Half of Brits1 could experience a urology condition within their lifetime.
Urology refers to the urinary system, and encompasses your kidneys, bladder, prostate and testicles, too.
About 75% of patients being seen by urologists are men. Urologists diagnose and treat a whole host of conditions including prostate problems – and prostate cancer – the most common male cancer in the UK. They also deal with things like urinary tract infections, kidney stones, incontinence and erectile dysfunction, as well as cancers of the genitourinary system - like bladder, kidney, prostate or testicular cancer.
Lots of men find it very difficult to talk with their doctor about issues they’re experiencing with their waterworks – and that reluctance could cost lives.
A survey from Prostate Cancer UK found that 42% of men 2 are waiting for their GP to tell them if they’re at risk of prostate cancer, rather than looking out for it themselves. And 46% believe diagnosis involves a finger up the bum – something many avoid like the plague. (Spoiler alert – it doesn’t, it’s usually a simple blood test).
What that means is that too many of us are putting up with symptoms that could be improved with support - and we could even be missing out on early diagnosis on serious conditions.
Here's 5 common urology issues men face - and when you should be seeing a doctor to get help with them.
1. Benign prostatic hyperplasia
What is benign prostatic hyperplasia?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is also known as an enlarged prostate[3], and is a common condition in men, particularly those over 50, where the prostate gland grows and causes problems with urine flow. The fact its benign means it’s not cancerous, and isn’t a serious health threat.
What are the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia?
If your prostate is enlarged you might notice weak urine flow, the need to go for a wee more frequently – especially at night – and more urgently. You might also find yourself straining to wee or at least having difficulty in starting a wee, and you might not feel like you’ve emptied your bladder entirely. That can sometimes lead to leaks.
When should you get help?
If you notice any of these symptoms it’s time to make an appointment to talk about them with your GP.
How is it treated?
Your doctor will take a medical history, and is most likely to order a blood test to measure your prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. This is protein produced by the prostate gland, and elevated levels can indicate various prostate conditions. They might also do tests to measure the speed and flow of urine, or how much is left in your bladder after you go to the loo. Other tests could include a bladder scan or ultrasound.
Once an enlarged prostate is diagnosed, there’s lots that can be done to help manage symptoms. That includes lifestyle changes like limiting caffeine and alcohol, medications to shrink the prostate or relax the prostate and bladder muscles, and in more severe cases surgery to remove excess prostate tissue.
2. Prostate Cancer
What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer 4 is the most common form of male cancer, and can affect 1 in 8 British men 5 within their lifetime.
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
The symptoms of prostate cancer look very much like the symptoms of an enlarged prostate, and include things like an increased need to go to the loo, straining to wee, and feeling like you’ve not emptied your bladder.
When should you get help?
It’s really important not to ignore waterworks issues, even if they’ve come on gradually over time, and even if you don’t notice them all the time.
With prostate cancer, the earlier you catch it the better. Diagnosed at Stage 1[6], almost everyone survives for 5 years or more after their diagnosis. If it’s not found until Stage 4, that drops to just 50%.
How is it treated?
If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, often no treatment is needed at all. If it’s not causing any major problems and it’s not spreading, watching and waiting is very often the first strategy.
Your condition will of course be carefully monitored. If you do need intervention, that can include things like surgical removal of the prostate, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, or newer treatments like high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and cryotherapy.
There is a risk of side effects with any sort of treatment, which can include things like urinary and erectile dysfunction. It’s really important to talk through the options and understand the pros and cons of each sort of intervention – and get the right support to live with and manage your condition.
Read more about prostate cancer from the Equipsme blog
3. Prostatitis
What is prostatitis?
Believe it or not there’s yet more trouble your prostate can cause you. Another fairly common condition is prostatitis 7 an inflammation of the prostate gland. This one can be serious and requires more urgent medical attention.
What are the symptoms of prostatitis?
Symptoms include a burning pain when you wee, difficulty or straining to wee, and needing to go more often. They also include pain in your penis, testicles, scrotum or bottom, pain when you ejaculate, and a high temperature.
When should you get help?
If these symptoms persist for longer than 24 hours, or if you find yourself in a lot of pain and/or unable to wee at all, you should be seen urgently.
How is prostatitis treated?
Prostatitis is usually caused by an infection, so you’ll need a course of antibiotics to clear it up, and you should start to feel better pretty quickly.
In some cases, prostatitis symptoms can persist for longer, and become a chronic condition. Treatment for these cases might involve a longer course of antibiotics, physiotherapy, or even mental health therapies to help you deal with the symptoms.
4. Incontinence
What is incontinence?
Incontinence is the involuntary loss of bladder control, and can range from a bit of dribbling after going to the loo to being unable to hold anything in the bladder at all.
