Urology Exam (Meaning, Activities, Consultation, Common Exams)

As an adult, you will attain a certain age where it is in your best interests to have annual physical and other health exams.

A particular exam that is becoming increasingly vital is a Urology Exam, which tests for diseases and conditions affecting the urinary tract, including the adrenal glands, the kidneys, and the reproductive system.

You may be in doubt about how important embarking on a Urology Exam is, especially when you show no symptoms.

However, a yearly Urologic Exam can help identify problems before they become incurable and before symptoms develop or worsen.

Moreover, do not wait for the urological problem to progress before taking a Urology Exam.

Table of Contents

Urology Exam

What is Urology?

Urology is a medical speciality that focuses on the urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidneys.

It is the urinary system responsible for waste removal from the body, controlling our levels of electrolytes and metabolites, regulating our blood pH, and regulating blood pressure and blood volume.

With these many and different responsibilities, the urinary tract is prone to several health problems.

To know if you have a urologic condition, urologists have to perform a series of clinical and laboratory tests.

What Activities Take Place During a Urology Exam?

A Urology Exam usually begins when a urologist discusses a patient’s medical history with the patient undergoing the Urology Exam and looks for any symptoms the patient may be experiencing.

Then, the urologist will do a physical exam, including both prostate and genital exams. The urologist would then request for a urine sample to have it examined in a lab.

The urinalysis and physical exam outcome will help the urologist diagnose any medical condition you may be experiencing.

If you have symptoms, your urologist may also order further tests, including imaging tests such as an X-ray or ultrasound, to better understand the cause of your symptoms and even get a tissue sample by biopsy.

But for a usual Urology Exam, your urologist will be able to identify abnormalities such as infections or growth that you, as the patient, most likely won’t be aware of.

Duration of Urology Exam:

A Urology Exam does not take much time to conduct and can be done just in the same length as when you go for a doctor’s appointment.

Urology Exams are most important for their preventive benefits. The exams assist doctors in diagnosing conditions at an early stage.

This allows patients to get treatment faster and helps doctors deal with their situation as quickly as possible.

As a patient, you will have less symptoms if you seek therapy before your symptoms progress beyond your resistance level.

Urology Exams can aid in protecting you from many life-threatening conditions, so try to ensure you include them in your yearly checkups.

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Why consult a Urologist?

A urologist can help you maintain good urinary tract and prostate health. Urologists can assist you with many problems such as:

Pain when urinating
Urinary incontinence
Overactive bladder
Kidney stones
Urinary flow problems
Male infertility
Genital problems
Enlarged prostate
Cancer of the kidney, bladder, testes, penis, or prostate
Low testosterone

A urologist can help detect problems early before they become incurable or require significant and costly treatment.

For serious prostate problems such as cancer, early diagnosis can help save a life.

Three most common Urology Exams

1. Urine Tests:

A urologist will examine a urine sample to determine a series of urologic conditions, including kidney and urinary tract diseases. Here are some very common urine tests:

Urinalysis:

The urinalysis is used to test for substances such as nitrate, bacteria, white blood cells (indicators of infection), and foreign substances such as illicit drugs and high-performance steroids.

Urine cultures:

Urine cultures, which also check for infections and bacteria. The culture results help your urologist determine what type of infection there is and which drugs would be best to treat it.

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24-hour urine tests:

24-hour urine tests involve collecting urine over 24 hours; the up-side of this check-up is to test for changes in the number of urinary tract conditions such as preeclampsia, diabetes, and kidney disease throughout the day.

A 24-hour protein test tracks the amount of protein that enters the urine; this can lead to a number of health problems which may likely include kidney damage or disease.

2. Blood Tests:

Urologists may collect a little blood sample as part of the most common urology exams for testing to check the presence of disease or infection in the urinary tract.

One of the regular blood tests that a urologist will do is look for low testosterone in men. Other tests may include:

Creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) tests examine the kidney’s function by testing blood levels of creatinine and BUN.
Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test checks for inflammation of the prostate that can result from cancerous or non-cancerous problems.

3. Seminogram Tests:

This is also called a “semen analysis test,” which checks the quality and mobility of your sperm necessary for fertility purposes.

4. Physical Examination:

Urologists are regular physicians who work to ensure your overall well-being.

In addition to the tests mentioned above, your urologist may carry out tests in his/her office or refer you to a testing center depending on your medical condition, medications you are on (or the one that may be prescribed for you), family history and any symptoms you may have.

Conclusion

The examination associated with a urologist is an important step towards maintaining good health throughout your life.

Remember that your urologist is trying to assist you, keep you relaxed during your care, and work to improve your quality of life, whether you are struggling with cancer, sexual function problems, kidney stones, or urinary issues.

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Urology Exam (Meaning, Activities, Consultation, Common Exams)