Urology

Our urologic services for men go beyond fertility and sexual dysfunction problems and cover a range of treatments for men at every stage of your life.  We offer a free prostate cancer screening annually, often in association with September for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.  Check the online Calendar for scheduling.

Our men’s health program offers treatment for:

• Urologic oncology: Cancers of the bladder, kidneys, prostate, testis and penis.
• Kidney stone prevention and treatment: Including medical and surgical management, nutrition counseling and lithotripsy, a shock wave treatment that breaks up stones into fragments.
• Prostate disorders: Including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), an enlargement of the prostate that often causes frequent urination and a feeling of “not emptying” completely.
  • There are many ways we treat BPH, including prostatic arterial embolization (PAE) with beads. This procedure, performed by an interventional radiologist using mild sedation, involves inserting microscopic beads, also known as embolic agents, into the arteries that supply the prostate gland. The beads, which patients can feel, travel to the prostatic arteries blocking blood flow to the swollen prostate. This allows the prostate gland to shrink over time and improves symptoms, including a weakened urine stream, frequent urination and not completely emptying the bladder. Learn more about interventional radiology
• Sexual dysfunction: Including low testosterone (low-T), erectile dysfunction (ED), and Peyronie’s disease, a curvature condition that may affect sexual function.
• Genital reconstruction: Circumcision and revision; hypospadias repair; penile reconstruction; scrotal reconstruction; repair of genital lymphedema (lymph fluid swelling of the penis and scrotum); repair of buried penis (concealment of the penis from overlying tissue)
• Male infertility:Treatment through medical management and microsurgical techniques for conditions such as varicoceles (vein enlargement in the scrotum), vasectomy reversal or epididymis and sperm/testicular conditions.

In addition, Yale New Haven Health offers the revolutionary "smart" Artemis prostate biopsy which combines high-resolution ultrasound with 3D MRI imaging allowing physicians and diagnostic radiologists to evaluate and diagnose prostate problems with a more precise biopsy.

SpaceOAR gel for prostate treatment protects surrounding tissue

Urologists at Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center in Trumbull are the first in Fairfield County to use SpaceOAR hydrogel, an FDA-approved protective gel that safeguards healthy surrounding tissue during radiation therapy treatment for prostate cancer.

As the prostate and rectum are close together, the goal is to protect normal, healthy tissue from radiation exposure.  By separating the prostate from the rectum, SpaceOAR reduces the radiation dose that may affect the rectum and enhance radiation treatment to better target the cancerous tissue or reduce the total number of treatment sessions needed.

SpaceOAR hydrogel is made of two liquids that when combined form a soft gel-like synthetic material mostly made of water. It is biocompatible and can be used safely in the body. Similar hydrogels are used as surgical sealants on the brain, spine and eyes.

SpaceOAR is injected between the rectum and the prostate in a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed under general, regional or local anesthesia depending on the individual patient. Patients typically report no prolonged discomfort after the procedure and can quickly get back to normal activities. The body naturally absorbs SpaceOAR hydrogel in about six months.

Urine leakage and other bladder control issues are common in women, especially those who have had children. But whether it’s from childbirth, menopause or simply the effects of aging, pelvic floor disorders can lead to sometimes embarrassing conditions that can interfere with everyday activities and cause physical and emotional distress.

At Bridgeport Hospital, expert urologists in female pelvic disorders and urogynecology offer a number of treatments that can help you get back to your active lifestyle. These include treatment for:

• Pelvic organ prolapse, which occurs when the organs of the pelvis fall out of place because supporting tissue is weakened causing a feeling of heaviness or a bulging.
• Stress incontinence from weakened muscles (leakage from a cough, sneeze or activity), or overactive bladder (urgency).
• Urologic oncology covering cancer of the bladder, cervix, kidneys or uterus. 
• Kidney stone prevention and treatment, including medical and surgical management, nutrition counseling and lithotripsy, a shock wave treatment to break up stones into fragments.
• Neuro-urology and female urology that covers care for voiding dysfunction and urinary tract conditions such as infections.

Through the Ahlbin Center, Bridgeport Hospital also offers special physical therapy services to strengthen muscles, decrease pain and improve function for women with pelvic floor dysfunction.