Urology Services | Meet the Best Urologists in Penang

What is Urology?

Urology is a medical specialty that focuses on the urinary tract of men and women, and also the male’s reproductive system. Urologists are doctors trained to diagnose, treat and manage a wide variety of urological disorders such as problems of the kidneys, adrenal glands, ureters and bladders as well as those of the male reproductive system.

Diagnosis of Urological Conditions

The Urology specialists at Gleneagles Hospital Penang may diagnose several conditions through these methods:

1. Cystoscopy

A cystoscopy may be recommended to investigate problems in the bladder or water pipe. The procedure uses a lens on a thin, long tube to allow for a clearer and more detailed examination of the urethra and bladder.

2. Urinalysis

Your urine sample will be sent to the laboratory for analysis and any indicators of infection such as high white blood cell count and bacteria will be noted. In order to reduce contamination of your sample, you may be instructed to clean your genital area and only collect urine mid stream.

3. Urine Culture

The growth of a bacterial culture under laboratory conditions may be used together with urinalysis. This test may help detect the strain of bacteria causing your infection thus allowing your specialist to determine the appropriate course of treatment.

4. Ultrasound, CT Scan, MRI

Image capturing tests such as Ultrasounds, CT Scans and MRIs may be used to detect problems in the kidneys, bladder or prostate. These allow your specialist to assess if your urinary tract has any signs of abnormality. A contrast dye may sometimes be used before imaging tests to help highlight the structures of the urinary tract.

Urology Conditions and Symptoms

Urological conditions and symptoms are diverse and can often be misdiagnosed. Hence a comprehensive screening is recommended to accurately discern and treat the conditions. Your doctor will often ask questions related to your symptoms, conduct a physical exam and finally recommend additional tests if deemed necessary.

1. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Commonly experienced by older men, the prostate may be larger than usual, thus placing pressure on the urethra. Some may experience weak streams during urination or wake up frequently to use the bathroom.

Because the urethra is pinched, one's bladder has to work twice as hard, causing the muscles to become weaker over time.

Flow symptoms (Trouble passing urine):

Difficult or poor steam
Incomplete voiding
Dribbling of urine
Straining

Storage Symptoms (Trouble storing urine):

Frequent urination
Urgency
Incontinence

2. Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile Dysfunction refers to the inability of a male to have a firm enough erection for sexual intercourse, erectile dysfunction can be a result of a combination of physical and psychological issues. If persistent, this can also be an underlying sign and risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Do consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding your erections or if you're experiencing any other sexual issues, such as premature or delayed ejaculation.

3. Prostate Cancer

Despite the name, it is a relatively common condition and grows slowly, contained within the prostate in its earlier stages. Most men with prostate cancer may even live for many years without exhibiting any issues.

However, if the tumour begins to spread beyond the prostate, it may cause blockages in the surrounding tissues resulting in these symptoms:

Urinary Symptoms such as poor flow
Lower back pain or weakness in advanced stage
Blood in urine or semen

4. Urinary Incontinence

The loss of bladder control can be a common problem and varies from the occasional leak from a sneeze or cough to a sudden and unbearable urge to urinate.

Urinary incontinence is also not always an inevitable part of ageing because all it takes is a simple lifestyle change or some medical treatment to help address any discomfort or stop incontinence.

5. Kidney Stones

Mineral and salt deposits that form inside your kidneys can harden and become kidney stones. This usually happens when your urine is overly concentrated leading to crystalisation of these mineral and salt deposits. Passing a stone can be painful but kidney stones typically do not cause any harm when discovered early.

However, if they become trapped in the urinary tract, they can lead to further complications such as infection or kidney failure.

Though they may not produce any symptoms on their own, you might feel them when they start moving around the kidneys or when they're passed through the ureter. Later kidney stones symptoms include:

Severe pain in the side and back, which may radiate towards the legs in waves
Pain during urination
Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
Blood in urine
Fever

6. Urinary Tract Infection

When bacteria in one's digestive system comes into contact with the urethra, the microbes may overcome the body's natural defences causing pain and infection. If untreated, there is a potential for the infection to spread to the kidneys making it harder to treat. Anyone is prone to potentially developing a urinary tract infection though they are more common in women.

Urinary Tract Infection symptoms may include:

Pain in kidneys
Pelvic pain
Muscular aches and fatigue
Pain during urination
Blood in urine
Cloudy and strong smelling urine
Increased urge to urinate

7. Bladder Cancer

Bladder Cancer typically occurs when cells in the bladder begin growing quickly and out of control. When enough of these cells develop, they form a tumour which can potentially spread to other parts of the body. Typically, the cancers begins in the urothelium, the innermost lining of the bladder. When it spreads it often first attacks the lymph nodes, liver or lungs.

Bladder cancer symptoms may include:

Blood in urine
Loss of appetite followed by weight loss
Frequent than usual urination
Pain during urination
Feeling the urge to urinate even if the bladder isn't full
Lower back pain on one side
Weakened urine stream
Fatigue and weakness

Urological Condition Screening

Most screening tests are useful for those experiencing any of the symptoms above. Because genetics may play a vital role, we advise those who happen to have a family history of frequent urological conditions to undergo screening as soon as symptoms show, as infections only get worse over time. Screening is even more important for those who have persistent and recurring urological issues.

