Understanding The Role of Urologists And How They Keep Your Urinary System Functional

In ancient times, doctors used to examine urine’s color, texture, and odor to find out the problem a person is suffering from. They used to look for blood, bubbles, and other signs in urine to confirm that a person is suffering from a certain disease. Even today, doctors suggest you to go for a urine examination to ensure everything is alright before suggesting you a blood test.

Today, the whole field of medicine focuses on the health of your urinary system, which is termed urology. You need to find the best Urologist in Singapore when you are planning to seeing the urology specialists.

What is a Urologist/Urology?

A urologist is a physician specialized in urinary tract diseases. A Urologist diagnoses and treats urinary tract diseases in both men and women. Apart from this, a urologist also diagnoses and treats problems associated with the reproductive system in men.  Those who are seeking treatment for a condition related to the bladder, urethra, ureters, kidneys, and adrenal glands, such patients are referred to a urologist. In men, urologists treat different conditions related to the epididymis, seminal vesicles, penis, prostate, and testes.

In some cases, urologists may perform surgery as well. For example, they open up a blockage in the urinary tract, perform vasectomy, circumcision, and remove cancer. Dr Shirley Bang is one of the reputable and experienced Urologists in Singapore who offer a variety of treatments to treat different urological conditions. A urologist like her could even help you by serving you as a primary doctor if you have regular problems with kidney stones, prostate cancer, or long-term problems with holding your urine.

Overview Of Different Parts Of Urinary Tract & Functions They Perform

The urinary tract is an important system in the human body that creates, stores, and removes urine from the body. Some of its elements and their functions are as follows:

  •         Kidneys: These are the organs that filter waste out of the blood and produce urine.
  •         Ureters: These are connecting tubes through which urine flows from the kidneys to the bladder.
  •         Bladder: It is a hollow sac where urine is collected and stored.
  •         Urethra: It is a tube through which urine travels from the bladder out of the body.
  •         Adrenal glands: The glands are located on top of each kidney and release hormones.

A urologist takes care of each one of these organs involved in urinary system functioning and treats the diseases related to any one of these organs.

Urologists also treat different parts of the male reproductive system which includes:

  •         Penis: It is the main organ that releases urine as well as carries sperm out of the body.
  •         Prostate: It is a gland present underneath the bladder and adds fluid to sperm to produce semen.
  •         Testicles: These are two oval-shaped organs inside the scrotum that produce testosterone hormone and produce sperm.

 Through this article, we want to tell you about different urological problems and diseases for which you can take the help of the best Urologist in Singapore. Before we move towards discussing different urological diseases, let’s first discuss “urology”.

What Is Urology?

Urology is a field of medicine that focuses on urinary tract diseases and the male reproductive tract. Some urologists provide treatment for general diseases of the urinary tract while others specialize in a particular type of urology, such as:

  •         Female urology: This type of urology focuses mainly on different women’s reproductive and urinary tract conditions.
  •         Male infertility: This type of urology focuses on issues that prevent a man from making a woman pregnant and conceive a baby.
  •         Neurourology: It focuses on urinary tract problems caused due to conditions of the nervous system.
  •         Pediatric urology: This type of urology focuses on urinary problems in children.
  •         Urologic Oncology: It focuses on cancers of the urinary system, which includes kidneys, prostate, bladder, and testicles.

Which Conditions Does A Urologist Treat?

Though there are different urological conditions that urologists treat, but here we have been discussing the major problems for which an individual should take the help of a specialist. These include:

Prostate Cancer: When you talk about urologists, most men think about prostate exams. This is necessary as well as one should keep a check on their prostate health. In the present time, PSA testing is performed rather than prostate exams as cancer is not detected often on prostate exams. But still, the exam remains important concerning your overall prostate health. It also helps in planning treatment for many prostate conditions. If cancer is found in your prostate or bladder, urologists can offer you lifesaving care.

When you visit a urologist, she will help you ensure that you don’t have a disease that could prove dangerous to your life. The best urologist in Singapore offers robotic surgery for different urological cancers that reduces nearly week-long hospital stay for kidney, bladder, or prostate cancer surgery. Experts believe that the field of urology is dynamic. It is always changing. We can make the best use of technology to prevent and treat prostate cancer and other types of urinary cancer in men.

