Urology in Bulgaria

Urology is a branch of medicine that deals with the diseases of the female and male urinary tract (kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra). This branch of medicine also deals with male reproductive organs (testes, epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate, and penis).

Urology has a number of sub-disciplines, including:

• Endourology – this sub-discipline of urology deals with the closed manipulation of the urinary tract. It includes all minimally invasive urologic surgical procedures, such as prostate surgery and stone removal surgery.
• Urologic oncology – this focuses on the treatment of malignant genitourinary diseases, such as cancer of the bladder, prostate, kidney, ureters, adrenal glands, testicles, or penis.
• Neurourology – this deals with the treatment of conditions involving the nervous control of the genitourinary system or abnormal urination.
• Pediatric urology – this focuses on urologic disorders in children, such as congenital abnormalities of the genitourinary tract, cryptorchidism (undescended testes), underdeveloped genitalia, enuresis, and vesicoureteral reflux.
• Andrology – this deals with disorders of the male reproductive system, such as ejaculatory disorders, erectile dysfunction, vasectomy reversal, and infertility.
• Reconstructive urology – this is a highly specialized field of male urology that deals with the reconstruction of both the structure and function of the genitourinary tract.
• Female urology – this deals with conditions of a woman’s reproductive and urinary tract, such as pelvic organ prolapse, overactive bladder, and urinary incontinence.

Medical professionals specializing in the field of urology are called urologists. Urologists can diagnose and treat diseases of the urinary tract in both women and men, as well as diagnosing and treating any problems in men’s reproductive tract. In some cases, urologists may also perform surgery. In the case of certain conditions, urologists may need to work in conjunction with medical professionals who specializes in other fields, such as oncologist, radiotherapists, nephrologist, and gynecologist.

Urologists can treat the following conditions:

In men:

• Prostate gland enlargement
• Cancers of the penis, bladder, testicles, kidneys, and adrenal and prostate glands
• Erectile dysfunction
• Infertility
• Kidney diseases
• Kidney stones
• Interstitial cystitis, also known as painful bladder syndrome
• Prostatitis
• Varicoceles, or enlarged veins in the scrotum
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

In women:

• Cancer of the kidneys, bladder, and adrenal glands
• Bladder prolapse, or a condition in which the bladder drops into the vagina
• Kidney stones
• Interstitial cystitis
• Overactive bladder
• Urinary incontinence
• UTIs

In children:

• Blockages and other problems with the urinary tract structure
• Bed-wetting
• Undescended testicles

What does Urology Involve?

During your first appointment, your urologist may ask you questions about your health history, any medicines you take, and your current symptoms. Your urologist may do a physical exam that includes a rectal and genital exam. They may also do some tests, such as:

• Imaging tests, such as MRI scans, CT scans, or ultrasound to help them locate the problem.
• A urine test to check for bacteria or other signs of disease.
• A cystoscope (a long, thin tube with a camera on its end) to see inside the urinary tract and take a sample of tissue for testing.
• A biopsy to check for cancer and other disorders.
• Urodynamic testing to check how fast the urine leaves your body, how much pressure there is in your bladder, and how much urine remains in your bladder after urinating.

After your urologist makes a diagnosis, the treatment will depend on your specific condition. It may include the use of medications and surgery.

Types of medication include:

• Hormone treatment for prostate cancer
• Antibiotics for infections
• Phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors for erectile dysfunction
• Chemotherapy drugs for cancer
• Drugs that act on the smooth muscle of the bladder to help reduce urinary incontinence.

Some of the most common types of surgery include:

• A cystectomy, which is a procedure to remove the bladder. This procedure is used to treat cancer.
• A kidney transplant, which involves replacing a damaged or diseased kidney with a healthy one.
• Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy, which is used to break up kidney stones so they can be removed more easily.
• A repair of damage to the urinary tract due to injury.
• A procedure to open a blockage.
• A repair of urinary organs that are not well-formed.
• A prostatectomy, which is used to remove all or part of the prostate gland. This procedure is performed to treat prostate cancer.
• Transurethral needle ablation of the prostate, which removes excess tissue from an enlarged prostate.
• Transurethral resection of the prostate, which involves the removal of excess tissue from an enlarged prostate.
• A sling procedure, which uses strips of mesh in order to support the urethra and keep it closed. This procedure can treat urinary incontinence.
• A ureteroscopy, which involves the removal of stones in the kidneys and ureter using a scope.
• A vasectomy, which is a procedure to cut and tie the vas deferens, or the tubes that carry sperm. This is done to prevent pregnancy.
• A nephrectomy, which involves removing a kidney to treat cancer.

The surgery can be performed in one of two ways: open through a large incision, laparoscopically through several tiny incisions. Both methods are usually performed under general anesthesia. In some cases, local anesthetic may be used instead.

How Long Should I Stay in Bulgaria?

