Vasectomy is the most common form of male sterilization and is a popular choice for couples who have completed their families. However, there are other alternatives to vasectomy, choices people might not be aware of.
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It is very important for those who have had a vasectomy to do the necessary steps for recovery in order to avoid any further complications. This includes consulting with a medical professional before the procedure, having a clear understanding of the risks, and following the doctor’s instructions.
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It is no surprise then that so many questions and myths about vasectomies exist. This article debunks five of the most common vasectomy myths with evidence from clinical studies. With accurate information and knowledge that vasectomies are a safe, effective and long-term option, men can make an informed decision.
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Prostate enlargement neither causes nor turns into prostate cancer, and is a completely separate condition. In fact, the risk of prostate cancer is lower in men with an enlarged prostate than in men without the condition. However, the two conditions are linked in various ways. Here are four ways in which BPH and prostate cancer are connected
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Recurrent urinary tract infections (RUTIs) are due to persistent re-infection of any part of the urinary tract by the same pathogen. The infections can be really frustrating as they keep coming back. When you have recurrent UTIs, you can use antibiotics to clear the infection within a few days. You can also use the following simple measures to prevent UTIs.
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Vasectomy is a permanent form of birth control that prevents a man from fathering biological children. The question of when to undergo the procedure is a personal one and there is no right time or age. However, on average, men tend to get the procedure at 35 years or older. It is important to note that a vasectomy is not recommended for men under the age of 18, and in some states, men under the age of 21 are not eligible for the procedure through federally-funded medical facilities.
It is important to make sure that you have given serious thought and consulted with professionals before making the decision to undergo the procedure. It is also important to consider factors such as your partner’s age and fertility. If your partner is nearing menopause or has a condition that prevents her from conceiving, a vasectomy may not be necessary.
It is also important to be aware that a change of mind is possible at any age, and it is crucial to thoroughly consider the decision before proceeding. If at any age, you are confident that you do not want children and a healthcare provider refuses to perform the procedure, it is recommended to seek a second opinion.
In terms of age limitations, there is no upper limit for a vasectomy as long as overall health is good enough. However, it is important to take into account any potential health risks and to discuss the pros and cons of the procedure with a healthcare professional. Ultimately, the right time to undergo a vasectomy is when you have fully considered the decision and are confident in your choice to not have any more biological children.
At Advanced Urology Institute, we prioritize your health, safety, and peace of mind. So, we ensure that we have enough time with you during consultation to explore the pros and cons of a vasectomy and make sure it is the right procedure for you. Book your consultation with us now to have your questions answered and to prepare yourself adequately for the procedure.
For more information on a vasectomy, vasectomy reversal, and other urological and male reproductive health services, visit the site “Advanced Urology Institute.”
Infertility can be a frustrating and emotionally challenging experience for couples trying to conceive. The causes of infertility can be attributed to health problems, environmental factors, or lifestyle choices.
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An overactive bladder (OAB) is a condition where you are not able to hold urine in your bladder due to involuntary bladder muscle contractions. It causes a frequent, sudden and difficult-to-control urge to pass urine, which may lead to unintentional loss of urine. You may also feel the urge to pass urine 8 or more times in 24 hours.
With an overactive bladder, the first-line treatment is usually behavioral and lifestyle changes. But if the condition remains troublesome even with the changes, further treatment may include medications, bladder injections, nerve stimulation, percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS), or surgery.
Symptoms of an overactive bladder can be relieved by avoiding foods and drinks known to irritate the bladder.
Common culprits include alcohol, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, citrus fruits and juices, and chocolate. Other foods and drinks to avoid or reduce are sodas and fizzy drinks, cranberry juice, corn syrup, tomatoes, sugar, honey, vinegar, dairy, and spicy foods.
Since irritation from foods and drinks vary from person to person, you can benefit by keeping a diary of what you take and the associated bladder symptoms. A diary can help you work out which foods are causing you problems.
Quitting smoking can remedy an overactive bladder. That’s because smoking tends to make the symptoms of the condition worse, while the coughing fits associated with smoking tend to increase OAB-associated leakage of urine.
Another change that can improve an overactive bladder is withdrawal of medications contributing to the problem. For instance, diuretics, antihistamines, muscle relaxants, sedatives, narcotics, and alpha-adrenergic antagonists worsen OAB symptoms. So if you’re taking any medications you suspect to be behind the problem, speak with your doctor about alternatives.
Also, losing weight can reduce the pressure on your bladder and pelvic floor muscles, and improve your bladder control.
There are a number of bladder control techniques you can apply, including scheduled urination, delayed urination, and double-void technique.
