What is a urological examination and when is it advisable to have one?

By Cristiano Antonino On Jan 17, 2023

The urological examination is a test performed by a doctor specialising in diseases of the urinary system, i.e. the urologist

It aims to examine the urinary system in all its parts – kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra – to assess its state of health and diagnose or rule out certain disorders affecting these organs.

These disorders include bladder incontinence, urinary tract infections and stones, neoplasms, sexual dysfunction, male and female genital infections, prostatitis (in men).

A specialist should be consulted when symptoms such as burning or pain occur when urinating.

The urological examination is painless and non-invasive, and typically requires no special preparation on the part of the patient.

When to go for a urological examination

Difficulty or discomfort when passing urine may occur more frequently in old age.

Although it is physiological with increasing age not to urinate as much as in youth, it is important not to underestimate certain signs.

Avoid postponing a urological examination that could preserve a good quality of life by starting timely therapy with the aim of safeguarding proper bladder function.

The most frequent symptoms

burning
pain when urinating
difficult urination with reduced and stunted flow
prolonged waiting before the urination process
feeling of failure to empty the bladder
urine leakage
incontinence, i.e. frequent urge to urinate
increased frequency of urination both during the day and at night
erectile difficulties in men.

These disorders can be attributed to various causes, such as a stone in the bladder, prostate problems, urinary tract infection or cancer.

How the urological examination is performed

Initially, the urologist will proceed with an anamnesis, in which he will investigate the patient’s medical history.

Any previous illnesses, surgery performed in the past, and family history of urological diseases will be assessed.

Everything will also be assessed in relation to the patient’s lifestyle, e.g. eating habits or smoking habits.

In addition, the patient will be asked about complaints (e.g. difficulty urinating or changes in the sexual sphere).

It will also be important to ascertain any episodic or unique complaints such as the emission of bloodstained urine (haematuria).

After this first phase, the test will continue in a different way depending on the sex of the patient.

In the case of a man, the urologist will assess the lower abdomen and the external genital area

The prostate may also be inspected by palpation from the rectal canal to check the health of this gland.

If deemed appropriate, the specialist may opt for an in-depth examination, requiring the patient to undergo diagnostic tests (e.g. uroflowmetry, ultrasound of the urinary and prostate apparatus, urine test).

In the case of a woman, the urological examination is comparable to a gynaecological examination

The urologist will assess the state of health of the urinary apparatus, ruling out or detecting the presence of prolapses of the bladder and/or uterus (conditions often associated with incontinence).