Conditions
Information on the most common urological conditions, with related treatments and the specialist who treats each one at the clinic.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is the non-cancerous growth of the prostate, associated with age and with exposure to male hormones throughout life. It is more common after age 50 and usually produces urinary symptoms ranging from mild to severe, with medical or surgical treatment depending on each case.
Read moreProstate cancer has a very high prevalence among men in Costa Rica. An annual evaluation is recommended starting at age 40, with a digital rectal exam and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, since in its initial stages it usually causes no symptoms, and early detection broadens treatment options.
Read moreAs with all tumors of the urinary tract, early diagnosis of kidney cancer makes the difference when it comes to offering the patient a definitive treatment. With high-definition ultrasound, CT scans, and MRI, renal tumors are increasingly detected at an earlier stage, when conservative surgical management is more viable.
Read moreBladder cancer is a malignant growth of the bladder tissue, whose number one cause is smoking. It advances quickly if not diagnosed and treated in time, which is why blood in the urine should always be treated as an emergency and studied right away.
Read moreTesticular cancer is the most common tumor in young men, with a first peak from the start of puberty to age 35. It presents as a painless mass or swelling in the testicle and is treatable and curable even with a late diagnosis, although it is best to see a doctor immediately for any suspicious lesion.
Read morePenile cancer is an uncommon disease, although it has a higher incidence in developing countries. It occurs in uncircumcised men with repeated infections, in untreated carriers of the human papillomavirus (HPV), or in those with inadequate hygiene habits, and it usually progresses slowly.
Read moreRenal lithiasis, or kidney stones, is a very common condition in urology: it happens at least once in a lifetime to close to 10% of the population. It produces intense colicky pain that starts in the back and moves toward the groin, and is treated with pain medication or minimally invasive endoscopic surgery, depending on the stone's size.
Read moreThe human papillomavirus is very common in men: close to 90% are carriers, although fewer than 2% develop active disease. The most common manifestation is genital warts, which should be treated, since an untreated infection can eventually lead to penile cancer.
Read moreErectile dysfunction is defined as the inability to maintain an erection that allows a man to have satisfying sexual activity. More than a disease, it is a symptom that signals something is not right, and its causes can range from stress to an underlying heart condition, which is why it should be evaluated in consultation.
Read moreUrinary incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine. It is never normal and should not be considered a normal part of aging: several types exist, with different causes and treatments, ranging from a change in habits to surgery with mesh slings.
Read moreThere are many causes of male infertility, and to determine whether it exists, at least two semen analyses at different times are necessary. Among the most common causes is varicocele, the most common reversible cause, which is corrected with an outpatient surgery called varicocelectomy.
Read more