By scheduled urination, you keep a diary of your urinary habits, such as bathroom visits, any leakages, and urgency symptoms. Based on the patterns in your diary, you start scheduled bathroom trips aimed at adding at least 15 minutes to your normal urination times.
For example, if you pass urine every 60 minutes, you change this and schedule your bathroom breaks for every 75 minutes. Then you stick to these scheduled visits regardless of whether you feel the urge to pass urine or not. After that, you gradually increase the time interval between your bathroom visits
Delayed urination means every time you feel the urge to go, you try to delay by some minutes, if possible, usually by at least 5 minutes. You can use relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing to help delay. The aim is to gradually increase the delay time until you have achieved a 3-4 hour gap between your bathroom visits.
Double voiding technique is useful if you feel your bladder does not empty fully. It is also worthwhile to double void before bedtime.
To do so, you sit in the toilet, lean slightly forward, rest your hands on your knees or thighs, and urinate as normal. Then you remain in the toilet and wait for another 30 seconds, leaning slightly further forward to urinate once more.
Kegels involve strengthening exercises on the pelvic floor muscles, which are the muscles that help to control urine flow. To locate your pelvic floor muscles, try to stop urine flow midstream. If you succeed, it means you have located the muscles.
Now, practice squeezing these muscles for 10 seconds and relaxing for 3 seconds, repeating the pattern 10 times. Then try to do 3 sets of 10 repetitions daily. Deep breathe to make the process easier.
Drinking plenty of water is essential for your health, and you shouldn’t stop because of an overactive bladder.
That’s because taking too little water allows your urine to be more concentrated, which may irritate your bladder lining and increase urgency. But excess fluid intake may also make frequency symptoms worse, such as fluid intake before bed contributing to urinating during the night.
Make sure to drink 6-8 glasses of water daily, but to avoid liquid intake 2-3 hours before going to bed.
There are a number of herbs and supplements that are effective in treating an overactive bladder. Speak with your urologist about these options for recommendations, but don’t use them without your doctor’s advice.
This is a blend of 10 traditional herbs that help with overactive bladder by increasing the bladder’s capacity and lowering bladder contractions. It reduces frequency, urgency, and nighttime urination in people with the condition.
Capsaicin is an extract from chili peppers. It works by blocking signals from the nerves in the bladder and ensures the bladder holds urine longer. Plus, it helps to manage pelvic pain syndrome, of which overactive bladder is usually a symptom.
The extract is effective in improving pelvic floor health. It helps to strengthen pelvic floor muscles and enhances control of muscles involved in passing urine.
Magnesium helps maintain normal blood pressure, reduces muscles spasms, and allows the bladder to empty fully. As an alternative to magnesium hydroxide, you can add magnesium rich foods, like bananas, kale, pumpkin seeds, and cashews to your diet if your doctor deems it safe.
Saw palmetto has been tested in men with an enlarged prostate, where it has demonstrated efficacy in treating the condition as well as relieving bladder control symptoms. Hence, using it helps improve bladder issues associated with OAB.
This is a chemical derived from a cactus-like plant. It is effective in blocking signals from the bladder nerves to the brain; hence, reducing the strength of the urge to pass urine, allows the bladder to hold urine longer, and relieves symptoms of an overactive bladder.
Increased intake of vitamin D lowers the risk of pelvic floor disorders, such as bladder leakage, especially in women. For older adults, more vitamin D in the diet or as a supplement effectively prevents bladder leakage.
This is an enzyme found in pineapple plant. It has powerful anti-inflammatory abilities and prevents bladder irritation. Therefore, it has a positive effect on those with an overactive bladder.
Cornsilk refers to the hair-like threads found on top of the ears of corn and beneath cornhusks. It is rich in flavonoids and is helpful in relieving bladder control symptoms by reducing inflammation and protecting the bladder wall against irritation.
This is a wild flower with tiny hooks on its stems, seeds, and leaves. It reduces bladder inflammation and protects the bladder wall from irritation.
At Advanced Urology Institute, we are known for our comprehensive, accurate diagnosis and tailored approach to treating urological disorders. With an overactive bladder, we make sure to establish the underlying cause, whether weak or stretched pelvic floor muscles, an enlarged prostate, chronic UTI, obesity, diabetes, or a nerve problem.
Then, as first-line treatment, we often recommend natural remedies such as behavioral, lifestyle and dietary changes. For a more bothersome and persistent overactive bladder, we offer a variety of surgical and non-surgical interventions.
For more information on an overactive bladder and other urological disorders, visit the site “Advanced Urology Institute.”
Kidney stones that range from 0.5 to 4.0 millimeters in diameter can and often do go away on their own. Such stones pass easily in urine without causing pain as long as there is adequate water intake to increase urine flow and aid their passage. These stones pass on their own within a few days, though most will do so within 2-3 weeks.
