What is Urology?

Urology refers to the area of medicine which deals with problems related to the urinary tract (kidneys, bladder and their associated structures) as well as problems effecting the external genitalia. The sort of problems which urologists deal with include kidney stones, cancers of various kinds (kidneys, bladder, testicular and prostate being the commonest) and disorders of bladder function such as overactive bladder syndrome and incontinence. Children s urology is important to of course and conditions dealt with include undescended testis, tight foreskin (phimosis) and various other congenital abnormalities. Recurring urinary infections which are dealt with by urologists are a common problem in females of all ages. Troublesome bladder symptoms due to benign, age related enlargement of the prostate gland are also very common and make up a significant part of urologists work. Patients should be reassured however that only 10% or thereabouts of those who are referred to a urologist end up actually needing surgery. Many of these conditions simply require investigations, usually involving non- or minimally-invasive tests. Urology has always been a leading specialty in minimally invasive (keyhole) surgery.

Bladder and Prostate problems

Bladder problems affect an increasing majority of men from middle age onwards. Most patients require only a simple, basic and completely non-invasive assessment of bladder function and this is usually organised in advance of a Cork Clinic visit. The test is covered by the insurance companies and therefore most patients can have their assessment and the results of test delivered in one visit rather than needing a second or follow-up visit, thus saving time and money.

Haematuria

Blood (either visible or invisible) in the urine is a common condition and can indeed indicate serious underlying problems. We provide an open access one stop assessment for this. When we receive a letter from a general practitioner about a patient we write to them inviting them to make an appointment on a date that suits themselves for the necessary tests (as this condition is always investigated). They are not seen in the Cork Clinic beforehand and all results are discussed then and there with the patients. There is therefore no need to be seen at the Cork Clinic so there is one single visit with no clinic fees.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require any further information.