It’s twice as common 8 in women than in men, but it’s thought that as many as 1 in 3 men 9 over 65 experience it.
What are the symptoms of incontinence?
The most common form of incontinence is stress incontinence, which can occur when you’re doing physical things like lifting - or sudden strong movements like coughing and sneezing. Urge incontinence is when you have a sudden strong urge to go followed by leakage, and overflow incontinence is when you get frequent dribbling because your bladder isn’t emptying properly.
When should you get help?
You shouldn’t have to live with incontinence, and there’s lots that can be done to help. If you notice any of these symptoms, talk to your GP. They’ve honestly heard and seen it all before.
How is incontinence treated?
Treatment will depend on the underlying cause of your incontinence. It could be that you have a urinary tract infection that can be fixed with antibiotics, or a prostate issue that needs further investigation, medication or intervention.
There are medications that can help with nerve damage and muscle control, too.
Other things that can help include fluid management - thinking about what you drink, when and how much - weight management, and bladder training. You can also do pelvic floor exercises 10 (it turns out these aren’t just for women) which can help strengthen the muscles you use to control urination.
5. Kidney stones
What are kidney stones?
Kidney stones 11 are hard mineral and salt deposits that form inside your kidneys. They can vary in size, so some will pass through your system unnoticed, while others can grow large enough to block your urinary tract.
They can be extremely painful, and are surprisingly common. Around 1 in 10 people in the UK 12 can experience them, with men slightly more likely to get them than women.
What are the symptoms of kidney stones?
Kidney stones are pretty hard to miss, because they’re actually very painful. You might feel a sharp pain in your back, side or lower abdomen. You might have blood in your wee, and frequent or very painful urination. You might feel or be sick, and have a fever or chills if there’s an infection.
When should you get help?
It’s very important to get help if you think you’ve got kidney stones. Left untreated, they can lead to complication like blockages, infections and kidney damage.
How are kidney stones treated?
Kidney stones might be diagnosed with a combination of blood tests, urine tests and scans, like x-ray, ultrasound or CT scans, which can help locate and measure the stones.
Smaller stones might be able to pass through your system, which could take a few weeks. You might be prescribed medicine to help with the pain, and to help the stones pass, and you’ll need to drink lots of liquid. Larger stones might mean a surgical intervention, and a stay in hospital.
How can you avoid kidney stones?
Risk factors for kidney stones include dehydration, genetic factors, health conditions and medications. You’re also more likely to get one if you’ve had one before. The best way to prevent them is to ensure you’re getting plenty of fluids every day, and not eating too much salt and sugar.
3 ways your Equipsme plan can help
If you’re experiencing any kind of urology issue, your Equipsme plan is here to help.
24/7 GP appointments
The 24/7 GP is on hand to help at a time that suits you – and it’s a great option if you can’t get to see your own GP, or just want a second opinion. Unlike other virtual GP services, our GPs can prescribe medicines, which means you can get the right treatment and hopefully start to get better faster.
Find out more about how to use the GP service
Nurse helpline
The nurse helpline phones are answered by qualified nurses, midwives and pharmacists, and it’s a great port of call if you’ve got questions about symptoms, treatments, or medications – or if you just need advice on how best to look after yourself or someone else.
Find out more about the nurse helpline
Diagnosis and treatment
If diagnosis and treatment from AXA Health is part of your plan, it means you’ve got a fast track to getting on top of your waterworks issues. If your claim is covered, you can see an AXA Health Urologist at a private hospital near you, and get the health tests and answers you need, faster. To start a claim, you’ll need an Open Referral letter, which you can enquire about from your own NHS GP or the 24/7 private GP service from Health Hero.
Find out more about how to use our diagnosis services
Find out more about how to use our treatment services
To find out more about your Equipsme benefits and how to use them, and what is and isn’t covered, visit your Member’s Portal www.equipsme.com/login.
All our information is desk-based research from credible sources only, including the NHS, Cancer Research, and registered medical/disease charities.
Date created: October 2025
1 www.theurologyfoundation.org/impact-achievements/facts-and-figures/
2 prostatecanceruk.org/about-us/news-and-views/2024/06/barriers-to-diagnosis
3 www.nhs.uk/conditions/enlarged-prostate/
4 www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/
5 prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information-and-support/risk-and-symptoms/about-prostate-cancer
6 www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/prostate-cancer/survival
7 www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostatitis/
8 www.incontinenceuk.co.uk/news/how-incontinence-affects-men-and-women-differently
9 prostatecanceruk.org/get-involved/campaigning/incontinence
10 www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/mens-health/in-depth/kegel-exercises-for-men/art-20045074
11 www.nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-stones/prevention/
12 www.urocarelondon.com/blog/how-common-are-kidney-stones/#:~:text=Genetic%20factors,Recognising%20the%20symptoms
