Types of Career Pathways in Urology
Urology is a medical specialty that deals with problems of the urinary system. This area of medicine differs on how it approaches men and women in that with the male urinary system urology also deals with reproductive problems. Career pathways in urology are determined by subspecialty. There are several subspecialties of urology that differ based on the patients, the urological problems they handle or the methods of treatment they use.
Different urological specialties
Urological oncologists specialize in cancers of the urinary system. In both genders this may include detecting and treating bladder cancer, in male patients a urological oncologist may deal with testicular cancer or prostate cancer as well. A pediatric urologist specializes in urinary problems of both male and female infants and children. Endourology focuses the use of procedures that are less invasive than open surgery. Removing the prostate via the urethra, for example, is an endourological procedure. Still another subspecialty of urology is the neurourology which specializes in nerve issues that affect the urinary system. Stroke and spinal cord injury can result in urinary system disorders and a neurourologist is the specialist who treats such conditions.
Training for urologists
After graduating from medical school, a doctor must then spend two more years in a general surgery residency, then enter a urological residency that may range from three to five years in duration depending on the school.
The career of the urologist
Stones in the urinary tract make up a large portion of the issues faced by most urologists. Dealing with inherited abnormalities and kidney disease also form a substantial part of the average urological practice. Inherited abnormalities may include such conditions as undescended testes and various intersexual problems. In recent years there has been a rapid increase in the numbers of kidney disease sufferers on dialysis and who require new kidneys, this is likely to continue being a substantial part of urological practices for years to come.