Patient questions, answered

79 short articles from Advanced Urology, written for patients of our Marietta, Canton, Dallas and Jasper offices. Each one starts with a direct answer, then explains what to expect and when to come in. Browse by topic or page through them all.

Which topic are you reading about?

• Enlarged prostate10 articles
• Overactive bladder and night-time urination10 articles
• Bladder leakage and pelvic floor11 articles
• Kidney stones9 articles
• Prostate cancer8 articles
• PSA and prostate biopsy1 article
• Bladder cancer5 articles
• Kidney masses and kidney cancer6 articles
• Testicle concerns1 article
• Blood in the urine and urology tests4 articles
• Erectile dysfunction10 articles
• Testosterone3 articles
• Vasectomy1 article

All articles

• I was just diagnosed with prostate cancer: what are my options?Here's what your options look like. Many prostate cancers grow slowly.
• Should I keep taking prostate pills for life or have a procedure?Medicines work well for many men. But some men still get up at night, have a weak stream, or deal with side effects like dizziness or ejaculation changes.
• How do I bring up ED at a urology visit?Just say it plainly: I'm having trouble getting or keeping erections. We hear this every day, and there's nothing to be embarrassed about.
• Aquablation vs TURP: what is the difference?Both remove prostate tissue that blocks urine flow. TURP uses an electric loop to trim tissue and has been used for decades.
• Low-Intensity Shockwave Therapy for ED: who is a good candidate?Candidates for low-intensity shockwave therapy may include men whose mild to moderate ED is blood-flow related, men wanting a treatment without daily…
• Shock Wave Lithotripsy: who is a candidate?This treatment sends focused sound waves through the skin to break a stone into small pieces you pass in your urine. It often works for smaller…
• What is InterStim (sacral nerve stimulation)?InterStim is sacral nerve stimulation. A small device near the tailbone sends gentle signals to the nerves that control the bladder and bowel.
• What is Bulkamid for bladder leakage?Bulkamid is a soft gel injected into the wall of the urethra. It helps the urethra close better, so less urine leaks with coughing or exercise.
• Can a small kidney tumor be ablated instead of removed?Often, yes. Many small kidney tumors can be treated with ablation.
• How does histotripsy compare to surgery?Histotripsy uses focused ultrasound with no incisions. In kidney tumors it remains under study in clinical trials, so how it compares isn't known yet.
• Bladder cancer symptoms in women: often mistaken for a UTIBlood in urine gets treated as an infection, again and again. If symptoms keep coming back, look deeper.
• Active surveillance vs watchful waiting: what is the difference?Active surveillance means close monitoring of low-risk prostate cancer, with regular PSA tests, MRIs, and biopsies. The goal is to treat if the…
• Vacuum Erection Device: how long does it take to get used to a VED?Most men get comfortable within a few weeks of practice. Learning the right technique and ring size helps.
• Why do kidney stones cause pain?A stone blocks urine, so the kidney swells and stretches. The ureter squeezes against the stone.
• What is salvage radiation after prostatectomy?If PSA rises after surgery, radiation to the area where the prostate was can treat cancer cells left behind. It's often most effective when PSA is…
• How do we treat kidney stones?It depends on the stone's size, where it sits, and how you feel. Small stones often pass with fluids, pain control, and a medicine that relaxes the ureter.
• Bladder pills not enough? Questions to ask about next stepsAsk these questions. Have we ruled out other causes, like infection or not emptying?
• Why do I need surveillance cystoscopy after bladder cancer?Bladder cancer can come back, even after successful treatment. Regular cystoscopy (a quick look inside the bladder using a thin camera) can catch it…
• What is TURP surgery?TURP, or transurethral resection of the prostate, removes prostate tissue that blocks urine. A scope goes through the urethra, so there are no skin cuts.
• Robotic Simple Prostatectomy: why single port (SP)?Single-port robotic surgery works through one small incision instead of several. For simple prostatectomy, that may mean less pain, a smaller scar…
• Botox vs InterStim vs Altaviva: how to chooseAll three treat overactive bladder when pills aren't enough. Bladder Botox takes two to three minutes as a procedure in our surgery centers.
• Who is a good candidate for Bulkamid?Bulkamid may fit women with stress leaks, from coughing, sneezing, or exercise, who want a treatment with no cuts and a quick recovery. That includes…
• Can sleep apnea make you pee at night?Yes. Sleep apnea strains the heart, which releases a hormone that makes the kidneys produce more urine.
• Who should consider a penile implant?Men with ED who haven't done well with pills, injections, or vacuum devices, or who don't want to keep using them. It may also fit men with ED after…