Urology (from Greek οὖρον ouron "urine" and -λογία -logia "study of"), also known as genitourinary surgery, is the branch of medicine that focuses on surgical and medical diseases of the urinary system and the male reproductive organs. Organs under the domain of urology include the kidneys, adrenal glands, ureters, urinary bladder, urethra, and the male reproductive organs (testes, epididymides, vasa deferentia, seminal vesicles, prostate, and penis). The urinary and reproductive tracts are closely linked, and disorders of one often affect the other. Thus a major spectrum of the conditions managed in urology exists under the domain of genitourinary disorders. Urology combines the management of medical (i.e., non-surgical) conditions, such as urinary-tract infections and benign prostatic hyperplasia, with the management of surgical conditions such as bladder or prostate cancer, kidney stones, congenital abnormalities, traumatic injury, and stress incontinence. Urological techniques include minimally invasive robotic and laparoscopic surgery, laser-assisted surgeries, and other scope-guided procedures. Urologists receive training in open and minimally invasive surgical techniques, employing real-time ultrasound guidance, fiber-optic endoscopic equipment, and various lasers in the treatment of multiple benign and malignant conditions. Urology is closely related to (and urologists often collaborate with the practitioners of) oncology, nephrology, gynaecology, andrology, pediatric surgery, colorectal surgery, gastroenterology, and endocrinology. Urology is a surgical specialty for physicians, with new urologists being less than 1.5% of United States medical-school graduates each year. Urologists are physicians which have specialized in the field after completing their general degree in medicine. Upon successful completion of a residency program, many urologists choose to undergo further advanced training in a subspecialty area of expertise through a fellowship lasting an additional 12 to 36 months. Subspecialties may include: urologic surgery, urologic oncology and urologic oncological surgery, endourology and endourologic surgery, urogynecology and urogynecologic surgery, reconstructive urologic surgery (a form of reconstructive surgery), minimally-invasive urologic surgery, pediatric urology and pediatric urologic surgery (including adolescent urology, the treatment of premature or delayed puberty, and the treatment of congenital urological syndromes, malformations, and deformations), transplant urology (the field of transplant medicine and surgery concerned with transplantation of organs such as the kidneys, bladder tissue, ureters, and, recently, penises), voiding dysfunction, paruresis, neurourology, and androurology and sexual medicine. Additionally, some urologists supplement their fellowships with a master's degree (2–3 years) or with a Ph.D. (4–6 years) in related topics to prepare them for academic as well as focused clinical employment.
Treatment spectrum Urology is a specialized medical and surgical field dedicated to the comprehensive management of the urinary tract – including the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra – in both men and women, as well as the male reproductive organs. The specialty encompasses conservative (non-surgical, mostly pharmacological), minimally invasive, and surgical treatments, including endourological, laparoscopic, and open procedures, as well as lithotripsy and laser-based techniques for removing stones or cutting and vaporizing pathological tissue. Conservative treatment options in urology include pharmacological therapy for a wide range of conditions, such as:
Sexually transmitted infections (as part of urological venereology) Erectile dysfunction and other male sexual dysfunctions Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) bladder dysfunction, including storage and voiding disorders Urinary incontinence Urological malignancies treated with systemic therapies, including hormonal therapy and cytostatic agents in oncological settings Pharmacological management of urolithiasis (stone disease) Conservative treatment in urology is not limited to pharmacological therapy. It also includes lifestyle modifications and non-invasive interventions such as dietary changes, pelvic floor muscle training, and weight management. Surgical treatment in urology includes a wide range of operative interventions, such as:
Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and bladder tumors Percutaneous and endoscopic stone removal procedures (e.g. percutaneous nephrolithotomy) Radical prostatectomy, including nerve-sparing techniques aimed at preserving erectile function and continence Organ-preserving surgery for renal tumors (partial nephrectomy) Radical cystectomy with urinary diversion or orthotopic neobladder reconstruction Reconstructive urological surgery, including urethral reconstruction and gender-affirming procedures Surgery for conditions of the external genitalia Incontinence surgery, including sling procedures and artificial urinary sphincter implantation Kidney transplantation, including donor nephrectomy and graft implantation Vasectomy for male sterilization These surgical approaches are part of standard urological practice and are reflected in clinical guidelines issued by leading international societies, including the European Association of Urology and the American Urological Association. In Urology, minimally invasive and endoscopic procedures are increasingly used as alternatives to traditional open surgery, reflected in current guidelines of leading international urological societies, including the European Association of Urology and the American Urological Association. Depending on the individual case, these procedures can often be performed as outpatient interventions without general anesthesia, offering reduced patient burden and pain, and shorter recovery times compared with conventional invasive interventions. These procedures are primarily part of Endourology (see below) and include:
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