Urology FAQ: Common Questions Answered

If you notice blood in the urine, repeated burning, difficult or frequent urination that affects your life, testicular or flank pain, or any lump in a testicle. Read more

Visible painless blood in the urine, sudden severe testicular pain, complete inability to pass urine, and high fever with flank pain. Read more

Not always. It can be caused by an infection or a stone, but it should never be ignored, because bladder and kidney tumours are among its causes and are easier to treat when found early. Read more

Yes. Beetroot and some medicines such as rifampicin can colour urine. A urine test confirms or rules out blood. Read more

Infection is the most common cause, but burning can also come from urethritis, prostatitis, a stone near the bladder or local irritation, so a urine test before treatment is best. Read more

This is not advised. The right antibiotic depends on the urine test and culture, and random use increases bacterial resistance and delays diagnosis. Read more

Most adults usually pass urine 4 to 8 times during the day and at most once at night, depending on fluid intake and age. Read more

It can be in men from middle age, but there are other causes such as evening fluids, diabetes, some medicines or sleep disorders, so it needs assessment. Read more

Being unable to empty the bladder. Acute retention starts suddenly with pain and swelling in the lower abdomen; it is an emergency that needs a catheter to drain the bladder, then treatment of the cause. Read more

Prostate enlargement is the most common cause after middle age, but urethral stricture, a weak bladder muscle and some medicines can cause similar symptoms, so an examination is needed. Read more

Yes. Sudden severe pain in a testicle, especially in boys and young men, can be testicular torsion, an emergency that needs surgery within hours to save the testicle. Read more

It can cause heaviness or a dull ache that worsens with long standing or exertion and eases when lying down; many varicoceles cause no symptoms. Read more

Renal cell carcinoma is the most common kidney cancer in adults, followed by cancer of the renal pelvis, which starts in the lining of the urinary tract. Wilms tumour mostly affects children. Read more

Often not. It is frequently found by chance on an ultrasound or CT scan done for another reason. It can also cause blood in the urine, flank pain or a lump in the abdomen. Read more

Usually not, and many men need no treatment. It can be linked to reduced fertility, a smaller testicle or pain, and then treatment is discussed. Read more

It is one of the most common treatable causes of reduced male fertility, but not every man with a varicocele is infertile. A semen analysis helps assess this. Read more

There is no single cut-off between normal and abnormal. A value of 4 ng/mL was long used as a guide, but the doctor interprets the result according to age, prostate size, medicines and previous results. Read more

No. PSA also rises with benign prostate enlargement, prostatitis, urinary infection, and after ejaculation or cycling. A raised PSA means further assessment is needed; it is not a diagnosis. Read more

Wash your hands and genital area with water, start passing urine into the toilet, collect the middle part of the stream in the sterile container, and hand it to the laboratory as soon as possible. Read more

Urinalysis checks the properties of urine and for blood, pus cells, protein, sugar and more; a culture identifies the bacteria and the antibiotic that works against them. Read more

Usually a full bladder is needed, so you drink several glasses of water about an hour before and do not pass urine; you may be asked to empty your bladder afterwards to measure the urine left. Read more

Yes. It uses sound waves and no radiation, so it can be repeated safely. Read more

Usually two to seven days without ejaculation; the laboratory or doctor will advise the exact period. Read more

No. Results vary between samples, so the test is usually repeated before conclusions are drawn, and the result is interpreted with the examination and medical history. Read more

Flexible cystoscopy is usually done with a local anaesthetic gel and causes mild discomfort for a few minutes. Rigid cystoscopy is usually done under anaesthesia. Read more

A diagnostic flexible cystoscopy usually takes 5 to 15 minutes, and you go home the same day. Read more