On the other hand, kidney stones that are 5 millimeters or bigger in diameter don’t go away easily on their own. As they move down the urinary tract, they may get stuck and cause severe pain that may require narcotics for initial pain relief.
Then as the stone continues to move down the urinary tract, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication) can be used to manage the pain. Drinking a lot of water may help to pass such stones.
With guidance and supervision of your urologist, you can stay at home and wait for kidney stones to pass on their own. But when in too much pain, you may need hospitalization for pain control and intravenous (IV) fluids to boost hydration and further help the stones to pass.
Kidney stones that are 5-10 millimeters in diameter may be problematic, but they still have a reasonable chance of going away on their own. To aid their passage, your urologist may prescribe the drug tamsulosin (Flomax), an alpha-blocker medication that relaxes the muscles of the distal ureter—the portion of the ureter right above your bladder.
Relaxing the ureter helps kidney stones to pass on their own in urine over a period of 2-4 weeks. It also relieves discomfort associated with the stones. But tamsulosin is equally a well tolerated drug that increases the probability of passing a stone from home and without further medical intervention.
Of course, giving the drug does not guarantee that the stone will pass in urine. However, as long as there is no severe pain that needs hospital admission for a surgical procedure, the drug is great option for passing kidney stones from home.
If kidney stones fail to go away on their own for up to 6 weeks, surgery is the best option. In fact, a timely surgical removal of the stones helps to avoid possible blockage of the ureter.
Ureter blockage can cause pain, problems with urination, blood in urine, and changes in the amount of urine produced. Also, if left untreated, a stone that is blocking urine flow can cause complications, such as recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI), hydronephrosis, and permanent kidney damage.
Equally, when kidney stones occur alongside a urinary tract infection, sepsis may develop. Since sepsis is a life-threatening condition, it may be necessary to have a tube (catheter) placed in the ureter or kidney to drain the infected urine.
It is the least invasive outpatient procedure for removing kidney stones that fail to pass on their own. A urologist uses a machine to generate waves that are then targeted at the kidney stone with the help of imaging guidance. No incisions are made.
A stone is hit several times with the waves in a procedure that takes roughly 2 hours and with the patient under general anesthesia. In the process, the stone breaks into smaller pieces, which go away on their own in urine without much discomfort.
Shock wave lithotripsy is advisable for smaller kidney stones, 2 centimeters or less in diameter, but that are located high up in the kidney.
For kidney stones 1.0 to 1.5 centimeters in diameter, ureteroscopy is an effective option. The minimally invasive outpatient procedure involves placing a small, lighted tube with a camera at its tip—ureteroscope—into the urethra, then into the bladder, and further up the ureter.
A smaller laser device is then passed through the scope to help break down the stone. The resulting stone fragments are removed via a basket, a stent, or rubber tube passed through the scope.
When kidney stones are bigger than 2 centimeters in diameter, percutaneous nephrolithotomy or nephrolithotripsy is the preferred surgical intervention. In both procedures, the urologist makes an incision in the back to create a pathway to the kidney.
A nephroscope—a tube with surgical tools and a camera on its tip—is inserted through the incision. If the surgical tools are used to remove the stone, the procedure is called nephrolithotomy. But when the tools are only used to break up the stone, the procedure is called nephrolithotripsy.
Through the nephroscope, the doctor administers a laser or ultrasonic device that vibrates at high frequency to fragment the stone. Then suction is passed via the tube to remove the fragments. The doctor may also insert a stent in the ureter to help with swelling and enable the patient to urinate.
For patients with bigger, more problematic stones, robotic assisted surgery is a great option. During the procedure, the surgeon makes small incisions in the abdomen through which a laparoscope (a lighted tube with tiny surgical tools and a camera at its tip) is inserted.
Using the surgical tools controlled by a computer console in the operating room, the doctor accesses and opens up the kidney to remove the stone.
Are you suspecting that you have kidney stones? At Advanced Urology Institute, we offer a range of surgical and non-surgical interventions to deal with kidney stones.
For more information on prevention and treatment of kidney stones and other urological problems, visit the site “Advanced Urology Institute.”
Are you a man intending to undergo a vasectomy but aren’t sure about its efficacy?
Are you worried that the procedure will affect your sexual desire, performance or pleasure?
Or are you anxious that the sperm prevented from reaching your ejaculate may cause adverse effects in your body?
If so, here is what you should know about the fate of your sperm after a vasectomy.
A vasectomy doesn’t stop your body from producing sperm. It only stops the sperm produced from being part of the fluid you ejaculate. The procedure does not in any way interfere with your testicles, which is your body’s sperm factory.
