General Urology Conditions

Many people are understandably hesitant to discuss physical concerns and urologic symptoms. They struggle to talk about frequent urination or incontinence that keeps them at home or awake at night. They might worry about pain they feel in their lower abdomen or when they urinate, or wonder if they should ask about treatments for low sex drive or erectile dysfunction.

If you find you are one of those individuals with any of the above concerns or similar ones, please don’t hesitate any longer. Our expert urologists at Sentara are here to listen and help you live a more comfortable and rewarding life. Our network of board-certified, fellowship-trained specialists provide the highest quality of care for men and women with urological concerns, including the conditions we highlight in this section.

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Noncancer prostate disease/benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as enlarged prostate, is a common condition as men get older. An enlarged prostate gland can cause uncomfortable urinary symptoms, such as a block in the flow of your urine out of your bladder. It can also cause bladder, urinary tract and kidney problems. In the past, men felt they had to choose between symptom relief and sexual function. For that reason, many men avoided treatment altogether.

A few years ago, Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center piloted the new aquablation therapy procedure for the Delaware-Maryland-Virginia area. In a study of men undergoing aquablation for BPH, none experienced an impact on sexual pleasure and 99 percent did not experience incontinence.

We hope you’ll learn more about aquablation and its benefits, along with other advanced procedures offered at Sentara.

Pelvic floor disorders

A pelvic floor disorder is a broad term that describes conditions originating in your pelvic region. Your pelvic floor supports your bladder, rectum and other pelvic organs. It maintains urinary and fecal continence. In women, these muscles also support the uterus and play an important role in vaginal childbirth.
The four main types of pelvic floor disorders in women are:

Bladder incontinence
Bowel incontinence or functional bowel constipation
Pelvic organ prolapse
Pelvic pain

Men experience pelvic floor disorders, also. They may experience tight or weak pelvic floor muscles, pelvic pain and increased or decreased sensitivity due to one of these conditions:

Bladder incontinence
Low urinary flow rate
Bowel incontinence or functional bowel constipation
Chronic pelvic pain
Sexual dysfunction
Rectal prolapse

Although most pelvic floor disorders are not life threatening, they can have a devastating effect on the quality of your life. It is important to know that the disorders are not a natural result of aging or childbirth for women.

Pelvic floor disorders are treatable and controllable with therapies, medicine and robotic surgery designed to minimize scarring and hasten your recovery. The Pelvic Floor Program at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center and the Sentara-EVMS Comprehensive Pelvic Floor Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia are here to support you with pelvic floor experts, nurse navigators and solutions to your concerns.

Recurrent urinary tract infections

If you are diagnosed with a urinary tract infection (UTI) twice in six months or three times in 12 months, you are one of the individuals who experience recurrent UTIs.

This condition is more common in postmenopausal women; however younger women are affected as well. One in five young women have recurrent UTIs, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Men with enlarged prostates are susceptible to UTIs, also.

UTIs can affect your bladder and kidneys. A urologist can prescribe antibiotics to treat UTIs and may wish to explore the cause of your recurrent infections with a cystoscopy, a procedure to look inside your urethra and bladder.

Low testosterone

Men may be facing low testosterone if they have a low sex drive, fatigue, irritability or erectile dysfunction. Your urologist can diagnose you with the condition after considering these symptoms and others and conducting blood tests.

If you’re found to have low testosterone, your urologist can offer testosterone therapy. You can counter your deficiency taking testosterone in a number of ways, including through a patch, a pill or an injection.

Male infertility

Male infertility - having a low or no sperm count - can be a condition a man is born with. It can also develop due to a physical concern or trauma a man faces during his life. Sometimes lifestyle choices, such as smoking, drinking or taking medications, can also cause male infertility.

If you’re experiencing infertility, talk with your urologist. He or she can conduct a physical exam, run blood tests and a semen analysis, and collect images through an ultrasound.

Your options for treatment may include non-surgical remedies, such as empiric therapy to adjust hormone levels, and surgical procedures, including varicocelectomy (repairing swollen veins) and vasoepididymostomy (eliminating a blockage). You can discuss other options as well with your urologist.

Vasectomy/vasectomy reversal

A vasectomy is a surgery to block a man’s sperm. It is one of the most effective means of birth control. According to the American Urological Association, only one to two women out of 1,000 become pregnant after having sex with a man who had a vasectomy.

Your urologist can perform this minor surgery in his office while you are awake, and you can return home shortly after to recover.

For a vasectomy reversal, your urologist may suggest a microsurgery. After he or she delivers anesthesia, you will be asleep for the short procedure. You can return home and will often be able to go back to your normal work and activities within a week.

General Conditions