When To See A Urologist For Urinary Problems

Picture this- you are in pain and even peeing seems like too much effort. If this is how your day is going, then it is better you get some expert help right away! A urologist is someone who specialises in dealing with all problems related to the urinary system- i.e. the kidneys, ureters which are the tubes that transport urine to the bladder which then stores it and the prostate gland in men, the urethra, the adrenal glands and the reproductive system at times. It is well known that the reproductive organs are closely linked to the urinary system too and that is why you may talk to a urologist for some specific issues. They will be able to check what went wrong and will try to address it in the right manner.

Signs You Need To Consult A Urologist Immediately

You should consider getting an appointment with a urologist if you have certain symptoms that do not seem to go away or look like they are getting worse. We have listed them out for you-

• If you have UTIs showing up one after the other, every few months.
• Incontinence- i.e not being able to control the urge to pee. In consequence, you may pee when you laugh or sneeze too.
• If you notice some blood clots in the urine.
• For men, the prostate gland is closely related to the urinary system. If there is some problem there in the form of an enlarged prostate or cancer, then you should get help.
• If your bladder causes you pain- interstitial cystitis.
• Erectile Dysfunction in men.
• Cancers that affect the bladder, prostate gland and the kidneys themselves.
• Kidney stones are a literal pain and need to be solved quickly.
• If you have any congenital urinary issues that you have faced from birth or childhood, then these can be addressed too.
• If the number of times you pee has changed drastically- i.e. it has reduced or gone up by a lot. 
• Cloudy or funky smelling urine.
• Pelvic prolapse where you feel that something heavy is sitting on top of your vagina 
• Infertility related issues
• Plain old pain in the pelvic area.

When Should Men See A Urologist For Prostate Issues

Men and women share a lot of similarities with respect to basic organ systems but there are many subtle differences and one of those is the presence of prostate glands in the former. The prostate gland is very necessary for men to be able to father children, as it makes the whitish, resource rich fluid in which the sperms swim in, when they enter the vaginal canal. This is for you men, specifically, so stay alert!

• You may have severe pelvic pain.
• You may need to pee very often and it will be a painful ordeal
• If you feel that you have not peed completely, then that is not fine either.
• If you notice any blood in urine or semen, then that is a red flag, literally.

Warning Signs Of Urological Cancers Needing Prompt Attention

Cancers are silent and often won’t show up on your radar until much later.. This is especially true for bladder or prostate related cancers. While the symptoms are very similar to other urological problems, it is sometimes difficult for people to understand if there is something seriously wrong with them. This is why we want to emphasise the importance of preventive screening here- getting annual health check ups is a great idea. The reason is simple too- if the cancer is caught in its initial stages, then treatment is not that hard and can mostly be managed even with non-invasive techniques- depending on the site and severity of the problem.

Conclusion

A major problem is just this- we don’t think it is appropriate to discuss these issues as it seems too personal. This is also why we tend to ignore them too. Testicular, bladder and prostate cancers can silently get much worse and not show any symptoms until much later. By then, the stage is more advanced and treatment gets much harder- both physically and financially. Self awareness and the urge to just procrastinate when it comes to seeing a specialist needs to stop. Your health is much more important than any deadline or commitment, so take good care of yourself first!