Circumcision, a procedure in which the foreskin of the penis is removed, is performed on about 65% of newborn boys in the U.S. Although circumcision is embraced for religious or cultural reasons, it is not medically necessary. Neither systemic nor sexual health is compromised by forgoing circumcision in the majority of cases, as long as proper hygiene practices are followed.

However, some uncircumcised men reach adulthood and decide that they would prefer to be circumcised. Generally, urologists recommend against having a circumcision performed during adulthood, unless there is a health problem. Some men have difficulty with recurring infections despite practicing good hygiene. Other men have difficulties with foreskin retraction. In these cases, a urologist can perform circumcision surgery to reverse the issues.

To discuss your options for circumcision in adulthood , schedule a consultation at Urology Associates, P.C. To make an appointment with a urologist in Nashville, please call (855) 901-1338.

Not every medical procedure involves surgical incisions. Lithotripsy is a high-tech way to break up kidney stones. Your urologist may recommend lithotripsy if you have stones that are too large to pass, or if you have an anatomical abnormality that will make it difficult to pass the stones. Although electro-shockwave lithotripsy is not surgery, you will be placed under general anesthesia for the procedure.

Once you’re asleep, your urologist will use specialized equipment to direct high-energy shock waves through your body. These shock waves break up the stones into very tiny pieces. These pieces could be as small as a grain of sand. The entire treatment typically takes less than an hour. After the procedure, you’ll be advised to drink plenty of water to help the tiny bits flush out of your body with your urine. Lithotripsy is generally safe, but there are inherent risks with every medical procedure. Talk to your doctor about these risks before deciding whether to have lithotripsy.

Lithotripsy is one of the many advanced treatments we offer here at Urology Associates, P.C. If you’ve been told you may have kidney stones and you live in Middle Tennessee, give us a call at (615) 250-9200 to request our next available appointment.

Cysts are noncancerous, fluid-filled sacs. They can develop in many different places in your body, and they aren’t always harmful. However, cysts in the kidneys can be dangerous. If you experience any possible symptoms of kidney cysts, or if your family doctor diagnoses you with polycystic kidney disease, you’ll need to work with a urologist to learn how to reduce your risk of complications.

Understanding Kidney Cysts

Kidney cysts can develop in people as they grow older. In many cases, they remain too small to cause any problems, and it’s possible to have a cyst or two without even knowing it. It isn’t quite known exactly why older adults are susceptible to kidney cysts , but some urologists suspect that it’s because the surface of the kidneys weaken later in life. Other people develop kidney cysts because of an inherited condition called polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Although the severity of this disease can vary from patient to patient, it’s possible for it to lead to severe complications, including kidney failure.

Identifying the Signs and Symptoms

Polycystic kidney disease usually begins causing symptoms after age 30 or 40. Cysts that develop in people without PKD are typically not diagnosed in patients younger than 50. Kidney cysts can cause these symptoms:

• Frequent urination
• Pain in the back or belly
• Pain in the side between the hip and ribs
• Fever
• Dark urine
• Bloody urine

In addition, people with PKD may develop these symptoms and complications:

• Extremely high blood pressure that causes a headache
• Chest pain
• Fluttering in the chest
• Frequent kidney and urinary tract infections
• Increased abdominal size
• Feeling of fullness in the abdomen
• Kidney stones
• Kidney failure

Exploring Your Treatment Options

If your kidney cysts aren’t caused by a disease, and they’re too small to cause symptoms, you might not need any treatment. Otherwise, your urologist may recommend surgical removal of the cyst. If you do have PKD, your treatment plan will depend on the complications you have. You may need medications to control high blood pressure, antibiotics to treat bladder or kidney infections, or dialysis to treat kidney failure.

Patients in Nashville with urologic health issues will find the thoughtful medical guidance and compassionate care they need at Urology Associates, P.C. We are a full-service urology clinic that provides cutting-edge treatments and comprehensive support for our patients. Schedule your consultation with one of our board certified urologists today by calling (615) 250-9200.

Urologists know that men with prostate cancer are also at a higher risk of osteoporosis. In part, the association is due to age. The risk of both of these conditions increases for men aged 65 years and older. However, there’s another connection, which you can hear about when you watch this video.

It features Gerald Breeden, PA-C, a certified Physician Assistant at Urology Associates, P.C. He explains that the risk of osteoporosis increases in men with low sex hormones. Hormone deprivation therapy is one of the ways our urologists can treat prostate cancer.

The Men’s Health Clinic, at Urology Associates, P.C., offers a full spectrum of specialized medical services, including care for men with osteoporosis and prostate cancer . If you’re looking for a prostate cancer specialist in Nashville, call us today at (615) 250-9200.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common, and has many potential causes and contributing factors. Some men discover that their ED is due to physical health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease. Others have underlying psychological issues, or a combination of mental health and physical health problems. Addiction is another possibility that urologists consider when evaluating a man for erectile dysfunction. Scientific research has linked tobacco use to problems achieving and sustaining an erection.

How Smoking Affects Sexual Health

A man’s sexual health depends on vascular health. When a man becomes sexually aroused, the nerves respond by telling the blood vessels in the penis to expand and fill with more blood. This causes an erection. However, smoking substantially damages the blood vessels, which affects their ability to respond to sexual arousal. Impotence is the result. Men who smoke, especially those who are heavy smokers, are more likely to suffer from ED. However, they can reverse the effects, and achieve faster, firmer erections by kicking the habit.

How Smoking Affects Fertility

It’s extremely hazardous to the health of a pregnant woman and her child when they live with a smoker. Even if a man only smokes outdoors, the smoke can drift inside the home, and the residue clings to clothing, fingers, and household surfaces. Even if this weren’t enough motivation to quit smoking, men should be aware that tobacco negatively affects fertility. It does this by damaging the DNA in sperm .

How Men Can Finally Kick the Habit

Most smokers who quit require multiple attempts before they achieve success, and the same smoking cessation method won’t necessarily work for everyone. A multi-pronged approach may work best. In addition to talking to a doctor about smoking cessation medications and nicotine replacement products, men might consider the following:

• Support groups
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Biofeedback
• Acupuncture
• Distraction techniques for cravings
• Hypnotherapy

At Urology Associates, P.C., smoking cessation is commonly recommended for our patients who smoke. Our urology team in Tennessee provides compassionate and discreet medical services at our Men’s Health Clinic. Call us at (615) 250-9200.