Varicoceles are found through self-exam of the scrotum or during a routine doctor’s exam. They have been described as a “bag of worms” because of how they look and feel. Urologists often check for varicoceles with the patient standing. You may be asked to take a deep breath, hold it and bear down while your urologist feels the scrotum above the testicle. This technique is …

Hematuria is blood in the urine. When the urine is red or pink this could be linked to blood in the urine and is called “gross” or “visible” hematuria. Sometimes, blood is in the urine but is not seen by the naked eye and it is called “microscopic” hematuria since it can only be seen under a microscope. During routine visits to your doctor, you are often asked to give a urine ...

Spermatoceles are also known as spermatic cysts. They are fluid-filled masses, often painless, and they grow near the testicles on the epididymis (tube that stores sperm). They tend to be benign (not cancerous). These cysts are found near the top and behind the testicle, but are separate from the testicle. They can be smooth, filled with a whitish, cloudy fluid and most …

Pyelonephritis is a type of urinary tract infection where one or both kidneys become infected. They can be infected by bacteria or a virus. It can cause people to feel very sick.

Nocturia is when you wake up more than one time each night to go to the bathroom. Some causes of Nocturia are polyuria, nocturnal polyuria, bladder storage problems, and mixed nocturia.

Priapism is a rare condition resulting in an uncontrolled erection lasting for an unusually long time. It can be painful. Sexual stimulation can be involved, but there are often other causes such as medical conditions, medications or recreational drugs. Immediate treatment is important to prevent tissue damage and erectile dysfunction (ED).

For many people, it takes months or even years before they get the Interstitial Cystitis (IC) or Bladder Pain Syndrome (BPS) diagnosis—a medical name for bladder pain and problems. Most of us may be diagnosed first, wrongly, with repeat bladder infections*. You may have taken antibiotics over and over again, with little or no relief. You may also have been told you have …

Until a few short years ago, Rob, who is in his 80s, had been relatively free of health problems. He was an active guy, skiing and hiking in his beloved Washington State mountains. Husband, father and grandfather, he was living a happy retirement from Boeing Aircraft. Then what he thought was a small nagging problem was diagnosed as a complex medical problem. When ongoing …

Then I tried my first surgery for ED. I opted to get an inflatable penile prosthesis. That prosthesis was a big disappointment at first. I didn’t know there were size choices, so I wasn’t fitted correctly. Fortunately, I was able to find a new doctor who told me about larger cylinders for the implant. My doctor was able to correct the size, but I also had to deal with several mechanical ...

Kidney stones can travel down the ureter sometimes. (The ureter is the tube between the kidney and the bladder.) If the stone reaches your bladder, it can be passed out of the body through your urine. If the stone becomes lodged in the ureter, it blocks …