Urology: Treating The Overlooked System of the Body

 By: Dhyan Patel

Urology

Note: This article is part of a student-run educational series on medical specialties, based on research and/or shadowing (in person or virtual), in order to educate other students who are interested in healthcare careers and may lack the ability to shadow specialists in their areas.

Background

Every time we drink a glass of water or some other liquid, our bodies rely on a complex system of organs in order to filter out waste, produce urine, and maintain our internal balance. However, when this system fails, it requires a special type of doctor in order to restore it. That doctor is a urologist.


Urology is the branch of medicine that focuses on the urinary tract in both men and women, and the male reproductive system. It is a specialty that combines surgery and internal medicine. This allows urologists to treat a wide range of conditions from kidney stones and bladder infections to prostate cancer.

So, what do they do?

Urologists are physicians who are trained to diagnose and treat diseases involving the kidneys, ureters, bladder, prostate, urethra, and male reproductive organs. Some of the common conditions that urologists treat include:

  • Kidney stones and urinary tract infections (UTIs)

  • Prostate enlargement or prostate cancer

  • Bladder cancer

  • Urinary incontinence (loss of bladder control)

  • Erectile dysfunction and male infertility

  • Congenital or structural abnormalities of the urinary system


Urologists often use imaging tools such as ultrasounds, CT scans, and cystoscopes (these are tiny cameras inserted into the bladder) in order to make precise diagnoses. Depending on the patient’s condition, the treatment might involve giving medications, doing minimally invasive surgery, or performing robot-assisted procedures.


Some of the more common procedures that urologists perform are:

  • Laser lithotripsy - a method of using concentrated lasers in order to break kidney stones into small, passable fragments.

  • Endoscopy - enabling doctors to navigate inside of the urinary tract with thin flexible instruments

  • Cryotherapy and radiation - used to treat cancers of the prostate, bladder, and kidneys.



Required education and training

In order to become a urologist, a person must earn their bachelor's degree and complete four years of medical school. After that urologists often enter a five to six year residency program that is focused on surgical training and providing urologic care to patients. 

Some people may choose to pursue fellowships in subspecialties such as

  • Urologic oncology - the cancers that occur in the urinary system

  • Pediatric urology - diagnosing urinary conditions in children

  • Female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery 

  • Male infertility and sexual health

Importance

The urinary and reproductive systems are important for an individual's health, however, they are often overlooked until something goes wrong. Urologists help restore the vital functions of these organs and allow patients to live without pain or fear.

References

Alliance Urology Specalists. (2020, July 17). 10 Common Urology Procedures - Alliance Urology. Alliance Urology. https://allianceurology.com/common-urology-procedures/

American Urological Association. (2024). Fellowships Societies - American Urological Association. Auanet.org. https://www.auanet.org/membership/membership-committees/residents-and-fellows-committee/fellowships

Cleveland Clinic. (2023, September 7). Urologist: What Is It, When To See One & What To Expect. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/21884-urologist

Comprehensive Urology. (2025, June 5). What is a Urologist Los Angeles? Comprehensive Urology. https://comprehensive-urology.com/general-urology/why-see-a-urologist/#:~:text=What%20conditions%20do%20urologists%20treat,Penile%20Enlargement%20and%20Male%20Enhacement

Medschoolcoach. (2021, February 4). Urology with Dr. Edward Chang - Virtual Pre-Med Education by MedSchoolCoach. Virtual Pre-Med Education by MedSchoolCoach. https://shadowing.medschoolcoach.com/lessons/urology-with-dr-edward-chang/

UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. (2023, June). What Is a Urologist | UCLA Medical School. UCLA Medical School. https://medschool.ucla.edu/news-article/what-is-a-urologist

UrologyAustin. (2018, July 20). What is Urology? - Female Urology - Male Urology - Urologist - Urology Austin. Urology Austin. https://urologyaustin.com/general-urology/what-is-urology/

Popular posts from this blog

Anesthesiology: The Heroes Who Keep Patients Alive

Image
By: Dhyan Patel Anesthesiology Note : This article is part of a student-run educational series on medical specialties, based on research and/or shadowing (in person or virtual), in order to educate other students who are interested in healthcare careers and may lack the ability to shadow specialists in their areas. Background When most people think about surgery, they usually think about surgeons standing over their bodies and performing various procedures in order to save someone. Now although that is true, there’s a hidden figure behind every successful surgery that most people tend to overlook: the anesthesiologist. Anesthesiologists are responsible for managing pain levels, monitoring patients' vital signs, and making sure that their patients not only remain safe, but also stable throughout their surgery. Without these professionals, mortality rates would increase and the surgical process that we have today wouldn’t exist at all. So, what do they do? Anesthesiologists are docto...
Read more

Neurosurgery: The Surgeons of The Most Complex Systems In The Body

Image
  By: Dhyan Patel Neurosurgery Note : This article is part of a student-run educational series on medical specialties, based on research and/or shadowing (in person or virtual), in order to educate other students who are interested in healthcare careers and may lack the ability to shadow specialists in their areas. Background One of the most demanding and precision requiring medical specialties is neurosurgery. Neurosurgeons are doctors who operate on the brain, spinal cord, and the nervous system. They perform some of the most complex and precise procedures in all of the medical field. Whether they are removing brain tumors, repairing spinal injuries, or stopping seizures, neurosurgeons are one of the most important types of doctors. As neurosurgery isn’t just simply cutting and stitching within the body, it is about navigating and working with the body's most important and delicate system: the nervous system. The system controls an individual's every thought, movement, and he...
Read more