We've rounded up some of the "must reads" we published this past year about various subjects related to urology and urogynecology. Catch up before heading into 2025.

Understanding what different medical providers do

MDs, NPs, PAs . . . medicine is famous for its alphabet soup. This year, our goal was to make sure patients and prospective patients understood the difference, so we wrote a series of articles that focused exactly on that.

• What to Expect When Seeing a Nurse Practitioner vs. a Doctor. Patients often have questions about working with nurse practitioners (NPs) vs doctors. Nurse practitioners have a master's degree in nursing. READ MORE.

• What to Expect When Seeing a Physician Assistant vs. a Doctor. As one of our PAs noted in this article, "A key difference in training between a medical doctor and a physician assistant (PA) is the depth and length of training." READ MORE.
  
  
• What Does a Physician Assistant Preceptor Do? A preceptor is an experienced practitioner who educates medical students in the clinical setting. In this article, we pull back the curtain and share how one of our long-time physician assistants, Donna Robbins, trains the next generation. READ MORE.
  
  

Knowledge is power

When it comes to your health, you're the last line of defense. It's on all of us to make sure we understand what things mean (and to ask questions when we don't), how much procedures and medications cost, and what options we have. These articles help with that endeavor.

• Health Insurance, Medicare & Open Enrollment: What to Know. Understanding the ins and outs of health insurance can feel like a daunting task. This article discusses what happens during open enrollment, high-deductible health plans, and the difference between original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage. READ MORE.
  
  
• What is a Center of Excellence in Healthcare? If you've surfed the GBU website, you've likely come across Center of Excellence (COE) designations on some of our physicians' bios. But what is a Center of Excellence—and why should that matter to patients? READ MORE.

• A Collaborative Approach to Women's Health at GBU. It's not at all uncommon for medical colleagues to work together when providing patient care. And this is most certainly true when you visit our Women's Health Center in Dedham. READ MORE. 
  
  
• How to Select a Surgeon: Tips to Keep in Mind. You just found out you need surgery, and your mind is spinning with a million questions, including how to select a surgeon. Read more.

Helpful info about prostate cancer and bladder cancer treatments

• Treating Advanced Prostate Cancer: What to Know. An advanced prostate cancer diagnosis can be equal parts overwhelming and frightening. At Greater Boston Urology, we treat advanced prostate cancer patients in-house at our Advanced Prostate Cancer Centers in Dedham and Plymouth. READ MORE. 
  
  

• What is Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Prostate Cancer? Male hormones like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) fuel prostate cancer cells. Suppressing these hormones can be an effective way to treat prostate cancer alongside other protocols. This particular hormone therapy is known as androgen deprivation therapy or ADT. READ MORE.
  
  

• Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies for Bladder Cancer. There are different types of bladder cancer. The first and most common type is urothelial carcinoma, which starts in the urothelial cells lining the inside of the bladder. READ MORE.
  
  
• What is BCG Treatment for Bladder Cancer? If you've been diagnosed with early-stage bladder cancer and your doctor prescribes Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) treatment, you likely googled "What is BCG treatment for bladder cancer." Here's a solid primer. READ MORE.
  
  

This and that . . .

Our medical providers have been extremely active on our blog this year, sharing their knowledge and expertise.

• What is Nocturia? Are you getting up a couple of times during the night (or more) to pee? The medical name is nocturia. Even though nocturia is common, it's not normal. Luckily, treatment options exist, including non-invasive ones, like simple lifestyle modifications. READ MORE.

• What is Prostatitis? Prostatitis is a painful condition that involves inflammation of the prostate and sometimes the areas around the prostate. According to the NIH, it's the most common urinary tract problem for men younger than 50 and the third most common urinary tract problem for men older than 50. READ MORE.
  
  

• Biote Testosterone Replacement Therapy for Men. Dr. Jonathan Brajtbord, one of our board-certified urologists, is passionate about integrative medicine and helping patients optimize their health so they can thrive. In this article, he discusses Biote testosterone replacement therapy for men. READ MORE.
  
  

• A No-Nonsense Guide to Testicular Infections. Dr. Natalya Lopushnyan joins us in this article to discuss testicular infections, specifically epididymitis and orchitis. READ MORE.
  
  

• What is a Metabolic Workup for Kidney Stones? If you're at risk for kidney stones or you've already experienced one of these painful little buggers, your urologist has likely drawn blood for a metabolic workup at some point. (A metabolic workup is more formally known as a comprehensive metabolic panel or CMP.) READ MORE.
  
  

• Vaginal Health Tips for Menopausal Women. If you're in perimenopause or menopause, you might be experiencing vaginal dryness. What causes vaginal dryness? And is there anything you can do about it? READ MORE.
  
  

• How Men's Emotions Can Affect Their Bodies. Dr. Jonathan Brajtbord takes a holistic approach to his practice and believes in focusing not only on physical symptoms, but also the patient's mental health. READ MORE.
  
  

• Adult Circumcision: What You Need to Know. Dr. Natalya Lopushnyan joins us to discuss why men might opt to get circumcised later in life, and she answers the question on everyone's mind: Does it hurt? READ MORE.
  
  

• Stress Urinary Incontinence in Men. Do you leak urine when you go for a run, lift something heavy, or sneeze or cough? You're likely dealing with something called stress urinary incontinence or SUI. One of the biggest misconceptions is that SUI is a normal part of aging. It isn't. The good news is that effective treatment options exist. READ MORE.
  
  

• What is a No-Scalpel Vasectomy? Picture this: Your family planning is over. You're done having children, and you no longer want the anxiety of pregnancy hanging over you or your partner. You turned to Google and began researching vasectomies, only to discover this thing called a no-scalpel vasectomy. What is it? And is it better than a "traditional" vasectomy? READ MORE.
  
  

Do you need a urologist or urogynecologist?

We have locations throughout Massachusetts, including the Cape. Request an appointment with one of our physicians, NPs, or PAs.