Here at UT Urology, we think about urologic health on a daily basis. Our patients usually do not, at least they didn’t until they were told by their primary care doctor that they should see a urologist. Until that type of recommendation is made, the average person usually doesn’t even know what a urologist does, let alone what they can do personally to improve their urologic health. We’ll touch on both here. 

Protecting Your Urologic Health

Urologic health is taking care of the urinary tract. This internal part of the body doesn’t receive the same type of care as other areas like the skin and the teeth. Because the urinary tract is all internal, we often don’t consider how what we do and don’t do could affect it. Some of the ways to be mindful of prioritizing urologic health include:

• Drinking plenty of water
• Eating a balanced diet
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Getting regular exercise
• Refraining from smoking (It is a contributing factor for bladder cancer)

In addition to following these general rules for health and wellness, it is possible to prioritize urologic health by limiting sodium intake. Salt and sodium are factors in fluid retention. When the body retains water, the mineral/water balance in the kidneys may be disrupted. Caffeine, as well, may affect the urinary tract. In this instance, it is because caffeine is a diuretic and can lead to bladder irritation.

According to the Urology Care Foundation, urologic health is also promoted by using good bathroom habits. The foundation advises people to take their time when using the bathroom, allowing their bladder to empty fully so as to decrease the risk of infection. Finally, we should not shy away from talking about our urologic health. If symptoms occur that are out of the ordinary, they should not be ignored. A urologist can provide care that reduces or eliminates symptoms altogether. 

Signs That You Should Visit Your Urologist

Telltale signs that you should see a urologist include:

• Pain when urinating
• Blood in the urine
• Inability to urinate
• Significant changes in urinary patterns
• Incontinence 
• Frequent urinary tract infections
• Lower abdominal pain
• Erectile dysfunction
• Male impotence
• Male infertility
• Testicular pain 

The team at UT Urology specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety of pediatric and adult urologic conditions. Contact us today to schedule your consultation. 

We expect our various organs to perform well from day to day. For the most part, they do, though they may surprise us from time to time with unexplained symptoms. With age, many men come to realize that they may live with occasional difficulty keeping an erection or with slower urinary flow. Overall, the effects of aging are normal and workable. However, there are certain symptoms a man should recognize as abnormal so he can obtain the care he needs to restore health.

Symptoms to Take to The Doctor

• Painful sex. There are several potential reasons why sex can be painful for a man. Perhaps the penis rubs up against a partner’s IUD (intrauterine device). Uncircumcised men may experience a minor tear in the skin during sex. Pain may also indicate a curve in the penis or, in some cases, penile fracture, though this is rare. In any case, if painful sex is the norm, it deserves some exploration with a medical professional.
• Poor erections. Many men expect some degree of erectile dysfunction as they age. All cases of erectile dysfunction should be examined. However, if it becomes impossible to keep an erection in any circumstance, medical attention is necessary. Erections are one of several biomarkers for heart health so, when things go South, your doctor wants to know why.
• Lumps or bumps. Just as women are encouraged to perform routine breast exams, men can benefit from examining their genitalia from time to time. Most bumps and lumps in the scrotum are benign and easily treatable. Common causes of bums include genital warts, varicocele, spermatocele, hydrocele, and hernia. Painless lumps in the testicles have a small chance of being cancerous and should be evaluated sooner rather than later.
• Testicular pain. Men learn early on that their balls are not supposed to hurt. There is no other pain in the body that is quite like testicular pain. Regardless of intensity, recurring or persistent ball pain should be checked out by a doctor to rule out infection, testicular torsion (twisting), varicocele, or another condition.

UT Urology offers the services you need to stay on track with optimal health and wellness. To schedule a visit to our Chattanooga facility, call (423) 778-5910.

When choosing a healthcare provider, there are certain qualifications one looks for. In the general setting in which a doctor will be chosen to perform basic general checkups and relevant screenings, most patients look for a physician who is board-certified. Instinctively, many people will look for the same when they need a specialist. At UT Urology, patients from the Chattanooga area are most likely to see a fellowship-trained urologist. Here’s why that matters.

Board Certification

The American Board of Urology sets the standard for the board-certification of urologists in our country. Physicians who have completed their training and residency requirements within the specialty of urology may apply for board-certification; a two-part examination process through which competency is confirmed.

Fellowship Training

Specializing in any area of medicine means that a physician has completed extensive schooling and advanced training. First, the specialist obtains their initial 4-year college degree just to enter medical school. This post-graduate training continues for another 4 years. Residency, which is usually a five-year program, then offers the physician the advanced training they desire to specialize in their chosen area, such as urology. A select few residency-trained physicians receive an invitation to complete Fellowship program in their area of specialty. Fellowship training is usually a one-year commitment.

What does fellowship training mean for a doctor? Expertise. A fellowship-training program is overseen by leaders in their field, providing the training physician with the opportunity to learn the most advanced diagnostic and treatment protocols available. The added level of expertise and insight translates into a higher standard of patient care.

The Urology team at UT Urology includes fellowship trained specialists across multiple areas of urologic care. Our physicians have received fellowship training in areas including female urology, microsurgery, robotic urology, and men’s health and reproductive urology. The extensive training that our team has undergone enables us to achieve accurate diagnoses and to develop treatment plans that achieve optimal patient outcomes.

We proudly serve patients from the Chattanooga area with professional care in a friendly environment. Contact UT Urology for specialized care in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, Peyronie’s Disease, kidney stones, overactive bladder, and more.

We’re here to help. Call (423) 778-5910 to schedule your visit.