Maybe you’ve started waking up three or four times a night to use the bathroom or notice your urine stream is weak. Or, you’ve experienced a change in your energy or your sex drive. These issues can be frustrating, but they aren’t just a sign of aging. If you’re starting to experience urinary issues, you may start to wonder, “What age should men start seeing a urologist?”
For most men, seeing a urologist regularly begins at about the age of 40.
What Age Should Men Start Seeing a Urologist?
Around age 40 is a good time to start paying closer attention to prostate and urinary health, even if you don’t have symptoms. But if prostate, kidney, or testicular cancer runs in your family, or if you’ve had urinary problems before, you should make an appointment sooner.
Why Urology Care Matters More With Age
In your 20s and 30s, urinary and reproductive health problems are less common. But once you reach your 40s and beyond, the likelihood of certain conditions increases:
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Also known as an enlarged prostate, this non-cancerous condition causes unwanted urinary symptoms. It is very common among men as they age. Fortunately, it can be treated with medications or minimally invasive procedures.
- Prostate cancer. Risk rises steadily with age, especially for men over 50. Catching it early often means simpler, more effective treatment.
- Kidney stones. More common in middle age, often caused by dehydration, diet, or family tendency, they can be extremely painful if untreated.
- Erectile dysfunction. While more frequent with age, experiencing ED is not normal aging. It often points to treatable health issues.
- Low testosterone. A gradual decline in this hormone can impact energy levels, muscle mass, sexual health, and mood.
Signs You Should See a Urologist
Your body usually gives you warning signs when something is wrong. It’s tempting to hope these issues resolve on their own, but waiting often allows conditions to worsen. If you notice any of the following, it’s time to make an appointment:
- Trouble starting your stream, straining, or feeling like your bladder never fully empties.
- Frequent bathroom trips and waking up several times a night to go (nocturia)
- Discomfort while urinating or ongoing pain in the pelvis, groin, or lower back
- Blood in the urine (hematuria)
- Difficulty getting or keeping an erection
- New lumps, swelling, or pain in the testicles
- Severe side or back pain that comes in waves, sometimes with nausea, can signal stones
Seeing a urologist can:
- Provide answers and peace of mind
- Catch health issues early, when treatment is most effective
- Offer solutions that improve quality of life, from better sleep to restored sexual health
You don’t need to wait until you’re in severe pain or discomfort to see a urologist. If you have urinary issues, testicular changes, or erectile dysfunction, a urologist can help. They’ll explain what’s going on and suggest treatments to keep you healthy and comfortable.
Don’t continue to wonder “what age should men start seeing a urologist?” – call (541) 334-3350 to schedule an appointment with an experienced urologist today!