Did you know that over 1 in 10 Americans age 20 and older show signs of kidney disease? This problem occurs when your kidneys no longer get rid of waste from your system properly until they stop working entirely. But that’s not the only problem that puts your kidneys at...
Most people associate testosterone with sex drive. Yes, while testosterone does play a crucial role in sexual health, it’s involved with far more biological processes in the body. Because of that, it can really derail your system when these hormone levels drop below normal. Our team at Urology Associates of Southeastern North Carolina provides expert...
It’s exciting when you decide you’re ready to have a baby. Unfortunately, that exhilaration can turn to frustration if pregnancy doesn’t happen when you want it most. If this is happening to you, you’re not alone. Nearly 1 in 7 American couples struggle with infertility. This term describes having frequent, unprotected intercourse...
Have you ever found yourself running to the bathroom more often than your best friend? Or do you go all day without needing to empty your bladder? Everyone is different, so it can be challenging to figure out what’s “normal” and what’s not when it comes to daily urination. But...
It’s tempting to ignore a scary problem, especially when it involves intimate parts of your body. However, you should never ignore any issue that involves blood. You can have blood in your urine for a wide range of reasons, many of which aren’t serious. But it’s always important to get to the...
Stress is not entirely bad. After all, this biological response is one of your natural survival mechanisms. However, living with prolonged or chronic stress can take a toll on every aspect of your health, from your heart and blood pressure to your psychological and sexual wellness. Our team at Urology...
Passing a kidney stone ranks among the most excruciatingly painful experiences possible, according to people who have gone through the ordeal. Even if you’ve never had one before, it’s an easy statement to believe, since a kidney stone is effectively a small rock moving through your urinary tract. Our team...
It’s no secret that most people avoid talking about intimate parts of their bodies. However, this reluctance can put your health at risk, especially when it comes to the prostate. About 1 in 8 men receives a prostate cancer diagnosis at some point. However, the prostate can also contribute to...
Estimates show that anywhere from 4-5 million American men live with low testosterone. This sex hormone plays a crucial role in the body, including: Changes at puberty, like deepening of the voice and growth of facial and pubic hair Development of the penis and testes Muscle size and strength Bone...
Urinary incontinence is a common problem for both women and men. It also affects people of all ages, but it becomes even more widespread later in life. Unfortunately, studies show that at least half of people living with urinary leakage don’t talk to their provider about it. They should. Numerous...
Unfortunately, embarrassment often causes people to ignore changes in sexual health, like erectile dysfunction (ED). However, there are solutions for this very common problem, and trying to pretend they don’t exist can even jeopardize your overall health, especially when it comes to your heart. There’s a reason it’s called “the...
In 2021, more than 248,000 men learned they had prostate cancer. After skin cancer, this form is the most prevalent cancer in American men. It also comes in second as the leading cause of cancer death among men, after lung cancer. Fortunately, the number of deaths associated with prostate cancer...
There’s a reason why a vasectomy offers such effective results in preventing pregnancy. When you have a vasectomy, your vas deferens get severed. This keeps sperm from getting released when you ejaculate. Without sperm, you can’t cause pregnancy. That’s why a vasectomy is one of the most reliable forms of...
Kidney stones can cause unbearable pain. That’s because they involve tiny stones forming in your kidneys and moving throughout your urinary tract. Did you know 1 in 10 people develop kidney stones during their lifetime? And studies show that these rates are steadily rising across the country. Now for some...
Since diabetes is a blood sugar problem, people usually don’t associate it with erectile dysfunction. However, having high levels of sugar in your bloodstream can significantly impact both your circulation and nervous system, especially when you have poorly controlled diabetes. And, unfortunately, that can take a toll on your sex...
It can be frightening going to the bathroom and finding blood in your urine. However, this condition, also known as hematuria, can develop for a variety of reasons. Some of the most common problems that lead to hematuria include: Urinary tract or kidney infections Enlarged or infected prostate Kidney injury,...
You can develop infections anywhere in your urinary tract. In most cases, they start in the urethra or bladder, but eventually, they can spread to one or both of your kidneys. When a urinary tract infection (UTI) progresses to your kidneys, you need antibiotics and sometimes even hospitalization. Our team...
Choosing the right birth control method isn’t easy, especially with all of the options available today. However, each form comes with different rates of pregnancy protection, and they can vary drastically because of human error. One method that offers the greatest convenience and reliability involves sterilization — second only to...
