Urology in Ho Chi Minh City

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 Ho Chi Minh City?

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 Ho Chi Minh City 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 Ho Chi Minh City

About Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh City also referred to by its former name of Saigon, is Vietnam’s largest city. Although it is busy and chaotic, the city is actually teeming with wonderful shops, intriguing history, delicious food, and fantastic nightlife. While many people normally come to the city to explore its temples and museums, there’s also a growing trend of medical tourism. More and more people are coming to the city to take advantage of healthcare. One of the main reasons behind Ho Chi Minh’s emerging popularity in medical tourism is affordable prices. It’s more affordable to have any treatment performed here than in Thailand and Singapore.

Popular Parts of Ho Chi Minh

There are 19 districts in Ho Chi Minh, but the most popular one is District 1 (also known as Saigon District), which serves as the city center. Here, visitors can find bars, restaurants, cafés, and iconic landmarks. Some of the most popular attractions in this district are the Bitexco Tower Skydeck, the Independence Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral and Post Office, Bui Vien Street, and Nguyen Hue Walking Street. Besides District 1, Chinatown or Cholon is also very popular as it is home to the biggest Chinese community in this country, and Binh Tay Market is its main draw. Full of great food, history, and wonderful sights, this area is an excellent place to wander around and have fun.

Transport in Ho Chi Minh

The main gateway to Ho Chi Minh is the Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport, which is the busiest airport in Vietnam. It serves flights to and from numerous cities in Asia, including Bangkok, Singapore, and Seoul. There are also several low-cost airlines available for budget travelers, such as VietJet Air and Jetstar Pacific Airlines. To get around the city, buses, taxis, Xe Om (motorcycle taxis), Cyclos, and Grab Taxi (similar to Uber) are available. Buses are comfortable, but taxis and Grab Taxi are the easiest way to travel around. Xe Om and Cyclos are affordable, but they tend to be suitable for short-distance trips only. 

Visas in Ho Chi Minh

Vietnam allows citizens of 24 countries, including the UK, Denmark, and Cambodia, to enter and stay in the country for up to 90 days without a visa. Other nationalities need to apply for a visa. The country has an electronic visa system available for citizens of 81 countries. 

Weather in Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh has a tropical monsoon climate and the average temperatures remain all year round. December to March is the dry season, with the temperatures ranging from 21°C to 34°C. May to September is the wet season, which experiences frequent rain showers. July to November is the peak period for typhoons.

Additional Info

1. Local Currency: The official currency is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). 1 USD is equivalent to 23,270 VND.
2. Money & Payments: ATMs are widespread. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels, but always bring cash with you. Tipping is appreciated, but not expected.
3. Local Language: The official language is Vietnamese. English is widely spoken, particularly in tourist areas.
4. Local Culture and Religion: The constitution provides for freedom of worship. Vietnamese folk religion is a major religion, but many people are not religious. Other religions, such as Buddhism and Christianity, are freely practiced.
5. Public Holidays: New Year’s Day, Tet Holiday, Reunification Day, International Labor Day, and National Day are some of the most celebrated holidays in Ho Chi Minh.