Quick Consult: Dr. Andrew Schwinn, Dr. Kashif Siddiqi Discuss Urological Conditions and How to Avoid, Treat Them

Dr. Kashif Siddiqi and Dr. Andrew Schwinn are board-certified urologists with Trinity Health IHA Medical Group. In this Q&A, they discuss common conditions they treat patients for and how to avoid them.

Q: What are some of the common conditions you treat patients for?

Dr. Siddiqi: Many of the issues Dr. Schwinn and I commonly treat are kidney stones, prostate problems such as enlarged prostates and prostate cancer, blood in the urine, difficulty urinating, having a weaker urine stream, and male infertility.

Dr. Kashif Siddiqi

Q: How can things like kidney stones and prostate issues be avoided, if at all?

Dr. Schwinn: There are several factors when it comes to developing a kidney stone. Diet plays a huge role, so it’s important to stay as hydrated as possible. A good goal to have is to drink 2.5 liters of water each day. Family history can also play a role in how the kidneys function, which can lead to kidney stones.

It’s oftentimes difficult to avoid prostate issues, as they are more common in men as they get older. It starts with the prostate growing, which leads to having a weaker urine stream and having to get up multiple times in the middle of the night to urinate.

Dr. Andrew Schwinn

Q: What are the surgical and non-surgical treatments for prostate issues and kidney stones?

Dr. Schwinn: For prostate issues, a lot of it depends on the size and shape. Before we make any recommendation on what procedure would be best for the patient, we record an ultrasound and analyze the prostate and bladder. We begin with prescribing medication, but if it isn’t effective, one of the better surgical options we have is with a device called the UroLift. I use this very often, and what this does is it opens the prostate wider so the patient can get back to urinating properly. This has provided great results for our patients.

If the patient is dealing with prostate cancer and needs surgery, we oftentimes use a device called the da Vinci Surgical System, which is a robot that allows us to have a high-definition view inside the patient. This is minimally invasive – which means the incisions are very small compared to a standard surgery – and ensures the best results. This procedure usually takes a few hours, and because it’s minimally invasive, most patients are out of the hospital the same day.

Q: How do you treat men with fertility issues?

Dr. Siddiqi: Infertility is a growing problem among men worldwide. There are studies being done to figure out exactly why this is, so the exact cause as of right now is to be determined. I treat men very often who have a difficult time being able to grow their family. What we are able to do is provide these patients with medications to improve the health of their sperm. If those medications are not effective, there is a surgical option we can pursue. These operations typically take 30-60 minutes in length, and the patient is able to get back to normal sexual activity in about a week’s time.

Q: Is there anything else the community should know?

Dr. Siddiqi: Here in Livingston County, Dr. Schwinn and I deal with all sorts of urological issues. This is our expertise, and we have all the latest and greatest technological advances at our disposal at our office and at Trinity Health Livingston. We are here to treat you and your family with the highest quality of care possible, and we are grateful to be able to serve the Livingston County community.

To schedule an appointment with one of the doctors, call their office at 734-712-8100.