If you have a problem ‘below the belt’, where can you go for help? Not everyone knows this, but a urologist should be your first port of call if you’re having concerns with your urinary system and bladder.
What’s a urologist? This is a doctor who specializes in the urinary tract and the reproductive system and they can help both men and women, although they generally focus on male patients.
How can you know when to see a urologist? Keep reading to find six signs that you shouldn’t ignore.
1. Blood in Urine
We recommend that you see a urologist if you notice there’s blood in your urine when you go to the bathroom. While you’re sure to be a bit shocked when you see this, don’t panic—get an expert opinion instead.
If you see blood when going to the bathroom, it can be due to several reasons. They include UTIs, kidney infections, an enlarged prostate, or even certain cancers.
However, in most cases, the cause is easily treated. Your urologist can learn more about your symptoms and medical history to make a diagnosis.
2. Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is something that many men struggle with sometimes. You might find that you experience it on occasion, especially when you’re really tired, stressed, or after you’ve been drinking.
Sometimes, it might seem like you’re dealing with ED more often than you’d like. If it’s becoming a regular issue, you’ll want to make an appointment with your urologist.
ED can be caused by plenty of physical issues, including heart disease, low testosterone, high blood pressure, or cancer. Because the heart and veins are responsible for pumping blood all throughout the body, including the penis, ED can be a symptom of a problem with your heart and circulatory system.
Mental factors can also lead to ED, including stress, anxiety, depression, and relationship problems. With the help of a urologist, you can work out the causes for your ED and come up with a treatment plan.
3. Problems With a UTI
Both men and women can contract UTIs, which stands for a urinary tract infection. This is a common occurrence—an infection in the urinary system, including the bladder, urethra, or kidneys.
It’s caused by bacteria entering the urinary system and can happen at any time throughout your life.
A UTI can be incredibly uncomfortable, causing pain, frequent urination, and nausea. With the help of a urologist, you can treat a UTI with antibiotics, helping it clear up in just a few days.
4. Fertility Concerns
Are you hoping to start a family soon? If you and your partner are hoping to conceive, but haven’t had much luck, it can be helpful to speak to a urologist.
They can run tests on your semen and do blood tests to learn more about your fertility. By checking hormone levels, looking for ejaculation issues, and ruling out any antibody issues that attack sperm, you can gain a better picture when it comes to your ability to conceive.
5. You’re Having Trouble Going to the Bathroom
Issues with going to the bathroom is another reason to visit your urologist. Both men and women can have issues with incontinence, which means you have to go to the bathroom often, have trouble holding it in, or struggle with starting and stopping urine flow.
Urologists specialize in this area, so they are going to be more helpful than your GP.
Urinary problems can be caused by prostate issues, cancer, infections, weak bladder muscles, and being overweight. No matter the cause, incontinence can be a huge inconvenience, since it stops many men from living a normal life.
There are lots of new medical advances being made to help urinary issues, including research by Roivant Sciences.
6. You Feel a Lump in Your Testicles
Women know that they need to be aware of lumps in the breast, but not as many men know that they should be equally diligent when it comes to their testicles. Men, especially those in the 18-39 age group, should be aware of the symptoms of testicular cancer.
Lumps in the testicles can be a sign of cancer, but they can also be caused by injury, infection, or a fluid build-up.
We know it can feel a little embarrassing to talk to a doctor about something so personal, but try not to feel nervous. However, a urologist is a caring, educated professional who has seen just about everything before.
They’ll treat your case with respect and dignity and they are there to help you feel better, so there’s nothing to worry about. If it would make you feel more comfortable, you can ask your medical practice to refer you to a urologist who shares the same gender as you.
Some men, for example, feel happier to talk about personal issues with other men, rather than a female they don’t know.
Know When to See a Urologist With These Tips
If something isn’t right, you should always turn to a medical specialist for advice. Now that you know when to see a urologist, take action if any of the above are familiar to you.
You may need to speak to your family doctor first and ask for a referral, as this might be required for insurance purposes. Once that’s done, you can call the urology office and make an appointment to visit.
Once you’re there, they’ll talk to you about your concerns and will do some medical tests, helping you get back to normal as soon as you can!
If this article was helpful, please keep reading for more health information and tips.
