Urology Still Perceived as a 'Male Domain'... Only 18.6% of Treatment Experiences Are Female

Korean Society of Urology Survey Results
"Anyone Can Receive Treatment for Urinary Issues"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] It has been revealed that only one in five women have experience receiving diagnosis and treatment in the Department of Urology. This is interpreted as the male-related image of urology acting as a burden for women to visit.

The Korean Urological Association announced the results of a survey on the perception of urology on the 21st. According to the survey results, only 18.6% of women had experience receiving diagnosis and treatment in urology, which is about half the level of men (37.2%). Additionally, among 506 female respondents, 72.9% answered that the male-related image of urology made visiting burdensome.

Urology is a medical specialty that comprehensively treats the organs related to the production, storage, and excretion of urine regardless of age or gender. However, only 26.3% of respondents correctly recognized that both men and women can receive diagnosis and treatment in urology.

In particular, 24.0% of all respondents said they had heard for the first time that "female urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence, and other voiding disorders can be consulted, treated, and managed in urology." Among female respondents, about 70% said that when symptoms or diseases related to urine such as urinary incontinence or urinary tract infections occur, they receive treatment in obstetrics and gynecology instead of urology.

Lee Sang-don, president of the Korean Urological Association (professor of urology at Yangsan Pusan National University Hospital), said, "To correct public perception, we have been using the name 'Department of Urology' instead of 'Department of Urology Surgery' since 2017, but many women still prioritize treatment in other departments over urology when symptoms or diseases related to urine and bladder occur. We will strive to reduce the psychological distance toward urology so that people of all ages and genders can comfortably visit when they have urinary problems."

It was also raised that men need to become more familiar with urology. According to the national cancer registration statistics (based on 2019) announced last May, prostate cancer (4th), kidney cancer (7th), and bladder cancer (9th) are included among the top 10 cancers with high incidence in Korean men, signaling a red alert for urological cancer prevention and management.

However, the awareness level of this fact was only 24.0 points (out of 100), and only 37.2% of male respondents had experience with urology diagnosis. The proportion of respondents who had heard of the 'uroflowmetry test,' a basic urological health screening, and the 'prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test,' used for early detection of prostate cancer, were only 17.2% and 20.1%, respectively.

President Lee emphasized, "The Korean Urological Association will correct misunderstandings about urology confirmed through this nationwide survey and widely inform the public that urology is a medical specialty that comprehensively treats the organs related to urination regardless of age or gender."

This perception survey was conducted by the association through Korea Gallup from April 29 to May 4 this year, targeting 1,054 adult men and women aged 19 to 64 in the Republic of Korea.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.