Bladder Cancer: If we particularly talk about urinary bladder cancer, it is the most common type of cancer that begins in the urothelial cells that line the inside of your bladder. These cells are also found in the kidneys and ureters. Urothelial cancer can happen in the kidneys and ureters as well, but it is much more common in the bladder.

Most bladder cancers are diagnosed at an early stage. At this time, cancer is highly treatable. But it doesn’t mean that early-stage bladder cancers cannot reappear. It can also come back even after successful treatment. This is the reason why people with bladder cancer normally need follow-up tests even after years of treatment to ensure there are no reappearance signs of bladder cancer.

Different types of bladder cancer include:

  •         Urothelial carcinoma
  •         Squamous cell carcinoma
  •         Adenocarcinoma

Bladder cancer signs and symptoms may include blood in the urine (hematuria), frequent urination, painful urination, and back pain.

Prostate Gland Enlargement: There is a situation when you wake up in the night to urinate but you cannot produce the stream you once did. In this situation, urologists can help. Prostate in men grows as they age. An enlarged prostate gland can cause many discomforts such as blocking the flow of urine out of the bladder. It can also cause urinary tract, bladder, or kidney problems.

The symptoms of prostate gland enlargement vary from one person to the other, but symptoms tend to gradually worsen over time. Common signs and symptoms of prostate gland enlargement are:

  •         Frequent or urgent need to urinate
  •         Difficulty starting urination
  •         Dripping at the end of urination
  •         Inability to empty the bladder completely
  •         Increased frequency of urination at night (nocturia)
  •         Weak urine stream or a stream that stops and starts

Less common signs and symptoms include:

  •         Urinary tract infection
  •         Inability to urinate
  •         Blood in the urine

In some men, symptoms get stabilized and might even get better with time. Urologists have several techniques for relieving the obstruction from laser therapy to steam treatments.

Erectile Dysfunction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) can be common among adult males. There are many possible reasons for ED, which may include both emotional and physical conditions. Common causes include:

  •         Cardiovascular Disease
  •         Diabetes
  •         Hypertension, Or High Blood Pressure
  •         High Cholesterol
  •         Obesity
  •         Anxiety
  •         Certain Prescription Medications
  •         Consuming Too Much Alcohol
  •         Depression
  •         Drug Use
  •         Increased Age
  •         Kidney Disease
  •         Low Testosterone Levels Or Other Hormone Imbalances
  •         Relationship Problems
  •         Sleep Disorders
  •         Stress
  •         Using Tobacco Products

ED can be caused by only one of these factors or by several of them. Urologists can help you figure out the reason for the ED and treat any underlying medical conditions. In some situations, erectile dysfunction can specify other health problems that normally need careful attention.

Kidney Stones: The function of your kidneys is to remove waste and fluid from your blood to make urine. When you have too much of certain wastes, but not enough fluid in your blood, these wastes can accumulate inside your body and stick together to form clumps of waste are called kidney stones.

If you have kidney stones, you may notice any of the following symptoms:

  •         Pain while urinating
  •         Blood in your urine
  •         Sharp pain in your back or lower abdomen
  •         Nausea and vomiting

If you experience any of the above symptoms, you must consult the best urologist in Singapore for treatment and stone removal. Always keep in mind that kidney stones can recur. So, you have to take long-term care. Your urologist will advise you on how to prevent stone formation and how to manage painful stones that develop.

Whom You Should Consult For Any of the Above Problems?

You must make an appointment with Dr Shirley Band and consult her if you are experiencing any kind of problem-related to the urinary system. Dr Shirley Bang is a Singapore Medical Council certified Urology Specialist and one of the few female urologists in Singapore.  Before her current practice, she was a full-time Consultant in Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Dr Shirley’s subspeciality interest is in the treatment of Urinary Incontinence, Overactive Bladder Syndrome (OAB), Neurogenic Bladder, Functional and Reconstructive Surgery of the Urinary System. She also performs procedures for general urological conditions such as laser treatment for kidney stones and prostate conditions.

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