It’s common to have questions when faced with medical testing or unexpected issues. As experts, it’s our job to make sure you’re informed, confident and comfortable. See below for a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) about urology in general and our practice in particular.
General Urology Questions
- What is urology?
- Urology is a surgical specialty that addresses male and female diseases of the urinary tract, as well as male reproductive system disorders.
- What are the training requirements for a urologist?
- Most urology residencies require at least two years of general surgical training, followed by an additional four years of specialty training in urologic surgery.
- Do urologists treat both males and females?
- Yes. Urologists treat men and women of all ages.
- What are some of the common conditions that urologists treat?
- Although our group can treat virtually any urologic condition, some of the more common disorders include impotence or erectile dysfunction; incontinence or loss of bladder control; kidney stones and other diseases of the kidney; infertility; and prostate diseases (both benign and malignant).
Impotence
- What kinds of non-surgical therapies are available for men with impotence?
- Caverject® is one popular form of treatment. The therapy involves medication that is directly injected into the penis to produce an erection.
- Are there any oral medications used for treating impotence?
- Viagra®, Levitra® and Cialis® are effective and safe oral agents for appropriate candidates. For example, men with a history of cardiovascular disease and especially men who are currently taking agents from the nitroglycerine family are not candidates for treatment with this class of drugs.
- Are there any other non-surgical impotence treatments?
- Yes. The vacuum constriction device is another excellent non-surgical treatment option. This system uses a plastic cylinder that is placed over the penis; a small pump is then used to create negative pressure, which acts to “pull” blood into the penis – producing an erection. A rubber band is then applied to the base of the penis, so that blood is trapped in the erect penis to sustain the erection until the band is removed.
- What are my options if non-surgical impotence treatments don't work?
- Penile implant surgery is always an option for men who aren’t happy with other treatments. We can do most penile implant procedures on an outpatient basis with a relatively short recovery period.
Other Urology Conditions
- Is there anything new in the treatment of kidney stones?
- Most stones in either the kidney or the ureter (the tube that carries the urine from the kidney to the bladder) are now treated with a non-invasive shockwave technique called lithotripsy. We have access to the most modern equipment for treating stones on an outpatient basis.
- What are the current screening guidelines for prostate cancer?
- The American Cancer Society recommends annual screening for all men over the age of 50, including a digital rectal exam and a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test. Men with a family history of prostate cancer should start yearly screenings between age 40 and 45.
- Are there new developments for the treatment of urinary incontinence in women?
- Yes. There are several new products and procedures available for treating incontinence, including the new tension-free vaginal tape. Contact us for more details.
Vasectomies
- What information do I need before I schedule a vasectomy?
- We’re happy to provide you with a packet of information that describes the procedure in detail. Contact us to request a packet.
- What is a no-scalpel vasectomy?
- The no-scalpel vasectomy has become very popular in the U.S. because of the decreased discomfort that men experience with this particular technique. Our group performs the no-scalpel vasectomy, and we would be happy to provide you with more information about this procedure. Contact us for more details.
Texas Urology Specialists Group
- Does your group participate in managed care plans?
- Yes. We currently participate in more than 50 such plans, including many major healthcare plans in Texas, as well as Medicare.