Urology Awareness Month 2022

Since it was first initiated in 2014, Urology Awareness Month, supported by The Urology Foundation, is celebrated in September each year in a bid to raise awareness of urological diseases, their symptoms, prevention and treatment, and to ensure better care, knowledge, understanding and support for those living with these conditions and their families.

By raising public awareness of these conditions, The Urology Foundation also seeks to fund vital research and training of medical professionals in these conditions and to develop new medical treatments and techniques.

What is Urology?

Urology is the study of the female urinary system and the male genitourinary tract – in other words, the parts of the body that produce, store and get rid of urine and the parts involved in sexual function in men. This, therefore, includes the bladder, kidneys, urethra, ureters, testicles, prostate and penis.

What is Urological Disease?

This is the term given to the group of conditions affecting the female urinary system and the male genitourinary tract, i.e. all those body parts mentioned above.

Common Urological Conditions

The most well-known urological conditions are:

Bladder conditions:

• Bladder cancer – the fourth most common cancer in men, 12th most common in women. An almost 80% chance of survival if diagnosed early
• Urinary incontinence – it is estimated that up to six million people are affected by bladder incontinence in the UK, yet 60% of people are too embarrassed to talk about their condition. YOU DON’T HAVE TO SUFFER IN SILENCE
• Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
• Cystitis

Kidney conditions:

• Kidney (Renal) failure (acute or chronic)
• Kidney stones
• Kidney cancer

Prostate conditions:

• Prostate cancer – the most common cancer in men with approx. 40,000 new cases are diagnosed every year. The lifetime risk for men in the UK is approx. 30%

Conditions affecting the male reproductive organs:

• Testicular cancer – one of the most curable cancers when detected early, nearly all men are cured
• Testicular torsion
• Male infertility
• Erectile dysfunction

As can be seen above, urological conditions are common but can have many varying causes. Treatments can be complex and require expertise and involvement of various specialists, including; Urologists, Gynaecologists, Nephrologists, Oncologists, Psychologists and Physiotherapists, to name but a few. Many urological conditions are invisible, but this doesn’t make them any less devastating to the patient.

Let’s Talk!

Although 1 in 2 of us will experience a urology condition at some point in our lifetime, there is still a stigma attached to the subject and a reluctance to talk openly about urology health which is so vital to our quality of life. We need to educate ourselves to be able to spot the tell tail signs and symptoms early and to seek treatment early when it can be most effective.

We can all play our part to help breakdown this social stigma and raise awareness – use the hashtags #UrologyAwarenessMonth #Urology and get involved!

With acknowledgements to The Urology Foundation

For more information about Urological diseases, their detection and treatment, and the support that is available, check out the following websites:

The Urology Foundation – https://www.theurologyfoundation.org/

Bladder Cancer – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bladder-cancer/
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bladder-cancer

Prostate Cancer – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/prostate-cancer

Urinary Incontinence – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/urinary-incontinence/