Inside the testicles are tiny, coiled tubes known as the seminiferous tubules. The tubules produce sperm throughout your lifetime. They contain cells called sperm nurse cells that control the sperm stem cells from where new sperm cells emerge. The sperm nurse cells are surrounded and stimulated by testosterone-producing cells.
Vasectomy does not affect any of these cells found in the seminiferous tubules. So it does not hamper or limit sperm production. And your body continues to produce sperm just as it did before the procedure.
Before a vasectomy, the sperm produced in your testicles are moved and stored in the tightly coiled tube, called the epididymis. The sperm cells stored in the epididymis are then transferred to the vas deferens and out of the body via the urethra during ejaculation.
During a vasectomy, the vas deferens is cut and blocked, closing the pathway along which sperm move out of the body. So the sperm produced in the testicles and stored in the epididymis can no longer move out of the epididymis through the vas deferens to be part of the semen you ejaculate.
The sperm remains stored and unused in the epididymis for a period of time. After that, the body’s natural destruction process occurs, where the sperm is dissolved and reabsorbed into the body through the membrane lining the epididymis.
The process of re-absorbing sperm in your body after a vasectomy is similar to what happens to the sperm the body produces during periods when you are sexually inactive. Of course, when you’re sexually active, you ejaculate regularly, use most of the sperm produced, and compel the body to make more sperm.
But when you are sexually inactive for an extended period of time, your body produces less sperm and stores and reabsorbs unused sperm. It is this same process of naturally re-absorbing unused sperm that occurs after a vasectomy. The natural, harmless process swings into action to prevent buildup of unused sperm if you don’t ejaculate for a long period.
The process occurs in two steps. First, the body uses special cleanup cells called macrophages to break down old or unused sperm by dissolving them. Secondly, the remnants of broken-down sperm cells are absorbed into the membrane lining the epididymis.
Because the vasectomy procedure does not affect your testicles, it does not interfere with your testosterone levels. So your sexual desire is not affected.
Also, a vasectomy does not interfere with your ability to have and maintain an erection. So if you have no erectile dysfunction before the procedure, you’ll have normal erections and performance after it. In fact, your performance may be improved by the boost you get from not worrying about the risks of pregnancy.
Likewise, since the ejaculate is usually made up of 2-5 percent sperm, the volume of your ejaculate does not change after a vasectomy. You’ll be able to have sex, feel the same levels of pleasure, and ejaculate normally. The only difference will be the absence of sperm in the ejaculate.
With a long-term success rate of 99-percent, a vasectomy is one of the best forms of birth control; only second to abstinence. But you’ll still need to be careful a few weeks after the procedure as you can still make your partner pregnant.
There will be some sperm in the upper portion of the vas deferens after a vasectomy. These sperm cells will find their way in semen and may cause a pregnancy if you have sex after the procedure. That is why you need to use an alternative form of birth control until the absence of sperm in your semen has been confirmed.
The sperm count in semen decreases gradually after a vasectomy. But it takes approximately 8 weeks or 20 ejaculations following a vasectomy for the semen to be sperm-free. Your doctor will recommend tests on your semen during this period to check for the presence of sperm.
Vasectomy is a safe, effective, and permanent birth control method. It neither interferes with your sex life nor stops your body from producing sperm. It only stops sperm from being part of the ejaculate, but with not much difference in the color and quantity of semen you ejaculate.
At Advanced Urology Institute, we offer safe, effective vasectomy procedures. Before the procedure, we spend time discussing the procedure and its benefits and risks ensuring that our patients are ready for permanent birth control. We also offer vasectomy reversal for men who have undergone the procedure but for some reasons need to have children again.
For more information on vasectomy and vasectomy reversal, visit the site “Advanced Urology Institute.”
Penis enhancement surgery is a procedure to correct structural and functional problems of the penis. It may be recommended after an injury, defect, or loss of function. But usually, it is a corrective measure for a micropenis or a buried penis, both of which cause functional issues with urinating, sexual intercourse or hygiene.
In rare cases, the procedure may be considered for making the penis longer or larger. It may also be used to make the stomach smaller in order to allow the penis to appear longer and wider. But surgery to increase size or width of the penis is medically discouraged and is a deeply personal decision that requires careful consideration.
That’s because most men who usually think they have a small penis tend to actually have a normal-sized penis. Also, most of the penis enhancement claims are false and tend to involve techniques and products that may be harmful to the penis.
Jelqing is a natural penis enlargement exercise involving a hand-over-hand rolling motion to increase blood flow to the head of the penis and stretch the organ. Though a fairly safe practice that can enhance the penis, it is not backed by enough medical studies and may lead to pain, irritation, or scar tissue formation if done too often or aggressively.
