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These are the most commonly asked questions we hear from our patients. Please read through them to see if we address your concern. If we don’t, feel free to call our office.
What is the prostate gland and what does It do?The prostate gland is situated between the bladder and the rectum, partly surrounding the urethra which carries urine from the bladder out of the body, and forms part of the male reproductive system, making and storing fluid which forms part of a man’s semen. The prostate gland is about the size of a walnut in an adult.
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer which normally appears late in life and tends to be slow growing. Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer in the United States today and in 2006 some 235,000 men were diagnosed with the disease and approximately 27,000 men died from it.
Men in general are at risk of contracting prostate cancer, although as it is an age related disease, it tends to appear only from about middle-age on-wards with the risk of contracting the disease increasing with age. Prostate cancer is more likely to appear in black men and where there is a family history of the disease.
In the early stages of the disease there are normally few, if any symptoms, and it is possible to suffer from prostate cancer for many years without even knowing it. When symptoms do start to appear they are likely to include such things as difficulty in urinating, the need for frequent urination (especially at the night), a poor flow or urine which tends to stop and start, painful urination, blood in the urine or semen, pain when ejaculating and pain in the lower back, hips or upper part of the thighs.
Detected early enough, yes.
Discuss this with one of our urologists during your appointment to be properly evaluated for the best course of treatment.
There are many easy treatments available, the key is to get checked early.
The term “overactive bladder” refers to bladder activity in people who urinate more than eight times during the day or more than two times at night (when trying to sleep); or bladder activity in people who experience an extreme urge to urinate and either lose bladder control before toileting or almost lose control. Many treatments are available for this condition, and different treatment options will be effective for different patients. Each patient is unique, and we recommend patient evaluations and personal assessments of treatment options for each individual, as the problem is not the exact same in everyone.
No. Healthy men are able to have sexual intercourse well into advanced ages. It is true that the frequency of erectile dysfunction (ED) increases with age, but this is a consequence of age related medical disorders, primarily vascular disease and in some cases adult onset diabetes mellitus.
For people who are at risk of developing ED due to personal behavior, such as drinking too much alcohol, steps may be taken to prevent its occurrence. However, other causes of ED may not be preventable.
There are many different ways ED can be treated, including: oral medications, sex therapy, penile injections and surgery. Each type of treatment has its own advantages and disadvantages. Talk to your doctor to determine the best treatment for you.
Medications such as Viagra are generally successful therapy for erectile dysfunction, with about 50% of people achieving positive results using the drug with a minimum of side effects.
Insurance coverage of ED depends upon the type of treatment prescribed. If there is a documented medical condition that is shown to be causing ED, insurance will usually cover at least some of it. Sex therapy and medications that have not yet been approved by the FDA, however, are generally not covered. Talk to your insurance provider to determine if the treatment you are considering will be covered.
Obtain an evaluation from your urologist to find out why you are predisposed to formation of kidney stones, and try to keep your appointments for follow-up to keep track of (or promptly treat) any new stones that might form.
We can end your pain immediately.
Your initial consultation may take anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the nature of your urologic concern.