Urological condition screenings may include these types of tests:

Imaging tests like Ultrasound, CT and MRI scans
Cystoscope inserted via the urinary tract and to take samples of tissue for testing
Urine tests to check for the presence of bacteria or other signs of a disease
Biopsies to look for cancers and other disorders
Urodynamic testing to determine how fast urine leaves the body, volume left behind after and the pressure of the bladder

Treatment for Various Urological Conditions

Though antibiotics or antimicrobials may do the trick by killing infection causing bacteria, different courses of treatment may be recommended based on the individual's condition and the severity of their symptoms. Your specialist may discuss several methods with you and help you decide on the best one. They will also likely recommend certain lifestyle changes such as increasing water intake to flush out the bacteria. Pain medication may be prescribed to help alleviate discomfort while the use of a heating pad may also be suggested to help relieve any abdominal or back pain. Our goal at Gleneagles Hospital Penang is to help you get back on track with your lifestyle and activities. Treatment options such as those listed below depend on the individuals condition and health history.

1. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) Treatment

Treatment depends on age, severity of BPH, and patient’s general health.

The treatment options for urological conditions include:

Drug treatment
Laser vaporisation for patients with smaller prostate glands
Surgical treatment to remove the parts of the swollen prostate that are pressing against the urethra
Simply wait and observe if symptoms are less severe Urinary Tract Infection

A urinalysis, which involves testing the urine for signs of infection, will be performed.

Urinary tract infections are often treated with antibiotics. The length of treatment is dependent upon the severity of symptoms. There are other methods which may be used in conjunction with antibiotic treatment to relieve pain, such as:

Steam injection (REZUM)
Pain medications
Increasing fluid intake
Applying heat
Avoiding substances that irritate the bladder, such as coffee and spicy foods.

A three-day course of antibiotics is usually sufficient to eliminate the infection for urinary tract infections in patients who are otherwise healthy. If the infection has spread to the kidneys, a longer course of antibiotics may be necessary.

2. Kidney Stones Treatment

Kidney stones treatment depends on the type of stone and the cause.

For small stones, drinking water, taking pain relief or medication known as an alpha blocker to relax the muscles in your ureter, can help you pass the kidney stone without further invasive treatment.

For larger stones or stones that cause symptoms, treatment options include:

Using sound waves to break up the stones into tiny pieces which then pass in your urine in a 40 to 50 minutes procedure called extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL).
Surgery (percutaneous nephrolithotomy) to remove large stones in the kidney, using small instruments inserted through a small incision in your back.
Using a scope passed through your ureter and bladder to remove stones trapped in the ureter or kidney.

3. Bladder Cancer Treatment

Bladder cancer treatments vary significantly based on the stage of the disease. Early-stage, non-muscle-invasive cancers may involve less invasive treatments like transurethral resection (TURBT) followed by chemotherapy within the bladder. For more advanced, muscle-invasive cancers, treatment options include surgery to remove the bladder (cystectomy) or a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

4. Erectile Dysfunction Treatment

Erectile dysfunction treatment depends on the cause and general health of the patients. There are different treatment options available:

Oral medication is usually the first line of treatment. It is effective in about 80% of patients but it may not be suitable for everybody as the medication can interact with some prescription medications which the patient may be taking.
Injection therapy is the second line of treatment if oral medications are unsuccessful. A specific drug can be self-injected by the patient into the shaft of the penis to achieve an erection.
External suction devices are used to pull blood into the penis to achieve and maintain an erection for intercourse.
Penile implant surgery which involves placing a prosthetic device for some patients to artificially create an erection.

5. Urinary Incontinence Treatment

Urinary incontinence treatment depends on the type, severity and the cause.

Acute urinary incontinence caused by kidney stone, infections or medication side effects often clears out when the root-cause problem is treated. Other urinary incontinence treatment options include:

Conservative management such as Biofeedback, electrical stimulation and simple Kegel exercise
Continence devices, like buking substances (collagen or artificial substance) and pessary (semi-rigid ring) to help reposition and stabilise the bladder and urethra
Surgical treatment such as insertion of thin tube into the bladder (catheterisation) for those whose bladder fails to empty completely, placement of a pubo-vaginal sling (“hammock”) beneath the bladder to provide support, placement of an artificial sphincter to prevent urine leakage or sutures to stabilise the bladder
Medication

Subject to patient’s conditions, a combination of these therapies may be needed, and treatment is tailored to meet individual needs.

6. Prostate Cancer Treatment

Prostate cancer treatment is tailored to individual needs, depending on the cancer's stage and the patient's health. Not all cases require immediate treatment, but when necessary, the goal is to manage the disease effectively to minimise the impact on life expectancy and quality.

Treatment is managed by a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including surgeons, oncologists, and nurses, who consider factors such as the cancer's type, size, and spread.

For cases requiring surgical intervention, the da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system has revolutionized urological procedures, particularly in prostate cancer treatment. This advanced technology allows surgeons to perform minimally invasive radical prostatectomies with enhanced precision, potentially leading to better outcomes and faster recovery times for patients experiencing these symptoms.

Treatment options range from watchful waiting for less aggressive cancers to surgery and radiotherapy for more advanced stages. Newer, less invasive treatments like HIFU and cryotherapy are also available but are still being studied for long-term effectiveness.

For advanced cancer, treatments aim to prolong life and alleviate symptoms, using chemotherapy, hormone treatments, and newer therapies. Hormone therapy, often used in conjunction with other treatments, targets testosterone to slow cancer growth. The choice of treatment balances effectiveness with quality of life, always considering the patient's preferences and health status.

Learn more about Robotic Surgery in Urology.

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