While there are numerous penile enlargement vitamins, pills, herbal preparations, hormones, and lotions, most of the claims about them aren’t supported by evidence. Some may even interfere or interact with other medications or be harmful to users.
Penile extenders are non-invasive devices that use traction to stretch the penis. Studies have reported that extenders help to increase the length of a flaccid penis by more than 1.5 centimeters after 3 months of use.
But more research is necessary to assess their safety and effectiveness. Plus, they are uncomfortable and cumbersome to use, and can overstretch the penis causing nerve damage, bruising, or blood clots.
Though they are designed to treat erectile dysfunction, some people use them to occasionally “exercise” and stretch their penis. In the process, they can trigger tissue damage and cause erectile problems.
Clamps and rings are used by some people to stretch and elongate their penis. The devices are placed around the base of an erect penis to reduce blood flow out of the penis. While wearing one of these devices may temporarily enlarge the penis, having it on for more than 30 minutes may cut off blood flow and damage penile tissues.
Typically, a urologist recommends penile enhancement surgery to correct an injury, treat a defect, or improve function of the organ. Only in very rare cases can the doctor recommend surgery to increase the length or width of the penis.
That’s because penis enhancement surgery comes with the risk of serious complications such as scarring, pain, infection, loss of penile sensation, and erectile dysfunction.
At Advanced Urology Institute, we perform penis enhancement surgery on a regular basis to correct congenital and acquired micropenis. The goal of the surgery is usually to restore a functional penis size in order to achieve normal standing urination, satisfying sexual intercourse, and enhanced quality of life.
Occasionally, we perform penis enhancement procedure on men with normal length penises, but who perceive themselves to have small ones—something that is usually a psychological condition. But for such a procedure, a lot more consultations and a multidisciplinary approach are usually necessary to come up with a highly individualized surgery that meets patient goals and expectations.
For more information on penis enhancement and other procedures for treating urologic disorders, visit the site “Advanced Urology Institute.”
The prostate is a tiny gland located just beneath the bladder and in front of the rectum. It surrounds the urethra and produces fluid that forms part of the semen.
Though small in size, the prostate is one of the most talked-about glands in men and which causes a lot of concerns. In fact, all men are at risk of developing prostate problems.
The prostate problems include:
This is an issue frequently associated with young and middle-aged men. Prostatitis refers to inflammation of the prostate due to a bacterial infection or other cause. Only 5-10 percent of men develop prostatitis in their lifetime.
Also called an enlarged prostate, BPH is the growth of the prostate gland to a large, unhealthy size. The risk of having the problem increases with age.
While just 8-percent of men in the ages 31-40 may develop the condition, up to 50-percent of men aged 51-60 years and more than 80-percent of men aged over 80 years have BPH.
An enlarged prostate is neither prostate cancer nor a cause of the cancer. Also, only 50-percent of men with BPH develop symptoms that are severe enough to warrant treatment.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men with more than 16 percent of men diagnosed with the cancer in their lifetime. Nevertheless, it is a slow-growing cancer and only about 2-percent of men end up dying of the cancer.
Just like BPH, the risk of having prostate cancer increases with age. In fact, 75-percent of men with the cancer are usually aged 65 years and older.
The exact cause of prostate cancer is unknown, but risk factors include family history and race. For instance, if you have a brother or father with prostate cancer your risk of the disease increases by more than double. Also, African-American men are at a greater risk of the cancer than Caucasians.
That is why African-American men and those with family history of the disease are advised to begin screening at an earlier age than the rest of men.
Because the prostate is located just beneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra, problems with the gland usually result in urinary symptoms.
For instance, while prostatitis rarely shows symptoms, it may cause:
Like prostatitis, an enlarged prostate may not cause symptoms until it compresses the urethra and makes urination difficult. When it shows symptoms, BPH produces:
Early-stage prostate cancer does not usually show symptoms and is often only discovered after screening with the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test or the digital rectal exam (DRE). But advanced prostate cancer shows symptoms such as:
With prostatitis, the infection is detected early through symptoms. For example, acute bacterial prostatitis tends to begin suddenly, producing chills, fever, or pain in addition to urinary symptoms. Visiting the doctor right away helps to diagnose and treat the infection.
Chronic bacterial prostatitis is a prostate infection that recurs. It is detected via reappearance of similar symptoms that trigger visits to the doctor. When diagnosed, it is managed with antibiotics, though it is quite hard to treat.
Equally, chronic prostatitis, also called chronic pelvic pain syndrome, can be detected early through symptoms such as persistent pain in the lower back, groin or tip of the penis. It is treated with a combination of medicines, surgery and lifestyle changes.
