Interview When should you become a urologist?

What does a urologist do? Reinhold Schaefer

Everyone knows that they are the experts in men's health. But urologists are also the specialists for the urinary and urinary organs such as kidney, urinary bladder, ureter and urethra. So they are automatically contact for women, even if that sounds strange. But what exactly does a urologist do? Dr. Reinhold Schaefer from the Uro-GmbH Nordrhein, a consortium of established urologists in NRW, answers the five most important questions:

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• What does a urologist do? Reinhold Schaefer
• What are the most common diseases that a urologist treats?
• Which examination methods do you primarily use?
• Which treatment options are important for a urologist?
• Which individual health services (IGeL) make sense?
• Where do your treatment options end in practice and when do you assign a patient to a hospital??

What are the most common diseases that a urologist treats?

"The most common diagnoses in urologists are diseases of the prostate and cancers of the urological specialty, ie kidney, bladder, prostate, testicles and penis. But also problems with urination, stone suffering, infections, erection problems, fertility and hormone disorders are among the most common diseases. Last but not least, urologists are experts in urinary incontinence. "

Which examination methods do you primarily use?

"Urinalysis has always been an indispensable method in medical and especially urological diagnostics to detect or monitor disease progression. Blood tests as well as urine tests provide evidence of renal dysfunction, bacterial infections, evidence of cancer and play an important role in the diagnosis. Urethral measurements, ultrasound examinations and X-ray examinations of the urinary tract are further important components of urological diagnostics. A bladder reflex can provide direct evidence of bladder disease "

Which treatment options are important for a urologist?

"Basically, the treatment options of a urologist range from practical tips in talking about medication, even as infusions, to out-patient surgery. So in a benign prostate enlargement sometimes even a tip for the right bike saddle. Depending on the type of disease and the severity of the symptoms, drug or surgical therapies are used. Today, urologists perform many operations on an outpatient basis, such as procedures for treating inguinal hernias, sterilizations, testicular biopsies or water and testis fractures. Also, comprehensive hormone treatments for erectile dysfunction as well as radiotherapy or a novel immune stimulation in cancer are urological treatment options. Alternative therapies are rarely used in urological practices. However, there are practices that offer, for example, acupuncture for pain relief. In all cases, the discussion between the doctor and the patient about the symptoms and wishes of the patient as well as the course and the degree of the illness is the precursor for therapy and healing. "

Which individual health services (IGeL) make sense?

"Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. Most meaningful IGeL performance is therefore the PSA test for the early detection of prostate cancer. In addition, I advise - by the way also in women - to regular early detection measures of bladder cancer and kidney cancer. "

Where do your treatment options end in practice and when do you assign a patient to a hospital??

"Hospitalization will be necessary if outpatient surgery is no longer possible. Acute urological emergencies such as kidney, bladder or urethra and a testicular tumor also require hospitalization. "(Sb, pm)