When to consult

There is a long list of symptoms which refer to the genitourinary system, but at times you have no symptoms, and the disease is revealed on routine screening. Which is why urinary health monitoring is essential in clinical practice we see more often

Voiding issues For example:

• Frequent voiding
• Sense of urgency
• Poor flow
• Urinary Retention in children, adults both male and female.
• Bed wetting – all indicate the need for a visit to a Urologist.

Blood in urine (reddish discoloration) should not be ignored at any time.

Pain in the flanks, especially occurring suddenly.

Incontinence, that is, loss of voluntary control, especially in children & women.

Symptoms related to sexual intercourse, for example – dyspareunia.

Fever with chills heralds urinary tract infection

• Foreskin non retraction requires expert handling – being a sensitive area with future concerns.
• Pain in the testis in children & young demands immediate attention as it could be interruption of blood supply & loss of organ, if untimely attended.
• Blood in the ejaculate is a matter not to be placed aside for another day. Consult without delay.
• Priapism a state of painful , persistent erection of penis, an emergency which requires immediate attention.
• Marriage unconsummated – where a couple has not been engaged in normal penetrating intercourse– both partners need to be questioned in privacy.
• Marriage fully consummated, yet results in no issue, points to Infertility – male being culprit in more than 30% cases – needs examination & advice.
• Catheter related injuries esp in alcohol addicts occuring following urinary tract surgery leading to stricture and voiding difficulty.
• Gynaecomastia is at times related to hormonal issues – Urologist comes in picture.
• There are always Transexuals who are the people assigned male at birth who wish to adopt feminine gender roles.

 Also there is a state of Intersex – children with varied sexual anatomy that does not fit into typical male or female, manifesting as urogenital anomaly like hypospadias – needs a consultation.

Every male beyond 50 needs screening for possible prostatic problems because early-stage cancer presents with no symptoms. I feel this is crucial for advancing age where a urologist comes into picture more than anyone else.