Conditions & Treatments
Urological symptoms can be unsettling, and many have overlapping causes. A burning sensation may be infection—or irritation, inflammation, pelvic floor dysfunction, or stone disease. Blood in the urine can be benign, but it also warrants careful assessment. And “an enlarged prostate” is not automatically a surgical problem.
This page is a directory of common urological concerns and the usual investigation and management pathways. The aim is to clarify what’s going on first, then choose the right plan—sometimes treatment, sometimes monitoring, and sometimes reassurance.
If your concern is cancer, you may prefer to start with the cancer pathway pages (prostate, kidney and bladder cancer), which sit separately under Urologic Cancers.
How urological problems are usually assessed
Most urological decisions begin with the same fundamentals:
A clear history (pattern over time, triggers, prior episodes, medications)
Targeted tests (urine testing, blood tests, imaging when indicated)
Risk assessment (age, smoking history, family history, comorbidities)
A plan you can live with (including what happens if symptoms recur)
Not every symptom needs a procedure. And not every finding needs immediate treatment.
Common symptoms and what they may relate to
Use this section as a starting point if you’re not sure what category you fall into.
Blood in the urine (haematuria)
Visible blood or persistent microscopic blood should be assessed. Causes range from infection and stones to bladder or kidney pathology.
Pain (flank, groin, testicular, pelvic)
May relate to stones, infection/inflammation, musculoskeletal pain, or pelvic floor dysfunction. Pattern, severity and associated symptoms matter.
Urinary symptoms (frequency, urgency, weak stream, nocturia)
Often related to benign prostate enlargement, overactive bladder, bladder outlet obstruction, or irritation/inflammation. Management is usually stepwise.
Recurrent “UTI-like” symptoms
Sometimes true recurrent infection, sometimes not. Repeating antibiotics without confirming cultures can miss the underlying issue.
Elevated PSA / prostate concerns
A raised PSA is a risk marker, not a diagnosis. Assessment typically involves PSA context, MRI, and biopsy only when indicated.
Erectile dysfunction and sexual health concerns
Often multifactorial (vascular, hormonal, psychological, medication-related). A structured assessment helps avoid assumptions and missed diagnoses.
Conditions and pathways
Prostate and male pelvic health
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) / enlargement
Erectile dysfunction and ejaculation changes
Bladder function and urinary symptoms
Urinary frequency/urgency
Urinary retention
Recurrent UTIs (men and women)
Bladder pain / cystitis-type symptoms
Ureteric stones
Recurrent stone prevention and metabolic evaluation
Pelvi-Ureteric Junction Obstruction
Hydronephrosis / obstruction assessment
Scrotal and testicular concerns
Testicular pain
Epididymitis/orchitis
Scrotal lumps and swelling (assessment pathways)
Varicocele and fertility-related concerns (where relevant)
Women’s urology and pelvic health
Recurrent UTIs
Bladder symptoms after childbirth or menopause
Urinary incontinence (stress/urge/mixed)
Treatment approaches (how decisions are usually made)
Most urological treatment follows a staged approach:
Conservative measures (hydration, bladder habits, pelvic floor work where appropriate)
Medication options (when indicated and likely to help)
Procedures (only when the problem, anatomy and goals are clear)
Surveillance or monitoring (when the safest plan is to watch with intent)
A good plan includes explicit “next steps” if symptoms recur or results change.
Clinical note
This directory provides general information and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. If you have severe pain, fever with urinary symptoms, visible blood in the urine with clots, or cannot pass urine, seek urgent medical review.