Prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, is a protein that is made by the prostate and present in your blood. Your primary care physician or urologist may perform a PSA test as a routine part of your preventative health care regime. Abnormal levels can indicate a health problem, such as prostate cancer.

If elevated PSA levels are detected during a blood test, your urologist may recommend further prostate cancer screening tests to determine if cancer could be the cause. It is important to note that elevated PSA levels do not necessarily mean that cancer is present, and normal PSA levels do not mean that no cancer exists. It is one tool in the cancer screening process that your urologist can use to detect the disease in early stages, when cancer treatment is most effective.

Your urologist at Urology Associates, P.C. will review all of your lab results with you, so you understand what things like elevated PSA levels mean for your overall health. To schedule an appointment for prostate cancer screenings in Nashville , please call (855) 901-1338.

Urologists often diagnose stress urinary incontinence in women. It occurs when small amounts of urine leak at inappropriate times. Incontinence can occur when a person is sneezing, laughing, coughing, or engaging in any other activities that exert pressure on the bladder.

Watch this animation to learn more about why stress urinary incontinence occurs. It explains the basic anatomy of the area, such as the functions of the sphincters and pelvic floor muscles. In women, stress urinary incontinence is often the result of the weakening of the pelvic floor muscles after pregnancy and childbirth.

Effective treatments for incontinence are available in Tennessee. Contact Urology Associates, P.C. at (855) 901-1338 to request an appointment with a urologist.

Women typically treat vaginal yeast infections with over-the-counter (OTC) products, assuming that there is no need to visit a urologist. However, women who develop recurrent yeast infections would be wise to see a urology specialist instead of continuing to rely on OTC suppositories. This is because it’s possible for these patients to actually have vestibulitis, which mimics the symptoms of vaginal yeast infections and may be caused by repeated yeast infections.

Vestibulitis is a chronic inflammatory problem that causes symptoms like burning, irritation, the frequent urge to urinate, and pain that occurs with pelvic pressure or vaginal entry. The treatment for this condition may involve medicated topical applications and lifestyle modifications, such as avoiding the exposure of chemical irritants. For example, women may be advised to avoid OTC vaginal products, scented laundry detergent, and douching.

At Urology Associates, P.C., women will find comprehensive and compassionate sexual health care in Nashville. Call us at (855) 901-1338 today or visit us online to learn about the conditions we treat , including sexual dysfunction.

Thousands of men visit a urologist because of testicular pain. In some cases, the pain is caused by a debilitating condition called chronic testicular pain, or CTP. CTP ranges from mild to severe and can interfere with every day activities. If you believe you could be suffering from CTP, your urologist can provide treatments to ease your symptoms and help you enjoy a better quality of life. Here is what you need to know about this painful condition.

CTP may be constant or intermittent.

The discomfort associated with CTP may be constant in some men, while others have pain that comes and goes. The distinguishing factor between CTP and other types of testicular pain is that CTP persists for three months or more. Some men may have a sudden onset of pain that is eventually diagnosed as CTP, while others have pain that develops gradually.

Symptoms of CTP can vary.

Some men with CTP have symptoms all the time, but other men only have discomfort during activities. The pain can feel like aching and pressure or burning and throbbing and may also spread to the lower back and upper thighs. The pain can appear in one or both testicles and may switch from side to side. In some men, the pain is accompanied by swelling, fever, painful urination, painful intercourse or ejaculation, and bloody urine. Nausea and vomiting are also possible.

Several treatment options are available.

If you are diagnosed with CTP, the first thing you urologist will do is try to pinpoint the cause. Trauma, infections, hernias, cysts, and torsion are all potential causes of CTP, though in some cases, the cause is unknown. If your urologist does find a cause, treating the underlying issue can often resolve the CTP. Medications and surgery may be necessary to treat CTP.

Visit Urology Associates, P.C. for diagnosis and treatment any time you experience testicular pain. Our doctors provide comprehensive care for CTP , sexual health issues including erectile dysfunction, and testicular cancer in Nashville. To make your appointment, call (855) 901-1338.

If you or your partner is experiencing sexual health issues, such as erectile dysfunction or low libido, communication is an essential part of overcoming them. It’s not always easy to begin a conversation about sexual health, but it’s important for your relationship to have an open and ongoing dialogue with your partner about issues you may both be experiencing. These tips for discussing sexual health can help you start the conversation.

