment and, when needed, additional testing. In most cases physical and psychological factors act together; consult a urology specialist for evaluation.

Sexual Health

Fatigue, reduced sexual desire, loss of muscle mass, difficulty concentrating and mood changes may occur. These symptoms can also stem from thyroid disease, sleep disorders or depression. A morning blood test together with clinical assessment is needed for a definite diagnosis; consult a urology specialist.

Urinary Symptoms

Harmless causes such as high fluid or caffeine intake are common, but urinary tract infection, overactive bladder, prostate-related problems and systemic conditions such as diabetes can also cause frequent urination. If it affects daily life or is accompanied by burning, pain or blood in the urine, a urological assessment is recommended.

Urinary Symptoms

Urinary tract infection is the most common cause. Sensitivity to irritant hygiene products, some sexually transmitted infections, prostatitis, bladder stones or inflammatory bladder conditions can also cause burning. If fever, flank pain or blood in the urine accompanies it, prompt assessment is needed.

Urinary Symptoms

Incontinence occurs in both sexes. In women, stress incontinence related to childbirth and pelvic floor weakness is more common, while in men prostate-related causes and the period after prostate surgery are more prominent. Once the type is identified, treatment options become clearer.

Kidney Stones

Severe pain starting in the flank or lower back and radiating to the groin, nausea and vomiting, blood in the urine and sometimes burning during urination are typical. Flank pain with fever requires urgent assessment. Definitive diagnosis is made with imaging such as ultrasound or CT.

Kidney Stones

Adequate fluid intake and balanced salt consumption are generally recommended. Personalised dietary advice depends on stone type — the approach differs for oxalate, uric acid and calcium stones. In recurrent stone disease, stone analysis and metabolic evaluation should guide the plan.

Kidney Stones

Pain usually begins in the flank or lower back and, as the stone moves through the urinary tract, can radiate to the groin, inner thigh and in men to the testicle. The location suggests the stone's level, but imaging gives definite information.

Reproductive Health

Two to five days of sexual abstinence is usually recommended before the test. The sample is delivered to the laboratory under suitable conditions and sperm count, motility and morphology are assessed. Because results can be affected by febrile illness, stress and medication, more than one test is usually requested.

Reproductive Health

The underlying cause must be identified first. Depending on it, lifestyle changes (stopping smoking and alcohol, weight control, avoiding excessive heat), hormonal therapy or surgery for a correctable problem such as varicocele may be options. The plan is personalised after semen analysis and hormone assessment.

General Urology

Urology deals with diseases of the urinary tract — kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra — and the male reproductive organs. Changes in urinary habits, pain or burning while urinating, blood in the urine, kidney stone pain, testicular swelling and sexual health complaints are reasons to consider a urological assessment.

General Urology

Yes. Urinary tract infections, recurrent cystitis, urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, kidney stones and bladder problems are all within a urologist's scope for women too. In some cases assessment is shared with a gynaecologist.

Paediatric Urology

Paediatric urology assessment is recommended for undescended testis, recurrent urinary tract infections, difficulty voiding, bedwetting persisting beyond the expected age, or suspected structural problems of the urinary tract. If a suspicious finding exists, expert opinion should be sought without delay.