Common Conditions Treated By a Urologist

 A urologist is a doctor who specializes in the care of the urinary tract. If you have any issues with your bladder, kidneys, or urethra, you should go to this type of physician. In many cases, you should get a referral from your primary care physician first, since you may have an issue he or she could take care of. Here are some conditions most urologists have the training and experience to treat.

If you have kidney stones, you may need to see a urologist. Of course, the first time you experience symptoms, you might not even know what it is. You will likely end up going to your regular doctor or even the emergency room first, where you should get treated. But if you continually get kidney stones, your doctor might refer you to a specialist to determine if there is a way you can avoid this problem in the future. He or she can at least let you know how to manage it.

If you get frequent urinary tract infections, there may turn out to be a problem that a specialist can fix. Many people get a few UTIs throughout life, but some people get them more often than others. If this describes your situation, you might need a more permanent cure, such as surgery. At the very least, a specialist can let you know what to do the next time you feel a UTI coming on.

Cancer that affects the urinary tract is another issue that urologists are trained to deal with. If you have reason to believe you might have cancer of the kidney, bladder, prostate, or other areas in the urinary tract, you need to see a doctor. Your primary care physician can let you know if he or she recommends testing from a urologist, or you can simply go right to this type of specialist if you are fairly certain you have the symptoms of cancer and want to get a diagnosis as soon as possible.

Most insurance plans cover treatment from urologists as long as it is evident that it is medically necessary. If you are worried about the costs of care, you should check with your insurance provider to find out what exactly is covered. Keep in mind that some providers require you to get a referral from a primary care practitioner before you can see a specialist, so be sure to do this when necessary. In the end, you will likely find you will benefit from seeing a doctor of this type.