Why Should I See a Urologist? (Episode 87, To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow)
On this episode of To Your Health, host Dr. Jim Morrow of Village Medical discussed urologists: what they treat and the reasons you’d see one. He covered conditions such as urinary tract infections, bladder infections, interstitial cystitis, and others, as well as prostate cancer and considerations about getting PSA tests done.
To Your Health is brought to you by Village Medical (formerly Morrow Family Medicine), which brings the care back to healthcare.
About Village Medical (formerly Morrow Family Medicine)
Village Medical, formerly Morrow Family Medicine, is an award-winning, state-of-the-art family practice with offices in Cumming and Milton, Georgia. The practice combines healthcare information technology with old-fashioned care to provide the type of care that many are in search of today. Two physicians, three physician assistants and two nurse practitioners are supported by a knowledgeable and friendly staff to make your visit to Village Medical one that will remind you of the way healthcare should be. At Village Medical, we like to say we are “bringing the care back to healthcare!” The practice has been named the “Best of Forsyth” in Family Medicine in all five years of the award, is a three-time consecutive winner of the “Best of North Atlanta” by readers of Appen Media, and the 2019 winner of “Best of Life” in North Fulton County.
Village Medical offers a comprehensive suite of primary care services including preventative care, treatment for illness and injury, and management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and kidney disease. Atlanta-area patients can learn more about the practice here.
Dr. Jim Morrow, Village Medical, and Host of To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow
Dr. Jim Morrow is the founder of Morrow Family Medicine. He has been a trailblazer and evangelist in healthcare information technology, was named Physician IT Leader of the Year by HIMSS, a HIMSS Davies Award Winner, the Cumming-Forsyth Chamber of Commerce Steve Bloom Award Winner as Entrepreneur of the Year and he received a Phoenix Award as Community Leader of the Year from the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. He is married to Peggie Morrow and together they founded the Forsyth BYOT Benefit, a charity in Forsyth County to support students in need of technology and devices. They have two Goldendoodles, a gaggle of grandchildren and enjoy life on and around Lake Lanier.
The complete show archive of To Your Health with Dr. Jim Morrow addresses a wide range of health and wellness topics.
Dr. Morrow’s Show Notes
What is a Urologist?
A urologist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases of the urinary system. This system keeps the body clean by filtering out wastes and toxins and taking them out of the body. The urinary tract includes:
- Bladder
- Kidneys
- Ureters
- Urethra
A urologist also treats conditions involving the reproductive organs and the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are located on top of the kidneys. The reproductive systems of males and females are linked closely to their urinary systems. You might hear someone use the word “genitourinary.” This refers to symptoms, conditions or treatments that affect both systems.
Difference between urology and nephrology
If you want to see a doctor who specializes only in the kidneys, you’d make an appointment with a nephrologist. Nephrology is considered a subspecialty, but it’s a subspecialty of internal medicine rather than urology. This means that nephrologists aren’t surgeons. Nephrologists must also be able to manage conditions that happen elsewhere in the body that cause kidney problems or happen because of kidney problems, like high blood pressure. Urologists, on the other hand, are surgeons.
What conditions do urologists treat?
Urologists treat common conditions and rarer illnesses that affect everyone and some that affect only men or only women. Some of these conditions include:
- Frequent urinary tract infections.
- Inability to control urination (urinary incontinence).
- Blood in the urine (hematuria).
- Conditions of the male reproductive system, including benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH, or enlarged prostate).
- Interstitial cystitis(painful bladder).
Urologists also treat other conditions, such as:
Prostate Cancer Screening
- The goal of prostate screenings is to find cancer early.
- Cancer is easier to treat and more likely to be cured if it is caught early.
- However, most cases of prostate cancer are not aggressive.
- More men have a slow-growing form of prostate cancer.
- This means they may not have symptoms or even require treatment.
- Nine out of 10 men who have prostate cancer go on to receive treatment.
- Prostate cancer treatment can have long-term side effects.
- These include loss of bladder control and erectile dysfunction.
- There is a rare chance of problems occurring in surgery to get a biopsy.
- This is the only way to confirm a prostate cancer diagnosis.
- In addition, PSA test results aren’t always accurate.
- Studies suggest that up to 80% of PSA test results are false-positives.
- This means that the PSA test result suggests that you might have cancer when you do not.
- A false-positive test result can lead to unneeded tests, such as a biopsy, and side effects from testing.
- It also causes worry for you and your family.
- In addition, PSA test results aren’t always accurate.
- For these reasons, the American Academy of Family Physicians and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force have issued clinical recommendations. For men 55 through 69 years of age, they do not recommend routine PSA screening. Instead, they recommend having a conversation with your doctor about the risks and benefits of periodic screening. They do not recommend PSA screening for prostate cancer in men 70 years of age and older.
- Other organizations have different screening recommendations.
- These include the American Cancer Society and the American Urological Association. Their guidelines depend on your age and state of health.
- Other organizations have different screening recommendations.
Things to consider:
- Ultimately, the decision to be screened for prostate cancer is between you and your doctor.
- Talk to them about your specific concerns.
- They can weigh the pros and cons with your personal health and risk factors.
- Doctors and scientists perform ongoing and new research.
- These studies, or clinical trials, help to learn more about the benefits and risks of prostate cancer screening.
- Ask your doctor about the most recent study results.
- Try to stay up to date on new progress in prostate cancer screening and treatment.
- Erectile dysfunction(ED).
- Kidney stones.
- Congenital urinary tract issues (problems with the urinary tract that you are born with).
