A urologist is a specialist who diagnoses, prevents and treats diseases of the genitourinary system. Both women and men can seek their help. These specialists provide comprehensive medical care for diseases of the ureters, bladder, kidneys and urethra. Urologists also treat disorders of the male reproductive system.

Symptoms that call for a specialist:

  • Pain in the groin (including during urination), lower abdomen, perineum and lower back
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Blood or pus in the urine
  • Infrequent or frequent urination
  • Inability to have sexual intercourse
  • Prolonged erections at night

The causes of these symptoms are varied: inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system, sexually transmitted infections, hormonal disorders, hereditary diseases, obesity, physical inactivity (lack of exercise), unhealthy habits, stress, hazardous work and so on.

These symptoms indicate that you need to see an andrologist – a doctor who examines, diagnoses and treats the male reproductive system. The male reproductive system consists of the following organs: the prostate gland and seminal vesicles, the penis and urethra, the testicles and epididymides, and the vas deferens – all of these organs are treated with andrological methods. The andrologist also gives advice on methods of contraception.

When to visit a urologist:

The risk of urological diseases increases with age, so an annual preventive examination is advisable. This is especially relevant for men over 45.

Diagnosing urological diseases

Before prescribing treatment, the urologist carries out a series of diagnostic examinations: a physical examination, laboratory blood and urine tests, ultrasound, X-ray, tomography, biopsy and other innovative investigation methods. These methods make it possible to establish an accurate diagnosis and begin treatment in good time.

A urology consultation includes:

Taking the medical history. Tell the doctor about all your concerns and try to answer all their questions about your symptoms, any genetic predisposition to certain diseases and how long the symptoms have been present. This allows the necessary diagnostics to be ordered and the nature and extent of the condition to be determined quickly.

Examination. This includes a visual examination and palpation of the genitourinary organs.

Urethral swab. This test detects conditions such as cystitis, urethritis and prostatitis.

Modern urological surgery in Switzerland:

Transurethral. In these procedures, the surgical site is accessed through the urethra. This approach is usually used to remove stones from the urinary tract or to perform prostate resection for adenoma.

Retroperitoneal. These operations access the surgical site from the lower back. They are used to treat pathological changes of the kidneys and adrenal glands.

Laparoscopic. In these procedures, the surgical site is accessed through small punctures in the abdominal wall. Laparoscopic operations are used to correct congenital malformations of the organs and to remove kidney tumours.