Pick the Right Time and Place

Because sexual health can be a sensitive topic, choose the time and place of your conversation wisely. Pick a time when you and your partner can sit together without distractions and aren’t rushed. Have your conversation in a private place, where both of you can feel comfortable talking about the issues openly and honestly. Avoid starting the conversation before work, when you have someplace to be, or otherwise have obligations that could interfere with your ability to talk for as long as you need to.

Be Direct

Be direct with your partner about your concerns about your sexual health and how it is or could affect your relationship. If have been diagnosed with a problem by your urologist, it can helpful to explain your condition and even give your partner materials your doctor may have provided to help you understand it. If your partner is the one experiencing the issue, ask any questions you may have and offer to research the answers together. The more informed both of you are about the issues, the better equipped you will be to face them together.

Talk About Treatments

Help your partner understand the treatment options available for the sexual health issue you are experiencing or ask questions about the treatments he or she is considering. In many cases, partner involvement in treatments can be helpful. In all cases, having the support of your partner when dealing with sexual health issues is important.

Your urologist at Urology Associates, P.C. can help you prepare for your conversation about sexual health by equipping you with the information you need. If you are experiencing sexual dysfunction in Nashville, make an appointment with a urologist today by calling (855) 901-1338.

Atrophic vaginitis, or vaginal atrophy , is a condition that urologists most often diagnose in women who are already in menopause, but it may also occur at other stages of a woman’s life. Vaginal atrophy is characterized by the thinning and inflammation of the tissues in the vaginal wall, which can cause painful symptoms and sexual dysfunction. Although these issues can be distressing, women should be aware that effective medical treatments are available.

Signs and Symptoms

Vaginal atrophy is a common cause of vaginal dryness, burning, itching, and unusual discharge. Many women also experience urinary symptoms, such as having the urgent need to urinate. A burning sensation may occur with urination and women may develop urinary incontinence. A patient’s history may reflect the increased occurrence of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Sexual intercourse can become uncomfortable or painful and some women may notice light bleeding or spotting afterward. As a result of these problems, it’s not unusual for women with vaginal atrophy to experience sexual dysfunction such as the loss of libido and orgasm problems. Marital distress may develop.

Causes and Risk Factors

The underlying cause of vaginal atrophy is a reduction in estrogen levels, which is why the condition most often affects post-menopausal women and those who are in perimenopause. A substantial decline in estrogen levels may also occur as a result of the surgical removal of the ovaries, cancer treatments, or breastfeeding. Certain factors may increase the risk of vaginal atrophy, including smoking, the lack of sexual activity, and the absence of vaginal births in the patient’s medical history.

Treatment Options

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is one option for restoring hormonal balance, but it’s generally advisable to consider other treatments first due to the risks of HRT. Women with mild vaginal atrophy may get good results with vaginal moisturizers and water-based lubricants. Women with more severe symptoms might consider drug-free laser therapy, which can provide relief after the first treatment.

The Women’s Institute for Sexual Health (WISH) at Urology Associates, P.C. connects women to caring urology specialists. We treat every patient with the utmost care to sensitivity and confidentiality. If you are experiencing a sexual health problem and live in Nashville, contact us today at (855) 901-1338.

The presence of blood in one’s urine is known as hematuria. Hematuria isn’t a specific medical condition. Rather, it’s a sign of an underlying problem. Although hematuria may be attributed to a benign issue, it might sometimes be caused by a serious medical problem that requires treatment. This is why it’s important to see a urologist promptly, even if you only notice bloody urine once.

What is microscopic hematuria?

Patients who visit a urologist because of hematuria often noticed the visible blood in the urine, but bloody urine isn’t always detectable to the naked eye. Sometimes, the presence of blood in a urine sample is only discovered during other medical exams. When red blood cells in the urine cannot be visibly detected, it is referred to as microscopic hematuria.

Am I at risk of hematuria?

Anyone can experience hematuria, including pediatric patients. Your risk may be elevated if you are a man over the age of 50 or a woman with a urinary tract infection. A family history of kidney problems or a recent infection might also increase your risk. Long-distance runners and other athletes who engage in strenuous exercise may experience hematuria from time to time.

