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Americans live longer today than ever before. More than one in every seven adults in the U.S. is 65 or older—and the average person can now expect to celebrate their 78th birthday.

Prevention is the key to enjoying your golden years. In May, during Older Americans Month, we highlight important…

Found only in males, the prostate is a walnut-sized gland that is part of the reproductive system located below the bladder and in front of the rectum. Cancer can develop when cells in the prostate begin to grow out of control. While there are a few rare forms…

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a condition in which the bladder churns and contracts uncontrollably, causing urinary urgency, frequency and sometimes incontinence. OAB has received a great deal of attention and clinical research.  However, its younger sibling, underactive bladder, is an ailment that most people have not heard of and is…

Urinary problems are not a result of aging, but of prostate enlargement as men age.

As a maturing man who is approaching 50 years old, I personally have had time to truly empathize with many of my patients. Most men confuse the onset of urinary symptoms and worsening lower urinary…

This month is breast cancer awareness month. Interestingly, breast cancer and prostate cancer have so much in common. Excepting skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women; prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. Breast and prostate are dependent upon the sex hormones estrogen and…

“Urology” (uro—urinary tract; logos—study of) is the branch of medicine that diagnoses and treats diseases of the urinary tract in males and females and the reproductive tract in males. The urinary organs under the “domain” of urology include the kidneys, the ureters (tubes connecting kidneys to the urinary bladder), the urinary…

Bladder cancer comprises a large part of the practice of urology. The incidence of bladder cancer increases with age and is four times more common in men than women and twice as high in Caucasian men than African-American men. 80% of newly diagnosed individuals are 60 years of age or…

Urologic oncology is a urological subspecialty that diagnoses and treats cancers of the male and female urinary tract and the male reproductive organs. Urologic cancers are extremely common and comprise a significant part of the medical and surgical practice of urologists, who treat many serious and potentially life-threatening cancers.

New…

Dysuria is the medical term for uncomfortable, burning or painful urination. It is a common symptom and a frequent reason for a consultation with a urologist. There are many underlying causes including infections, inflammatory conditions, trauma, injury, and pelvic floor dysfunction.

CAUSES OF PAINFUL URINATION

Painful urination often occurs…

Normal cells become cancer cells (malignant cells) when mutations in the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) sequence of a gene transform cells into a growing and destructive version of their former selves. These abnormal cells can then divide and multiply without control. Although DNA mutations can be inherited, it is much more…

What is PSA?

PSA (prostate specific antigen) is a chemical produced by the prostate gland. It functions to liquefy semen following ejaculation, aiding the transit of sperm to the egg. A small amount of PSA filtrates from the prostate into the blood circulation and can be measured by a…

Rezūm Therapy is a safe and effective first-of-its-kind minimally invasive treatment to treat BPH — an enlarged prostate. It has been shown to relieve symptoms by reducing excess prostate tissue, which is the cause of BPH, with the use of water vapor therapy.

Prior to…

Unfortunately, there is a lot of false information about urology circulating around the general population. To help you make sense of it, Dr. Andrew Siegel is helping to debunk twelve common misconceptions about urology.

1. Misconception: Urologists only treat men.

Reality: Although gynecologists treat only females, urologists care…

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH, is the enlargement of the prostate gland. About half of men over age 75 will experience symptoms of BPH. BPH is a very minor condition and is not related to prostate cancer. However, symptoms can cause discomfort and be inconvenient.

Bladder cancer may not be on your radar even if you’re vigilant about getting routine GYN care. After all, it’s far more common among men than women, and the majority of cases affect patients over age 65. However, don’t let those stats keep you from learning to spot the warning…

Premature Ejaculation (PE) is a condition in which sexual climax occurs before, upon, or shortly after vaginal penetration, prior to one’s desire to do so, with minimal voluntary control. It is the most common form of male sexual dysfunction.

The key features are:

Written by Dr. Andrew Siegel

There has been an “epidemic” of a clinical syndrome based on low testosterone levels. There is no subject rife with more confusion and misinformation than testosterone deficiency and its treatment. Hopefully, the following 24 questions and answers, pulled from those commonly asked by my patients…

Kidney stones are a common problem that I treat daily. Kidney stones are often related to our dietary habits, the amount of fluids that we drink, and our weight.

If you have ever suffered with a kidney stone, you know what excruciating pain is. Many women who have experienced both…

The prostate gland is a mysterious male reproductive organ that can be a source of curiosity, anxiety, fear and potential trouble. Since this gland is a midline organ nestled deep within the pelvis, I like to think of it as man’s “center of gravity.”

Where exactly is the prostate…

Urinary incontinence (UI) in men—involuntary leakage of urine – is not an uncommon problem. As estimated 3.4 million men in the United States currently experience UI, making life difficult both physically and emotionally.  While often related to prostate problems, urinary incontinence has a variety of causes and can also…

Erectile Dysfunction (ED) serves as a good proxy for cardiac and general health. The presence of ED is as much of a predictor of heart disease as is a strong family history, tobacco smoking, or elevated cholesterol!

Having some fat on our bodies…

Everyone has probably noticed at one time or another that the color and odor of their urine can change. While the difference may just be something you ate, the color and odor of your urine can also be indicative of a possible health condition. As such, it’s important to take…

In addition to exercise and healthy eating as the key pieces to a healthy lifestyle, modern science supports quality sleep as a third piece of equal importance. According to the CDC, more than one third of Americans are not getting enough sleep on a regular basis. 

Today’s entry is about a healthy eating lifestyle—as opposed to a diet—that works for me and I promise will help you improve your body shape and shed excess pounds. I want to emphasize that this is not a fad diet. It’s a style of eating that can be easily incorporated…

Every year, more than half a million Americans go to the emergency room for kidney stone related problems. Although there is no definitive, single cause for kidney stones, making some changes to your diet can reduce your risk for developing new stones.

