Urology is a surgical specialty that deals with the study, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of the urinary tract in both men and women, as well as diseases of the male reproductive system.
The urinary system consists of the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra. Its purpose is the production and excretion of urine and the maintenance of water/electrolyte balance.
Urological diseases are classified as follows:
Andrology is the medical specialty that specifically deals with diseases related to the male reproductive system.
The male reproductive system consists of the penis, the testes, and the ejaculatory duct.
Main categories of andrology include
The urological-andrological symptoms that cause disorders and require investigation and appropriate management by an Urologist-Andrologist are as follows:
a. Renal-ureter colic (pain in the kidney region with or without radiation towards the genital organs).
b. Orchialgia (pain in the testicles).
c. Prostatalgia (pain or discomfort in the genital organs, rectum, perineum, suprapubic region, bladder, or rectal area).
d. Urinary Frequency (when the micturition rate is more than 8 times per day and urine output is less than 200 ml per time.).
e. Nocturia (urination more than once during the nocturnal sleep period).
f. Dysuria (difficulty urinating usually accompanied by burning or pain).
g. Haematuria (presence of blood in the urine).
h. Pyuria (presence of white blood cells/pyospheres in the urine).
i. Oliguria-Anuria (decreased urine production).
j. Polyuria (excessive urine output exceeding 2.5 litters per day).
k. Enuresis (involuntary loss of urine by a child during the day and especially at night in bed, occurring at least twice weekly for at least three consecutive months, in children over 5 years of age).
l. Urinary incontinence (involuntary loss of urine without the patient's intention).
m. Urethral discharge (whitish, viscous, malodorous or odourless fluid at the external urethral meatus, usually accompanied by a burning sensation during urination).
n. Haematospermia (presence of blood in semen during ejaculation).