Since urologists are considered men’s health experts, many people think that only men see urologists – but that’s not true. Women can also see a urologist for a wide range of urinary system problems.
Urologists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of conditions affecting the urinary system as well as men’s sexual health. The urinary system includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, and men’s sexual issues generally involve the penis or the prostate.
Because there is a lot of crossover in men between sexual health issues and urinary issues, urologists spend most of their days seeing only male patients. Urologists are to men as gynecologists are to women, so every man should have a urologist.
Let’s talk about some of the urinary system problems affecting both men and women, and where you can go in Phoenix to see a highly experienced and acclaimed urologist who specializes in men’s health.
Urinary Problems that Can Affect Both Men and Women
A few of the most common urological issues that can occur in both men and women include the following:
Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are much more common in women than they are in men. UTIs are very different from yeast infections, which can simply be treated with over-the-counter antifungal cream. A UTI must be treated with a prescription antibiotic or penicillin, because the infection is deep in the body’s urinary system.
The reason why women get UTIs more frequently is that a woman’s urethra is shorter than a man’s, so it’s easier for bacteria to travel into the urinary tract and cause an infection. An untreated UTI can develop into a harmful kidney infection or even sepsis, so medical treatment is imperative.
Do not ignore your symptoms and figure they will go away eventually. Symptoms of a UTI include painful urination, a burning sensation while urinating, and frequent urination.
Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are hard deposits of salts and minerals in the kidneys that form when urine becomes highly concentrated, and your urine minerals become crystallized. These stones can be of uric acid, cystine, calcium, or struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate).
Typically, small kidney stones are treated with nonsurgical methods. Your urologist will likely recommend medication to help the stone excrete more easily through the urine.
However, for large stones, urologists either use sound waves to crush the stones into small pieces that can pass through the urine, or surgically remove the large stones.
Urinary Incontinence
In women, urinary incontinence is often called overactive bladder, and it is due to physiological changes such as menopause, pregnancy, and childbirth. In men, this condition is often caused by an enlarged prostate (BPH, or benign prostatic hyperplasia), Parkinson’s disease, or diabetes. Your urologist will recommend and administer treatment based on the precise cause of your loss of (or inadequate) bladder control.
Trusted Urologist in Phoenix, AZ
Here at Ironwood Urology, our board-certified urologist Dr. Desi Avila specializes in men’s health issues of all kinds, including urinary problems and men’s sexual health issues. Dr. Avila is committed to providing personalized and confidential treatment that works for you.
To book a consultation or to find out more about the services offered by Dr. Avila, call us today at (480) 961-2323 or fill out our convenient and secure appointment request form now. We look forward to serving you!
