Medical conditions urologists treat can be embarrassing to think about, much less discuss. Few people feel comfortable talking openly about issues such as urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction, prostate enlargement or kidney stones.
Even so, these medical issues can have a deep impact on your quality of life. And if they're left untreated, they could affect your overall health.
At CGH Medical Center, we have a team of urologists that use Sauk Valley's most advanced diagnostic technologies, delicate surgery techniques and advanced minimally invasive methods to address urology issues. And our urology specialists are adept at discussing these issues with sensitivity. In our clinic, we help men, women and children get back to the life they want.
The role of urology specialists
Our urologists treat disorders of the kidney, bladder and urethra, as well as the male reproductive system. Our team can address a variety of medical conditions, including:
- Bladder disease.
- Bladder stones.
- Cancer of the kidney, bladder, prostate or testes.
- Kidney stones.
- Male infertility and sexual dysfunction.
- Urinary tract infections and stones.
Help for men with prostate problems
If you are experiencing symptoms of enlarged prostate—caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate cancer or another medical condition—you're not alone, and we can help you treat and manage it.
Our urologists can perform testing to help you understand your prostate issues. These tests may include:
- Ultrasound.
- Urine flow studies.
- Intravenous pyelogram (x-ray of the urinary tract).
- Cystoscopy, or visualization of the urethra and bladder with a small telescope.
If your prostate is enlarged but you are experiencing no symptoms, you and your doctor may decide that watchful waiting is the best option. This may mean no active treatment but simply yearly or more frequent checkups to evaluate your condition.
If you do need treatment, medications might help and surgery might be an option. We also offer minimally invasive treatments, including:
- Transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT), which involves using microwaves to heat and destroy excess prostate tissue. TUMT can be performed in an hour or two on an outpatient basis.
- Transurethral needle ablation (TUNA), which uses radio waves to relieve obstruction without damaging the urethra. Often, it can be performed under local anesthesia and doesn't require a hospital stay.
- The UroLift System is an option for patients looking for an alternative to drugs or major surgery. The straightforward UroLift System treatment is often performed in the doctor’s office using tiny implants to hold open the obstructed pathway that’s blocking urine flow, addressing the blockage, not just continuously treating enlarged prostate (BPH) symptoms. The UroLift System offers treatment with minimal risk of side effects while preserving sexual function1.
Prostate treatments offer both advantages and disadvantages, and the treatments may vary in effectiveness. Your urologist will explain all of your treatment options to you, so you'll be able to make an informed choice.
And if you do have prostate cancer, you can get the help you need from talented oncologists in our cancer center.
Help for women dealing with urinary incontinence
Many women experience urinary incontinence at some point in life—and it isn't a problem that's exclusive to women who have been through menopause. Younger women can also leak urine, especially when they cough, laugh or exercise. Unfortunately, most of these women struggle in silence. You don't have to.
At CGH Medical Center, we offer urodynamic testing. This comprehensive series of painless tests measures the function of your lower urinary tract. The results help your urologist to come up with a treatment plan that can help.
Urodynamic testing may include:
- Uroflowmetry. This one- to two-minute test measures the amount and rate of urine you void from your bladder.
- Cystometry. This test evaluates how much your bladder can hold, how well the bladder muscles function and how the neurological signals that tell you when your bladder is full work.
- Urethral pressure profile study. This test evaluates the amount of pressure in your urethra.
- Pressure flow study. This test offers an in-depth measurement of the pressure and flow of urine out of your bladder.
Test results may be available immediately after the study is finished, or you may be asked to return to your doctor's office in a few days. The report will include a summary of the study results, your doctor's diagnosis of your problem and suggestions for further evaluation and treatment. After reviewing the results, your doctor will talk with you about the study report and your treatment options.
Pelvic floor exercises might be recommended to help address urinary incontinence issues. Your urologist will help you understand how to do these and how often you should do them. And you'll work with your doctor to ensure that they are helping you to gain control.
Meet your urologists
The urologists at CGH Medical Center have years of experience in helping people to overcome urinary issues, and they have advanced training in urology diagnosis and urological therapies. To learn more about the professionals on our team, visit our provider directory.
To learn more about urinary incontinence and to help you decide if you need to make an appointment with one of our urologists, take our quiz. Or head to our health library and use our tools to check your risk of prostate cancer.