My curiosity and inquisitiveness woke up from the dead one day when I got diagnosed with an acute Urinary Tract Infection. While my family had no idea which doctor to visit, people started giving suggestions to visit a specialist. Some said to visit a urologist and a few suggested seeing a nephrologist.
Now a person like me who is completely from a non-medical background fell into the deep well of curiosity as to what these two specialists actually do. Are they the same? Are they different? Were they twin brothers? Well, what I went through I would never want anyone else to be a part of the same chaos.
For a person who was even deprived of the understanding of the term urologist meaning, surprisingly it didn’t a lot of time to understand the concepts behind urologist vs. nephrologist.
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The Key Differences Between Urology and Nephrology
Before moving forward, it must be in your knowledge that there is a very thin line between these two independent medical fields which has created a misunderstanding among people. Let’s understand both.
What is Urology?
A medical specialization that deals with the human urinary tract and the male reproductive system. Medical conditions that affect the urinary tract are often observed affecting the reproductive organs in makes as these organs are situated closer to each other, so urology caters to both of them. Urology involves surgical treatments of the urinary system and reproductive system. The best urologists in Karachi are readily available to provide you with the best treatment.
What is Nephrology?
Nephrology is the branch of internal medicine that deals with the treatment of kidney diseases and other related diseases that need special treatment. There are a lot of conditions that are treated under the umbrella of nephrology including, lupus, diabetes, electrolyte disturbance, kidney transplant, renal failure, and even polycystic syndrome.
Urologist vs. Nephrologist; What’s the Difference?
If I am honest with you these two sound a lot familiar as they treat the issues related to the urinary tract and kidneys but, they belong to entirely different specialized fields.
It is very important to know the difference between the two so that you are well aware whenever there comes a need to visit a specialist. Let’s have a closer look at what these two specialists are and how do they work.
What is a Urologist? – Understanding Urologist Meaning
A urologist specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases of the urinary tract. They also specialize in treating issues related to the reproductive tract of men. In some cases, urologists also perform surgical procedures on the urinary tract. Urologists are seen working in different settings like hospitals, clinics, and kidney centers.
Urologists treat issues regarding the urinary tract and the organs that come under the urinary system include,
- Kidneys
- Urethra
- Ureters
- Adrenal Glands (glands located on the kidneys)
The parts of the male reproductive system treated by urologists include:
- Testicles
- Prostate (a gland underneath the bladder)
- Penis
What is a Nephrologist’s Job?
A nephrologist specializes in treating issues related to the kidneys. Nephrologists not only treat the issues of the kidneys but also are experts in treating the issues in the other parts of the body that impact the kidneys. They have immense knowledge about kidney dysfunction and can treat serious and severe conditions of the kidney.
Conditions Treated By a Urologist
There are a number of conditions of the urinary system and male reproductive system that are treated by a urologist. The conditions treated are not just urine-related, as a urologist meaning and definition is not only confined to basic diseases of the urinary system. The conditions treated are mentioned below.
Conditions Treated in Men
- Kidney Stones
- Prostate Gland Enlargement
- Cancer of bladder, kidney, penis, and testicles
- Infertility
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
- Painful Bladder Syndrome
Conditions Treated in Women
- Kidney Stones
- Dropping bladder
- Unrestraint Urination
- Bladder cancer
- Interstitial Cystitis
Conditions a Nephrologist Treats
A nephrologist works with you in diagnosing and finding out treatment for conditions like,
- Kidney Cancer
- Kidney Infections
- Blood in urine
- Kidney stones (also treated by urologists)
- Nephrotic Syndrome
- Kidney Failure
- End-Stage Kidney Disease
Education and Training of Urologists and Nephrologists
There is undoubtedly no other way but to get the proper education to practice as a urologist or a nephrologist. After completing the medical education for 5 years, urologists and nephrologists have to get into specialization courses in their specialized fields.
Some urologists and nephrologists choose to do extra training years for further improvement in their skills. Along with that ceratin certifications are also available and are opted for by the specialists.
Who to Choose?
There is no need to get stuck in the Urologist vs. Nephrologist dilemma. Whenever you feel symptoms relevant to issues with your kidneys or urinary tract, a general physician might help you indicate the initial problem. But is very important for you to make a choice as to who to visit.
For basic problems of the urinary system like Urinary Tract Infection, one must visit a urologist but for an issue like cancer of the prostate, you will have to visit an oncologist (cancer specialist) as well. There is, however, still very less understanding among masses of the term urologist meaning.
Do want to know when is the right time to see a urologist? Well, if you have any symptoms related to the urinary system like burning in urine, urine leakage, or even blood in urination, make sure that you give your urologist a visit.
On the other hand, a primary health care provider can however manage the early stage of kidney disease but for more advanced stages, it is very essential to give a visit to your nephrologist. A nephrologist makes you get a number of tests that can help find out the diseases and issues of kidneys. These tests can then detect the deterioration of the kidneys along with the potential causes.
Take Away Note
The primary differences between urologists and nephrologists are not very commonly misinterpreted. However, there is a huge difference between the nephrologist and urologist meaning. I hope this article has helped you understand the differences between them. It is very important to have proper know-how of which doctor to visit at the time of need before time.
If you have further queries about where to visit the best urologist or nephrologist, make sure to visit healthwire.pk or call (042) 32500989.