What underlying problems can cause hematuria?

There are many possible causes of hematuria, including relatively harmless issues like strenuous exercise and sexual activity. It may be attributed to a urinary tract infection (UTI), viral infection, or sexually transmitted disease (STD). In men, benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as an enlarged prostate, can be the culprit. Some of the more serious causes of bloody urine include kidney, ureter, and bladder stones, kidney diseases, sickle cell anemia, and tumors of the bladder, kidneys, prostate, ureter, or urethra. Fortunately, urological cancers are not a common cause . Sometimes, no cause is found. This is known as idiopathic hematuria.

How is hematuria treated?

Your urologist will develop a treatment plan based on his or her findings. Since hematuria is the result of an underlying issue, the treatment will address the cause. If no cause is found, you may be referred for monitoring and follow-up testing.

You’ll find the answers to all of your questions at Urology Associates, P.C. Our urology specialists throughout Tennessee provide cutting-edge treatments for all sorts of urologic conditions—from kidney stones to kidney cancer and many more. Call us at (855) 901-1338 to request a confidential patient evaluation.

Prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, is a protein that is made by the prostate and present in your blood. Your primary care physician or urologist may perform a PSA test as a routine part of your preventative health care regime. Abnormal levels can indicate a health problem, such as prostate cancer.

If elevated PSA levels are detected during a blood test, your urologist may recommend further prostate cancer screening tests to determine if cancer could be the cause. It is important to note that elevated PSA levels do not necessarily mean that cancer is present, and normal PSA levels do not mean that no cancer exists. It is one tool in the cancer screening process that your urologist can use to detect the disease in early stages, when cancer treatment is most effective.

Your urologist at Urology Associates, P.C. will review all of your lab results with you, so you understand what things like elevated PSA levels mean for your overall health. To schedule an appointment for prostate cancer screenings in Tennessee , please call (888) 329-7700.

Thousands of men visit a urologist because of testicular pain. In some cases, the pain is caused by a debilitating condition called chronic testicular pain, or CTP. CTP ranges from mild to severe and can interfere with every day activities. If you believe you could be suffering from CTP, your urologist can provide treatments to ease your symptoms and help you enjoy a better quality of life. Here is what you need to know about this painful condition.

CTP may be constant or intermittent.

The discomfort associated with CTP may be constant in some men, while others have pain that comes and goes. The distinguishing factor between CTP, and other types of testicular pain, is that CTP persists for three months or more. Some men may have a sudden onset of pain that is eventually diagnosed as CTP, while others have pain that develops gradually.

Symptoms of CTP can vary.

Some men with CTP have symptoms all the time, but other men only have discomfort during activities. The pain can feel like aching and pressure or burning and throbbing, and may also spread to the lower back and upper thighs. The pain can appear in one or both testicles and may switch from side to side. In some men, the pain is accompanied by swelling, fever, painful urination, painful intercourse or ejaculation, and bloody urine. Nausea and vomiting are also possible.

Several treatment options are available.

If you are diagnosed with CTP, the first thing your urologist will do is try to pinpoint the cause. Trauma, infections, hernias, cysts and torsion are all potential causes of CTP, though in some cases, the cause is unknown. If your urologist does find a cause, treating the underlying issue can often resolve the CTP. Medications and surgery may be necessary to treat CTP.

Visit Urology Associates, P.C. for diagnosis and treatment any time you experience testicular pain. Our doctors provide comprehensive care for CTP , sexual health issues including erectile dysfunction, and testicular cancer in Tennessee. To make your appointment, call (888) 329-7700.

Most people know kidney stones’ reputation for being painful, but what exactly are they, and how can your urologist treat them? Watch this video to find out.

Kidney stones occur when certain minerals build up in your urine and form clumps that then must be passed out of your body via your urinary tract. They can cause severe pain in the back and abdomen as they move around, particularly if they are large or have jagged edges. In some cases, kidney stone treatment may revolve around pain medication and drinking extra water, but for large stones, your urologist may recommend surgery or another method of breaking up the stone.

At Urology Associates, P.C. , our doctors offer care for kidney stones, UTIs, erectile dysfunction, and a long list of other conditions affecting the urinary system and sexual health. To make an appointment with a urologist in Tennessee, call (888) 329-7700.