Medical dictionary

What is Rezūm? Rezūm is a new minimally-invasive treatment for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) aimed at relieving lower urinary tract symptoms. It can be performed under local anaesthetic or general anaesthetic by a specialist urological surgeon. When is Rezūm needed? Rezūm is one of a range of treatments for BPH aimed mainly at relieving the symptoms rather than necessari

What is robotic-assisted surgery?Robotic-assisted surgery, or robotic surgery, using the da Vinci System, the Mako system by Stryker, among other systems, allows surgeons to perform surgical procedures in a very accurate way. Operations are performed with more precision, flexibility and control, compared to using conventional techniques. Robotic-assisted surgery is commonly associated wi

What is robotic surgery in urology? Robotic surgery is a type of minimally invasive surgery which makes use of miniaturised surgical instruments guided by an advanced robot. It is a very advanced technique that allows the surgeon to perform surgical procedures in a very precise manner. This type of surgery is usually done under general anaesthesia. The advantages of robotic surgery over trad

What are the causes of scrotal swellings?A scrotal swelling is an enlargement of the scrotum (the sac that holds the testicles). Scrotal swellings can be caused by a number of things. If the swelling is painless, it may be due to the following:Hydrocele – a build-up of fluid in the tissue around the testicle. This is fairly common, occurring in around 10 per cent of newborn baby boys. Th

What is sexual abuse? Any sexual activity without consent is considered sexual abuse. It can be between adults, by an adult to a minor (child sexual abuse) or even between minors. Sexual activity includes any type of penetration of genital organs, as well as the obligation on the part of the abuser to touch the genital organs. Sexual activity also includes any action that incites the minor t

What is sexual health?   Sexual health is too often seen in negative terms, and usually focuses on unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and abusive or violent relationships. Sexual health is about enjoying safe, happy sex and feeling good about the experiences without regretting anything. This includes being sensible in using contraception to prevent unwanted pr

What are sexually transmitted infections (STIs)? Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a set of infectious diseases that are transmitted from one person to another through sexual contact (vaginally, anally or orally). There are numerous types of STIs, including: Chlamydia Gonorrhoea Genital herpes HIV Genital warts HPV (human papillomavirus) Syphilis Trichomoniasis Pu

  What is sexual medicine? Sexual medicine is a medical specialty that deals with sexual health. Sexual health is defined by the World Health Organisation as “a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality”. This includes not only the absence of disease or sexual dysfunction, but “a positive and respectful approach to sexuality

What is shockwave therapy? Shockwaves are high-powered sound waves that can be used to treat injured or painful tissues. Correctly applied, they have a therapeutic effect. Such treatments are primarily used for the treatment of conditions within orthopaedic and rehabilitative medicine.   What does shockwave therapy treat? Although shockwaves have multiple therapeutic benefits,