Your urinary system consists of two kidneys, two ureters, a bladder, and a urethra. The urethra goes straight through the prostate in a man, and the prostate produces semen fluid during insemination.
Because a man’s urinary system and sex organs are so intertwined, men tend to see urologists much like how women see gynecologists. Urologists see many more men than women, and many urologists specialize exclusively on men’s health.
Let’s talk about some interesting facts about your urinary tract system and a man’s fertility system, and where you can go in Phoenix for outstanding men’s healthcare.
Facts About Urology and Sexual Health
- You may be asked to provide a urine sample for your urologist; therefore, you shouldn’t visit a urologist with an empty bladder.
- Your urologist will perform a physical exam, checking for any lumps or any signs of pain.
- When getting ready for a prostate cancer screening, be prepared to explain your medical history and the medical history of your family members (father, brothers, sons) – especially whether any of them have had urological or sexual health issues.
- Your urologist may conduct a test to determine your testosterone levels.
- If you are there to undergo a vasectomy, the procedure will only take between 10 and 30 minutes.
- Your kidneys are bean-shaped, and each kidney is about the size of your fist.
- If you have kidney stones, you will feel pain in your back as well as difficulty urinating.
- Your bladder is a balloon-like organ that can stretch and hold up to two cups of urine.
- Male and female urethras are different: The urethra in women is about 1.5 inches long, but in men it is 7 to 8 inches long.
- The length of the female urethra makes women more prone to urinary tract infections (UTIs), because bacteria have a much shorter distance to travel before they reach the bladder.
- Your urine color changes depending on what you ate recently and what medications you’ve taken.
- Limiting your intake of alcohol and caffeine, and drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water per day, can help your urinary tract stay healthy.
- A urinary tract problem is more common in women around menopause due to hormonal imbalance.
- A man’s prostate gland is walnut-shaped.
- As a man gets older, the prostate can become enlarged, and this can cause excess pressure on the urethra and create issues when urinating.
- An enlarged prostate is called BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia), and it does not increase your chances of developing prostate cancer.
- Obesity increases your risk of developing kidney stones.
- Having a family member (brother, father, son) with prostate cancer means your chances of having prostate cancer are double that of other men.
- The early stages of prostate cancer are asymptomatic. Therefore, routine screening by a urologist can help detect prostate cancer while it is treatable, before it becomes more serious.
- Having high PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels in your blood does not necessarily indicate prostate cancer. If your PSA level begins to rise, however, then that may be an indicator of prostate cancer.
Experienced Urologist in Phoenix, Arizona
Every man should have a trusted urologist by his side to help keep him healthy and enjoying an active lifestyle. At Ironwood Urology in Phoenix, Dr. Desi Avila is our board-certified and fellowship-trained urologist who specializes in men’s health – including prostate health, male infertility, robotic surgery, vasectomy, and vasectomy reversal.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Avila, contact us today by calling us at (480) 961-2323, or request an appointment via our online form. We look forward to being your healthcare partner.