Depending on the procedure you will have, you may be able to leave the hospital on the same day or you will have to stay for up to 5 days. In general, it is highly advisable that you stay in Bulgaria for several days following your procedure for initial recovery and to attend scheduled follow-up checkups. For surgical procedures, you may need to stay in the country for at least 10 to 14 days.

What's the Recovery Time?

The recovery time varies, depending on the procedure you have, the reason why you need the procedure, and your overall health. For surgical procedures, it may take about one to six weeks until you can go back to your full activity. For non-surgical procedures, you may be allowed to go back to your normal routine within several days. Your urologist will give you a detailed recovery timeline, which includes the time you can go back to work, normal activity, and strenuous activities, such as exercise and heavy lifting.

What About Aftercare?

Your urologist will give you a set of instructions for your aftercare. The instruction may include a diet plan, exercise, restrictions, and medication to take, and wound care. It is important that you follow every instruction closely. After surgery, you will be encouraged to do some light exercise, such as walking, to help your healing process. You may also need to eat easily digestible food until you are recovered.

Depending on your specific condition, you may need to attend regular checkups following your treatment. For instance, if you had cancer treatment, your doctor will suggest you attend a checkup once or twice a year to ensure that cancer has not come back.

What's the Success Rate?

The field of urology is at the forefront of research and innovation. Due to its constant advancement, the procedures are becoming more effective and safer. Each urological treatment is also known to offer high success rates. However, any procedure comes with risks, such as infection, bleeding, and damage to nearby organs. Therefore, it is important that you choose a skilled and experienced urologist.

Are there Alternatives to Urology?

If you have any injury or disease in your urinary tract and/or reproductive organ (for men), there is no other alternative besides visiting a urology department. However, if your disease is found to be caused by other problems, the doctor will refer you to a relevant doctor.

Urology in and around Bulgaria

Introduction

Bulgaria has plenty to offer and tourists are going to be very impressed with the country’s mountainous landscapes, beautiful Black Sea beaches, fascinating history, friendly locals, lively nightlife, and affordability. Although the country’s holiday tourism is very much on the radar, it is also actually quite popular with medical tourists, due to its modern medical centers, highly trained medical professionals, state-of-the-art equipment, affordable healthcare, and mineral baths, thousands of medical tourists visit this country each year. Most of the medical tourists come for dental treatment, orthopedic surgery, elective surgery, neurosurgery, as well as health screening.

Popular Cities and Regions in Bulgaria

Bulgaria’s laid-back capital city, Sofia, is truly a must-visit. It is full of museums, Ottoman mosques, communist architecture, chic galleries, Eastern Orthodox churches, amazing restaurants, and upbeat clubs. One of the most popular landmarks in the country is the Aleksander Nevski Cathedral, which is an awe-inspiring church built between 1882 and 1912 to honor 200,000 Russian soldiers who died fighting for the independence of Bulgaria during the Russo-Turkish war. If you want to relax on beautiful beaches visit Varna, which is a major tourist destination during the summer. The second-largest, city in Bulgaria is Plovdiv and it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe. Tourists are attracted by the Roman Amphitheatre, Archeological Museum, and Tsar Simeon Central Garden. 

Transport in Bulgaria

Most international tourists will arrive at Sofia Airport, which serves flights to most numerous major cities in Europe and the Middle East. There are several budget airlines that operate flights from this airport, including Ryanair and Wizz Air. Domestic flights are available, but they tend to be expensive. Therefore, to travel from one city to another, trains and buses are the best option. Buses and trains are punctual and affordable. However, if you are in a hurry, you should avoid trains as they can be a little slow. To travel around big cities, taxis are widely available and are really cheap. Just make sure you choose a licensed taxi to avoid being overcharged.

Visas in Bulgaria

While Bulgaria is not yet a part of the Schengen Area, it has a visa policy that is based on the Schengen system. Therefore, holders of Schengen Visa are allowed to enter the country. Additionally, citizens of 62 countries, including the US, Australia, and the UAE, can stay in the country for up to 90 days without a visa.

Weather in Bulgaria

From June to August, Bulgaria experiences summer. The weather can get a bit hot and humid, with an average temperature of 19°C to 21°C. July is the wettest month in the country. Winter, from December to February, is usually freezing. Autumn and Spring bring pleasant weather.

Additional Info

1. Local Currency: The official currency is the Bulgarian Lev (BGN). 1 USD will get you approx. 1.8 BGN.
2. Money & Payments: You can find ATMs in every city in the country. Credit cards are accepted in bigger restaurants and hotels. Tipping is sometimes expected.
3. Local Language: Bulgarian is the official language in Bulgaria. Turkish and Roma are spoken by a minority of people. English is becoming more and more common in the country, but it is not widely spoken. 
4. Local Culture and Religion: Christianity dominates the population of Bulgaria, followed by Islam and Judaism.
5. Public holidays: Bulgaria celebrates several historical and religious holidays, such as Orthodox Good Friday, Orthodox Easter Day, Independence Day, Culture and Literacy Day, Christmas Day, and Liberation Day.