Most of us have a basic understanding of the prostate gland. It’s a small gland in the male reproductive system that makes some of the fluids in semen and propels the semen through the penis during ejaculation. But did you know a prostate never stops growing once puberty begins? This...
When blood is detected in your urine — either by the naked eye or under a microscope — it’s known as hematuria. Even though it can be frightening, it’s usually fairly harmless. In other cases, however, hematuria is a symptom of some very serious disorders, so you should see your...
One of the most appealing things about a vasectomy is its permanence. Plus, it's nearly 100% effective at preventing pregnancy. At the same time, there are several reasons to later wish you could turn back time and skip having the procedure altogether. Approximately 6% of men regret having a vasectomy...
Prostate cancer affects 1 in 9 men in the United States, making it the most common cancer in American males. Fortunately, early detection can help get timely and effective treatment. And now it’s even easier, thanks to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening. Our team at Urology Associates of Southeastern North Carolina...
Your hormones are tiny messengers that help regulate most of the processes in your body, ranging from your metabolism and appetite to your sleep cycle and body temperature. They also play a crucial role in reproduction, sexual function, and mood. Because of the complex role hormones play in your body,...
Peyronie's disease doesn't get as much mainstream media attention as erectile dysfunction. But it affects about 4% of men 40-70 years old. Unfortunately, these numbers could be much higher because many men may feel embarrassed by their symptoms and don't seek medical attention. Our experienced team at Urology Associates of...
No one looks forward to an annual trip to the doctor, especially when it includes a prostate exam. However, these screenings play a crucial role in detecting prostate cancer, especially when you’re at risk of developing this disease. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. In most cases,...
While more than 500,000 American men undergo a vasectomy as a permanent sterilization method each year, some 6-10% end up undergoing reversal procedures. Their motivating factors may vary, but the steps to restore their fertility are similar. If you’re considering a vasectomy reversal, our team at Urology Associates of Southeastern...
When you think of kidney stones, your diet probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. However, these painful deposits form from mineral crystals in your urine. That means making dietary changes can play a crucial role in keeping them at bay. In fact, approximately 41% of kidney stone...
It’s scary to notice blood in your urine, but the cause isn’t always serious. This symptom — known as hematuria — can be visible to the naked eye or detected only under a microscope. If you have urine that appears red, pink, cola-colored, or contains blood clots, you have gross...
When it comes to birth control for men, there aren’t many options, especially when you’re sure you don’t want children. In fact, the only option more effective than a vasectomy is abstinence. But how do you know when it’s time to consider this permanent birth control method? Our skilled team...
Approximately 6.1 million American women 15-44 years old struggle to get or stay pregnant. This difficulty can come from a variety of factors and can be difficult to diagnose. That’s because infertility can be due to reproductive issues in men, women — or a combination of both. And, unlike other...
Approximately 52% of men experience erectile dysfunction (ED). While popular ED medications like Viagra®, Cialis®, and Levitra® can offer significant relief, they don’t provide solutions for everyone. That’s why our experts at Urology Associates of Southeastern North Carolina offer a variety of ED treatments, including penile implants. If you have...
Most people don’t spend a lot of time talking about urination, but it plays an important role in removing waste fluids from your body. Urine contains uric acid, urea, toxins, and water that is filtered through your kidneys and stored in your bladder until you feel the urge to void....
If you try to get pregnant for at least a year without success, it’s likely that infertility issues are to blame. While these issues are often assumed to be a women’s problem, men can have infertility problems as well. At Urology Associates of Southeastern North Carolina, our experienced team of...
It may or may not make you feel better to know that benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or prostate enlargement, is a relatively common condition that affects mostly older men. Many men notice symptoms at about age 60, but because your prostate continues to grow throughout your life, the enlargement probably...
After skin cancer, prostate cancer tops the list as the most common cancer among American men. In fact, approximately 1 in 9 men have a prostate cancer diagnosis each year. Fortunately, recent advancements in medical treatment are bringing significant relief to many men, even when they have advanced prostate cancer. ...
All things considered, it isn’t so much the size of the kidney stone as it is the size of the structures the stone is forced to traverse that cause pain. Even a stone that measures just over 5 mm (1/5 inch) can cause significant symptoms as it leaves the kidney,...