Like prostatitis, an enlarged prostate can be detected early through symptoms—though such symptoms do not usually match the severity of the condition. That is why men who start to experience urinary symptoms should consult a urologist as soon as possible.
An early visit to a urologist when you have symptoms helps to:
Since prostate cancer tends to show no early warning signs and only produces symptoms when at an advanced stage, early detection is not achieved through symptoms. Instead, the cancer is detected early by screening tests, usually prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and digital rectal exam (DRE).
Screening means testing to find prostate cancer in a man without symptoms. The tests used do not provide a diagnosis, but offer valuable information to help find the disease early. Plus, the tests are quick and safe.
Screening for prostate cancer is controversial—while some doctors and organizations recommend regular screenings other organizations don’t.
According to the American Cancer Society, you should speak with your doctor about the benefits, risks, and limitations of screening before you make the decision to get tested. The organization asserts that you should not undergo PSA blood testing before this discussion. And that the discussion should begin at age 45 if you’re a man at higher risk and at age 50 if you have average risk of the cancer.
Another organization, the American Urological Association, recommends speaking with your doctor about the risks and benefits of prostate cancer screening when you’re aged 55 to 69 years. But that you should only proceed with testing based on your preferences and personal values.
American Urological Association:
The United States Preventive Services Task Force does not recommend routine PSA screening for men in the general population, regardless of age. According to the organization, routine cancer screening can detect slow-growing cancers, which are then managed using therapeutic techniques with serious adverse effects but with no much benefit to the patient.
At Advanced Urology Institute, we are committed to early detection of prostate problems. We believe that it is important for patients to participate in screening programs for patients with the chance to speak with experienced physicians and the opportunity for informed decision-making and timely follow-up care.
We provide our patients with open, compassionate consultations that allow for informed decision-making and proper follow-up care, resulting in access to high-quality, objective diagnosis and treatment decisions. Plus, we guard against screening related problems, such as over-diagnosis and treatment of clinically insignificant conditions.
For more information on prostate cancer and other urological disorders, visit the site “Advanced Urology Institute.”
An elevated amount of salts and minerals in urine can cause kidney stones. Also called renal calculi, kidney stones are hard deposits made of crystal-forming substances such as calcium, uric acid and oxalate, found in urine. The stones vary in size, with some being too small, some a few inches across, and others large enough to take up an entire kidney.
For smaller renal stones, there are usually no associated signs. The stones can travel from the kidneys through ureters, bladder and urethra without causing any problems. And drinking plenty of water really helps in passing these stones.
But for larger kidney stones, signs appear as the stones move from one part of the urinary tract to another. An example is when a moderate or large stone moves from the kidney to the ureter. It immediately causes obstruction and produces agonizing pain. Such stones require a procedure, such as shock wave lithotripsy, to break up and remove them.
Kidney stones produce one of the most severe types of pain—comparable only to getting stabbed by a knife or pain during childbirth. The pain tends to begin when the stone moves into the ureter, causing a blockage and pressure buildup in the kidney. This pressure activates nerve fibers to send pain signals to the brain.
The pain starts suddenly and changes location and intensity as the stone moves. It also comes and goes in waves, with each wave lasting a few minutes, disappearing, and then coming back. The pain usually occurs along the side and back, below the ribs, but can radiate to the belly and groin area as the stone moves down the urinary tract.
The sudden episodes of kidney stone pain last 20-60 minutes. But they are so severe that they don’t allow you to sit still. So you’re forced to move around, toss and turn, in order to find a more comfortable position.
When a kidney stone reaches the junction between the ureter and bladder, it causes sharp or burning pain during urination. It is quite easy to mistake the stone for a urinary tract infection (UTI). Of course, it is also common to have an infection alongside a kidney stone.
Apart from pain during urination, kidney stones can cause urinary frequency and urgency as they pass to the lower part of the urinary tract. That’s because a stone irritates the walls of the bladder and causes contraction, resulting in the urge to pass urine. You may find yourself running to the bathroom frequently or feeling the urge to go throughout the day and night.
Kidney stones can cause obstruction of urine flow. This makes urine to back up, stretching or swelling the kidneys. Eventually, this may lead to nausea and vomiting.
Also, due to the excruciating pain associated with kidney stones, you may experience nausea and vomiting as one of the responses.
Equally, due to the sharing of nerve connections between the kidneys and the gastrointestinal tract, the presence of stones in the urinary tract disrupts nerves in the intestinal tract, resulting in stomach upset.
Kidney stones irritate the delicate tissues that line the urinary tract, including inside the ureter. As a result, there may be significant, microscopic, or moderate bleeding, which results in blood in urine (hematuria).
