Clear answers aboutyour kidneys & bladder

Stones smaller than about 5 mm usually pass within a few weeks with fluids and medicines that relax the ureter. Stones of 5–10 mm may pass but often need help. Stones larger than about 10 mm rarely pass and usually need treatment such as RIRS, ESWL or Mini-PCNL.

No single procedure is best for every stone. The choice depends on the stone's size, position, hardness and your anatomy. ESWL suits smaller, softer stones. RIRS clears most stones up to about 2 cm without any cut. Mini-PCNL is preferred for larger or very hard stones.

Aim for enough fluid to pass about 2 to 2.5 litres of urine a day. For most adults that means 2.5 to 3 litres of fluid, and more in Mumbai's heat or with heavy sweating. Pale yellow urine is a good guide. Cutting down on salt and adding citrus also helps.

A DJ stent is a thin tube placed after some stone procedures to keep urine draining. Mild discomfort, a frequent urge and pink urine are common and settle with medicines. It is usually removed in a short day-care visit after one to four weeks. It must never be forgotten, because an old stent can block and form crusts.

After RIRS most people go home the same day or the next morning and return to desk work within two to five days. After Mini-PCNL, expect one or two nights in hospital and about a week before normal activity. Heavy lifting waits until your urologist clears it.

No. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-cancerous enlargement that becomes common after 50. It does not turn into cancer, but the two can exist together and cause similar urinary symptoms. A PSA blood test and an examination help tell them apart.

Most men start with medicines. Surgery such as bipolar plasmakinetic resection (BPKRP) or laser enucleation is advised when medicines stop helping. It is also advised after an episode of urine retention, repeated infections or bleeding, bladder stones, or any effect on the kidneys.

There is no single normal number. A PSA under 4 ng/mL is often used as a reference, but the normal range rises with age and prostate size. Infection, a recent catheter or cycling can raise it temporarily. A rising trend over time matters more than one reading, so results should be read by a urologist.

Repeated UTIs usually have a cause worth finding. Common ones are incomplete bladder emptying, a stone, low fluid intake, diabetes, changes after menopause, or a narrowing in the urethra. An ultrasound with a post-void residual check is a simple first step.

Yes. UTIs are less common in men, so when one happens it usually has an underlying reason, such as prostate enlargement, prostatitis, a stone or a stricture. A UTI in a man should always be followed by a urology evaluation, not just a course of antibiotics.

Go to an emergency department if you pass large clots, cannot pass urine, feel faint, or have fever with the bleeding. Even a single painless episode that stops by itself needs a planned urology check. Painless visible blood can be an early sign of a bladder or kidney tumour.

A urologist treats the kidneys, ureters, bladder, prostate, urethra and male reproductive organs. That covers kidney stones, enlarged prostate, urinary infections, blood in the urine, incontinence, urological cancers, male infertility and erectile problems, in both men and women.