What conditions are treated in urology?

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Last updated: February 19, 2025 • View editorial policy

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From the Guidelines

Urology treats a wide range of conditions, including urinary tract infections (UTIs), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), kidney stones, overactive bladder, and urethral stricture.

Common Urological Conditions

  • Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): treated with antibiotics, such as trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole or nitrofurantoin 1
  • Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): managed with medications like alpha-blockers or 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors
  • Kidney Stones: treated with pain management using NSAIDs or acetaminophen, alongside adequate hydration
  • Overactive Bladder: managed with antimuscarinics or beta-3 adrenergic agonists
  • Urethral Stricture: diagnosed using urethro-cystoscopy, retrograde urethrography (RUG), voiding cystourethrography (VCUG), or ultrasound urethrography, and treated with urethral endoscopic management or immediate suprapubic (SP) cystostomy 1

Urological Emergencies

  • Urological trauma: includes renal injury, bladder perforation, testicular torsion, penile/urethral trauma, and requires immediate surgical intervention 1
  • Urological infections: includes Fournier’s gangrene, abscesses requiring drainage, infected implants, and requires prompt treatment to prevent complications 1

From the FDA Drug Label

In addition, prostate cancer and BPH may coexist. Patients with large residual urinary volume and/or severely diminished urinary flow should be carefully monitored for obstructive uropathy. Consideration should be given to other urological conditions that may cause similar symptoms.

The conditions treated in urology include:

  • Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
  • Prostate cancer
  • Obstructive uropathy 2 2

From the Research

Conditions Treated in Urology

The field of urology encompasses a wide range of conditions, including:

  • Hematuria (blood in the urine) 3
  • Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test interpretation 3
  • Phimosis and paraphimosis 3
  • Acute scrotal pain and masses in children and adults 3
  • Urinary tract infections (UTIs) 3, 4
  • Renal colic 3
  • Castration-treatment-induced bone loss 3
  • Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) 5
  • Urologic injuries, such as those to the kidneys, bladder, and urethra 6
  • Life-threatening urologic infections, including Fournier's gangrene, emphysematous pyelonephritis, and obstructive pyelonephritis 4

Diagnostic and Management Approaches

Urologists use various diagnostic tests and management strategies to treat these conditions, including:

  • Urodynamic evaluation (UDS) to assess lower urinary tract symptoms 7
  • Medications and lifestyle modifications for BPH and LUTS 5
  • Minimally invasive surgeries for BPH and LUTS 5
  • Prompt surgical intervention for emergency conditions, such as urologic injuries and life-threatening infections 3, 6, 4

References

1
Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

5
Research

A Practical Approach for Primary Care Practitioners to Evaluate and Manage Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

Federal practitioner : for the health care professionals of the VA, DoD, and PHS, 2021

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Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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