So as a sign of kidney stones, your urine may look grossly red, pink, or brown. You may also have blood in urine, but in quantities that are too small to notice with the naked eye. In that case, a urine test may be necessary to detect the urine.
Though fever is not a common sign of kidney stones, it may occur when the stones block urine flow or if the stones cause conditions that allow for an infection. Like fever, chills tend to occur due to an infection that arises as a complication of kidney stones.
When they occur, fever and chills are usually a medical emergency. And so, the obstruction should immediately be dealt with through a procedure such as shock wave lithotripsy to enable antibiotics to pass through the obstructed area.
Urine that is healthy tends to be clear and without a strong odor, but turbid, smelly urine might indicate an infection. So, while foul-smelling or cloudy urine does not directly indicate kidney stones, it may point towards an infection that arises as a complication of renal stones.
Generally, more than 16-percent of people with acute kidney stones tend to have UTIs. And whether it occurs with or without fever, the combined presence of a UTI and kidney stones is a surgical emergency.
You should see your doctor when you have agonizing pain, nausea, vomiting, bloody, turbid or smelly urine, fever or chills. It is advisable to seek immediate medical attention when you have pain that is so severe that you can’t get comfortable. For more information on kidney stone treatment, visit the site “Advanced Urology Institute.”
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) may help to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. According to a case-control study authored by Stacy Loeb, MD, MSc, of New York University, men who undergo testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) have lower risk of prostate cancer than those who do not undergo the therapy. Plus, the study found that testosterone therapy decreases the risk of aggressive prostate cancer, which is the form of the cancer that usually requires treatment.
The New York University study was based on the National Prostate Cancer Register of Sweden and included all the 38, 570 cases of prostate cancer diagnosed in Sweden from 2009 to 2012, together with 192,838 age-matched men without prostate cancer.
During the research, 284 prostate cancer patients (1%) and 1378 healthy men (1%) completed prescription forms for TRT. Then following a multivariable analysis, it was established that exposure to TRT did not produce increased prostate cancer risk.
On the contrary, TRT exposure resulted in reduced risk of the cancer within the first year and decreased the risk of the aggressive type of the disease after the first year of therapy.
While the above study by New York University into the link between TRT and risk of prostate cancer was not conclusive, it demonstrated a reduced risk of the cancer after testosterone therapy. Besides, due to the increased administration of TRT in recent years, this study generated more issues that need further studies.
For instance, due to the more favorable-risk of prostate cancer in men who receive the therapy, the study pointed to the need for increased prostate cancer screening in men undergoing TRT. Also, it pointed to several possible biologic mechanisms involved in aggressive disease, including the role of testosterone in normal functioning of the prostate and epithelial cell differentiation.
Another study presented at the Sexual Medicine Society of North America 18th Annual Fall Scientific Meeting in San Antonio, Texas reported that hypogonadal men who receive TRT have reduced incidence of prostate cancer than those not receiving the therapy. The study also found that the form of prostate cancer diagnosed in recipients of testosterone therapy is less severe than the form diagnosed in men unexposed to the therapy.
The study was conducted in 400 hypogonadal men (those with testosterone level of 350 ng/dL or less) and who received testosterone undecanoate 1000 mg every 3 months for up to 10 years. It also involved a control group of 376 hypogonadal men who were not receiving TRT. A median follow-up of 8 years was done, where 9 men in the TRT group (2.3%) were diagnosed with prostate cancer compared to 26 men (6.9%) in the control group.
The diagnosed men in the TRT group underwent radical prostatectomy (RP). All of them except one patient had a Gleason score of 6 or less. In fact, most had a predominant Gleason score of 3 and all had tumor grade G2 and tumor stage T2.
On the contrary, in the control group, 18 required radical prostatectomy alone, 6 required both RP and radiation, while 2 required radiation. Plus, 26 patients in the control group had a Gleason score above 6, 2 had a score of 3, 20 had a score of 4, and 4 had a score of 5. The tumor grade was G2 in 6 patients and G3 in 20 patients; while in terms of tumor stage, 1 patient had stage T2 with 25 were at stage T3.
In the testosterone group, all the cancer cases were diagnosed within the first year. This suggested that the tumors had been present before the therapy was initiated. Since low testosterone is linked with low PSA, the cancer was probably not detected before testosterone therapy due to hypogonadism. The detection within one year of treatment was due to increasing levels of testosterone, which brought out occult cancer.
There are several other studies that have produced similar reports. For example, a population-based matched cohort study of men aged 66 years or older by the University of Toronto demonstrated that testosterone exposure reduces the risk of prostate cancer by up to 40-percent.
