Frequently Asked Questions About Urology

The first consultation is mainly a confidential medical interview in which your medical history and current symptoms are reviewed.

Depending on your age and the reason for the visit, it may include a general physical examination and, when appropriate, an evaluation of the genital or prostate area.

The goal is to establish a baseline for follow-up and ensure preventive monitoring of urological health.

It’s not always necessary.

In younger men without symptoms, a digital rectal exam is usually omitted.

It is mainly indicated based on age, medical history, or the presence of symptoms.

It is a brief, painless exam with high diagnostic value for assessing the prostate.

In general, it’s recommended to start annual check-ups between ages 45 and 50, as a measure for early detection of prostate cancer.

For men with a direct family history of this cancer (father or brothers), it’s advisable to start earlier, around age 40.

Nocturia (getting up several times at night to urinate) is a common symptom in men after a certain age and is often related to benign prostate enlargement (BPH).

Although it’s usually not serious, it’s worth discussing with a specialist, as there are effective treatments that improve both quality of life and night-time rest.

A urologist is the specialist in diagnosing and treating diseases of the urinary tract and the male reproductive system.

An andrologist is a urologist who has specialised specifically in male sexual and reproductive health, including fertility problems, erectile dysfunction, and andropause.

Yes. A urologist is the medical specialist responsible for diagnosing and treating erectile dysfunction and other issues related to male sexual health.

This is handled with full professionalism and confidentiality, with access to multiple effective treatment options.

No. A vasectomy only interrupts the transport of sperm.

It does not affect hormones, nerves, or blood vessels involved in desire, erection, or orgasm.

Sex life remains the same, with the advantage of permanent contraception.

During the procedure, you won’t feel pain.

It can be done with local anaesthesia (no sensation in the area after an initial injection) or with light sedation for greater comfort.

Afterwards, discomfort is mild and is controlled with standard pain killers.

Effectiveness is not immediate.

You must have a semen analysis at 3 months to confirm there are no sperm in the semen.

Until then, you should continue using another contraceptive method.

No. Vasectomy is a safe procedure that does not alter hormone production, sexual function, or increase the risk of prostate cancer or other diseases.

Numerous scientific studies have confirmed that it has no negative long-term health effects.

A reversal surgery (vasovasostomy) exists, but it is complex, costly, and its success rate decreases over time.

For this reason, vasectomy should be considered a permanent contraceptive method.

No. Semen volume barely changes, because sperm account for less than 5% of the ejaculate.

The appearance, colour, and amount of semen remain practically identical after the procedure.

After the procedure, the glans remains exposed and there may initially be temporary hypersensitivity.

Over time, the skin adapts and sensitivity normalises, without affecting pleasure or the quality of sexual activity.

Yes. The procedure is performed with precise surgical techniques and fine absorbable sutures, allowing proper healing and a final result that is aesthetic, symmetrical, and natural.

Recovery usually causes more discomfort than pain.

There may be discomfort in the area during the first week, especially with friction from underwear.

This is easily controlled with pain relievers and local care.

It is recommended to wait between 3 and 4 weeks before having sex or masturbating.

This time ensures full healing and reduces the risk of discomfort or the wound reopening.

If phimosis is not causing discomfort, it may sometimes resolve on its own during puberty.

However, if it persists after age 14–15 or causes pain, difficulty retracting the foreskin, or hygiene problems, surgery (circumcision) is the recommended option.

Both procedures correct phimosis, but they are not identical.

Phimosis surgery may involve a small correction that widens the opening of the foreskin without removing it completely, whereas circumcision involves the complete removal of the foreskin, leaving the glans permanently exposed.

Untreated phimosis can cause pain during sex, difficulty maintaining proper hygiene, and a higher risk of urinary tract infections or balanitis.

In severe cases, it can make urination difficult and increase the risk of paraphimosis, a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.

Night-time erections are normal during recovery.

They may cause a tightness sensation, but the stitches are designed to withstand tension.

The risk of them coming undone is very low.

Not always.

If the hydrocele is small and does not cause discomfort, periodic monitoring may be chosen.

However, when it increases in size and causes physical or aesthetic discomfort, surgery is the only definitive treatment.

Needle aspiration of the fluid is not effective long term, as the accumulation usually returns.

During the procedure, you won’t feel pain, as it is performed under sedation.

Afterwards, discomfort is mild and is felt more as swelling than as sharp pain, and is effectively controlled with the prescribed medication.

No. The procedure is performed on the membrane surrounding the testicle, without affecting the testicle itself or sperm or hormone production.

It also does not interfere with erections or ejaculation.

In most cases, a hydrocele is not dangerous, but it can continue to grow and cause discomfort, heaviness, or aesthetic concerns.

If it becomes large, it can make it difficult to examine the testicle and mask other conditions.

That’s why, when it is large or bothersome, surgery is recommended.

It is very uncommon.

Surgery removes not only the fluid, but also the membrane that produces it, which makes the treatment definitive in most cases.

In most cases, a hydrocele develops without a specific cause.

It occurs because the natural fluid reabsorption mechanism stops working properly (like a slow drain), leading to fluid accumulation.

It is not related to habits, behaviours, or factors attributable to the patient.

Varicocele is one of the most common causes of male infertility.

Dilated veins cause an increase in testicular temperature, which can affect the production, quality, and motility of sperm.

Surgery corrects this problem and significantly improves the chances of achieving a pregnancy.

It depends. In the absence of pain, the main indication is when fertility is affected (confirmed by a semen analysis) or there is a reduction in testicular size.

If these circumstances are not present, periodic monitoring may be recommended.

The procedure improves testicular conditions and significantly increases sperm quality and quantity, but no does not absolutely guarantee fertility.

It is, however, the most effective treatment to correct this factor and improve the chances of conception.

No. The procedure does not interfere with nerves or the structures responsible for erection, desire, or orgasm.

Sexual function remains intact and, in some cases, quality of life improves by eliminating discomfort or heaviness associated with varicocele.

No. It is performed under sedation, so the patient does not feel pain during the procedure.

Afterwards, discomfort is usually mild and comparable to a bruised or sore feeling, and is controlled with standard pain relievers.

The risk of recurrence is low, especially when using the microsurgery technique, which allows the affected veins to be treated precisely.

In most cases, the surgical correction is definitive.