What are kidney stones?

Kidney stones are…

Having problems with erections from time to time is common and shouldn’t be cause for concern. However, if these problems become progressively worse or happen routinely with sex, you may want to speak with your doctor about erectile dysfunction (ED). Erectile dysfunction, or impotence, is the inability to develop and…

According to the Urology Care Foundation, more than 500,000 men in the U.S. choose vasectomy for birth control each year. But is it right for you? Because it’s a permanent form of birth control, many men have questions or concerns before having a vasectomy. This is normal and…

According to the National Institutes of Health, roughly a quarter of U.S. women are affected by a pelvic floor disorder. Pelvic floor disorders are a result of weakened or injured muscles and connective tissue in the pelvic cavity that may cause a variety of uncomfortable symptoms making physical activity…

There is little written on ejaculatory issues aside from timing problems (premature and delayed ejaculation) and hematospermia (blood in the semen). However, not a day goes by in my urology practice where I do not see at least several patients who complain about declining ejaculation function.

What does the…

What is overactive bladder?

Overactive Bladder (OAB) is defined as urinary urgency (the sudden and urgent desire to urinate) and frequency (urinating too often, which can be during both awake and sleep hours), with or without urgency incontinence (urinary leakage associated with the urgent desire to urinate). It’s…

Peyronie’s Disease is an inflammatory condition of the penis that causes penile curvature and an uncomfortable or painful erection that can dramatically interfere with one’s sexual health. It’s not uncommon, with more than 120,000 cases per year in the USA (only a small fraction of cases are actually treated.) Although…

What is a hydrocele?

A hydrocele is an accumulation of fluid within the sac that surrounds the testicle, resulting in ballooning and enlargement of the scrotum. It can vary in size from just slightly bigger than the actual testes to larger than a cantaloupe.

Each testicle is surrounded by…

In the United States, the prevalence of bladder cancer has increased greatly over the last few decades, with more than 60,000 new cases diagnosed annually. It occurs more frequently in men than in women, and is usually diagnosed in adults over 60 years old. When bladder cancer is diagnosed and…

Orchialgia is the medical term for chronic testicular pain, defined as constant or intermittent pain in the testicles, lasting for three or more months and interfering with one’s quality of life. It’s not an uncommon problem for men of all ages, but it is seen more frequently in young adults. It…

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could prevent prostate cancer? Unfortunately, we’re not there yet—but we do have an understanding of what measures can be taken to help reduce your risk of developing prostate cancer. One way is through a blood test to determine the prostate specific antigen…

After a prostate cancer diagnosis, there can be a lot of information to take in. The path you and your doctor decide to take for treatment depends on certain factors including the stage of the cancer, your age, and your prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test results, among others.

Risk…

What is a circumcision?

Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin. The procedure takes about thirty minutes and is performed under general anesthesia. The entire foreskin is removed using an incision just behind the head of the penis. This leaves the head of the penis completely exposed. Local…

You’ve probably heard of Botox being used to improve the cosmetic appearance of facial wrinkles. However, botox has many medical uses that go beyond improving one’s appearance. For example, botox is commonly used to improve internal body functions. In the field of urology, it can be injected into the bladder…

A reflex is an automatic response to a stimulus, an action that occurs without conscious thought. Many of us are familiar with the knee jerk reflex, in which the knee straightens as a result of the quadriceps muscle contracting in response to the tendon of our kneecap being tapped with…

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men. There are 240,000 new prostate cancer cases diagnosed annually, and it accounts for 30,000 deaths per year. However, unlike many other cancers, prostate cancer is often not a fatal disease and may never need to be treated.

Many sources of information say that humans need 8-12 glasses of water daily to stay hydrated and thrive. Some people take that rule literally and end up in a urologist’s office complaining of urinary urgency, frequency and leakage. Clearly, the 8-12 rule is not appropriate for everyone!

Why…

Nocturia is the medical term for the need to awaken from sleep to urinate. Getting up once to relieve your bladder during sleep hours is usually not particularly troublesome. However, when it happens two or more times it can negatively impact one’s quality of life because of sleep disruption, leading…

Testosterone has become a very in-vogue term. Many patients come into the office specifically asking for their testosterone levels to be checked.  The pharma industry has aggressively pursued direct-to-consumer advertising of testosterone replacement products, which in turn has created a grass-roots awareness of testosterone issues, a topic that was previously…

Kidney disease is a very common cause of serious illness, affecting more than 25 million Americans. Each year approximately 110,000 new patients start dialysis treatments in the US, and kidney disease is responsible for nearly 100,000 American deaths annually.

How do the kidneys work under normal circumstances?

Our kidneys…

Although there is no bone in the human penis, there is still a risk of penile fracture that requires medical intervention and surgical treatment. 

The penis is an organ with an impressive ability to multitask, having urinary, sexual and reproductive functions.  As a urinary organ, it allows directed urination that…

Did you know a common symptom of undiagnosed diabetes is frequent urination? This is because of the urine-producing effect of glucose in the urine. People with urinary frequency will often consult a urologist in error, thinking that the problem is related to their kidneys, bladder or prostate, when it’s actually…

Erectile dysfunction (also known as impotence, or ED) is the inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for sex. A practical approach to treating ED —similar to the strategy for most medical issues — starts with a medical history, physical examination and basic lab tests. More extensive…

A urethral diverticulum (UD) is a pocket or pouch that forms along the urethra. Many are small and not symptomatic. However, because of their location, they can become filled with urine and lead to infections. UDs only occur in approximately 5% of adult females, most commonly between the age 40-70.