The research in Ontario, Canada by Christopher J.D. Wallis, MD, PhD, and colleagues was published in the Lancet Diabetes Endocrinology (2016;4:498-506) and involved exposure of the men to the highest tertile testosterone and comparing the results with controls. During the study 10,311 men received TRT while 28,029 men did not. Follow-up was made after 5.3 years in the TRT group and after 5.1 years in the control group.
Are you a man over the age of 50 years and would like to begin prostate cancer screening? Or are you having urinary issues and suspect you could be developing a prostate-related disorder?
At Advanced Urology Institute, we have assembled a skilled, experienced team of board-certified urologists to help diagnose and treat prostatic issues, including prostatitis, enlarged prostate and prostate cancer.
Our state-of-the art prostate cancer center is supplied with the latest equipment and technology to deliver prompt diagnosis and safe, effective treatment of prostatic problems. For more information on prostate cancer and other urologic disorders, visit the site AdvancedUrologyInstitute.com
Normal urine has a yellow color, thanks to the pigment urochrome. Urochrome is a yellow pigment formed when urobilinogen produced during the breakdown of hemoglobin is exposed to air.
The pigment is specific to urine, but the intensity of its yellow color depends on the amount of water present in the urine. So generally normal urine can be straw-colored, yellow, or amber, depending on how dilute it is.
Pale yellow to amber urine is normal. But the intensity of the color depends on whether it is dilute or concentrated. Healthy urine may be clear or colorless if you drink a lot of water. But when you drink less, your urine becomes more concentrated and darker. That is why normal urine may appear honey or golden when you drink less water or are dehydrated.
Apart from fluid intake, several other factors determine the color of urine. For instance, urine color is affected by diet, vitamins, exercise, and medicines. A bright yellow pee color may be due to a high dose of vitamin B.
When your pee color turns from the normal pale yellow to colors such as red, blue, brown, orange, or green, something may be wrong. Of course, the usual causes of such changes may be diet, exercise, or medications, but these colors may also signal a serious health issue that requires urgent medical attention.
Here is a color-coded guide to urine appearance
Clear urine indicates that you’re probably drinking more water than the daily recommended amount. Of course, being well-hydrated is good, but drinking too much can rob your body of some essential electrolytes.
If your urine is only occasionally clear, you shouldn’t be bothered. However, when it is always clear, then you should cut back on how much water you drink.
Persistently clear urine even after reducing the volume of water you drink may indicate viral hepatitis or liver cirrhosis. Hence, if your urine is clear for a while and you’re not drinking large amounts of water, then you should see your doctor.
Your urine can have a pink or red color after you eat foods with naturally deep pink or magenta colors, such as beets, rhubarb and blackberries. But certain medications may also give a red or pink color. For instance, medications like senna or senna-containing laxatives, phenazopyridine (Pyridium), and antibiotic Rifampin, can give a red or pink color to urine.
If you can rule out these foods and medications, then a red color indicates hematuria (blood in urine). Hematuria can be due to a range of health problems, such as kidney or bladder stones, urinary tract infections, an enlarged prostate, and tumors of the bladder and kidneys.
Extreme exercise can also cause hematuria if it produces muscle damage, a condition called “runner’s bladder.”
Urine can be orange when you are dehydrated. But your urine can also be light brown or orange when it has a high amount of blood due to urinary tract infection or bleeding from the bladder (especially in bladder cancer).
Some medications, such as phenazopyridine (Pyridium), the anti-inflammatory drug sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), chemotherapy drugs, and some laxatives can equally cause urine to appear reddish-orange.
If your urine looks like cola, it may be due to dehydration or to some foods, such as fava beans, aloe and rhubarb. Some medications, like laxatives, antibiotics, and muscle relaxants may also give urine a dark brown color.
When these are ruled out, then the dark brown color may be due to hepatitis, other liver disorder, or kidney malfunction, especially if you also have yellowing skin and eyes and pale stools.
Food dyes can turn urine green or blue. For example, methylene blue dye found in many types of candy gives urine a bluish tinge. Also, some dyes used to test kidney or bladder function can turn urine blue.
Besides, your urine may be blue or green due to medications, such as pain-relievers, anti-depressant drugs, urinary tract infections (green), or the rare inherited disorder called “blue diaper syndrome” that occurs in children.
You should generally be proactive in seeking medical attention when your urine maintains an alarming color that gets your attention. Colors such as red or pink may be due to a serious health condition requiring urgent medical attention.
At Advanced Urology Institute, we work with our patients to ensure they appreciate the importance of a healthy urinary system on their overall health. For more information on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of urologic disorders, visit our website “Advanced Urology Institute.”
