Urological care, close to home.

Kidney stones are hard deposits that form from minerals and salts in the urine. Small stones may pass without treatment; larger stones can block the flow of urine.

Common signs: severe pain in the side or back that comes in waves, pain on passing urine, blood in the urine, nausea.

Drinking enough fluid through the day helps reduce the risk of stones forming. Seek urgent medical care if pain is severe, or if pain comes with fever, chills or vomiting.

The prostate is a small gland below the bladder in men. It commonly enlarges with age, which can affect how urine flows.

Symptoms to discuss with a doctor: a weak or slow stream, needing to pass urine often (especially at night), a feeling that the bladder has not emptied, or difficulty starting to pass urine.

These symptoms have several possible causes and should be assessed rather than assumed. Men who cannot pass urine at all need emergency care.

A urinary tract infection (UTI) happens when germs infect part of the urinary system. Symptoms include burning when passing urine, needing to go often, cloudy or strong-smelling urine, and lower abdominal discomfort.

Drinking water regularly and not delaying going to the toilet can help. See a doctor if symptoms last more than a day or two, keep returning, or are accompanied by fever, back pain or vomiting, which may point to a kidney infection.

Blood in the urine (haematuria) should always be checked by a doctor, even if it happens once and stops, or is painless. It can have many causes, from infection and stones to other conditions of the kidneys, bladder or prostate.

Seek care promptly if you notice red, pink or tea-coloured urine, particularly with pain, fever, or difficulty passing urine.