Patient Newsletter | March 2026

It’s National Kidney Month. Let’s give those two bean-shaped organs a little respect. They deserve it. Not only do your kidneys remove waste from your body, but they also filter ½ cup of blood every minute – that’s about 50 gallons a day!

Your kidneys are busy, so it’s important to keep them healthy. Knowing the warning signs of kidney stones and what you can do to avoid them is an excellent start.

You have a one in 10 chance of developing kidney stones. Common warning signs include:

• Burning during urination
• Blood in your urine
• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
• Pain in your lower back or sides; it may be severe
• Fever, chills, nausea, and/or vomiting

Any of these symptoms means it’s time to contact us. If diagnosed early and the stones are small, you may be able to flush them with lots of water and pain medication. If large or complicated, we have several treatment options. Either way, request an appointment.

How to Prevent Stones from Forming

Some tweaks to your diet and daily routine will go a long way to preventing stones from forming.

• Get plenty of fluid: 11.5 cups daily (women), 15.5 cups daily (men)
• Go easy on red meat, processed foods, and salt
• Kick the tobacco habit
• Allow yourself “some” dairy

Learn more about kidney stone symptoms, treatments, and prevention.

If you’re among the 28% of Americans who are routinely dehydrated, you could be headed for some serious urology problems:

1. Kidney stones
2. Urinary tract infections
3. Kidney disease and failure
4. Bladder inflammation

Because 60% of your body is water, these problems can arise anytime you aren’t getting the fluids your body needs – ideally 11.5 cups a day for women, 15.5 cups a day for men. Signs that you aren’t getting enough include thirst, dark colored urine, headache, sunken eyes/cheeks, dry skin, and skin that remains puckered after being pinched.

If you think dehydration only happens in the summer when you sweat a lot, think again. It occurs often in the colder months, too. These easy-to-follow tips will help ensure you get the fluid you need year-round.

If you’re finished having children, a vasectomy can provide the peace of mind you want. It’s a permanent form of birth control that requires just a quick (15-30 minute) procedure.

Many men today are choosing a no-scalpel vasectomy offered by the physicians at the Michigan Institute of Urology. Unlike a traditional vasectomy, this modern approach doesn’t require a scalpel incision or stitches. Instead, a special instrument is used to make a tiny opening in the skin of your scrotum. Your vas deferens (the tubes that carry sperm) are gently lifted and sealed to block the flow of sperm from your testicles.

No-scalpel vasectomies are 99.9% effective at preventing pregnancy and don’t affect sexual performance. Discomfort is minimal, and recovery is quick.

If you’re considering a vasectomy, look to the trusted medical expertise of the physicians at Michigan Institute of Urology. Expect comfort and convenience at a location close to your home.

Learn more about no-scalpel vasectomy. Then request an appointment today.

Difficulties conceiving is a discouraging journey. The physicians at Michigan Institute of Urology understand. For more than 25 years, we’ve been helping Michigan families conquer male fertility challenges by combining advanced knowledge with a genuinely supportive approach.

We begin by helping couples understand their reproductive health situation, then explore options that fit their goals and needs. Those options may include:

• Addressing issues with sperm production, function, and overall health
• Addressing key lifestyle factors that can influence male fertility
• Vasectomy reversal, where appropriate

For men who have had a vasectomy, a reversal offers hope that fertility can be restored. The delicate procedure reconnects the cut ends of the vas deferens to allow sperm to once again flow from the testicles and mix with semen. Dr. Mahdi Bazzi is a male fertility specialist at Michigan Institute of Urology with the microsurgical expertise required for vasectomy reversal. You can read his latest blog post: Considering Vasectomy Reversal? What to Know First.

If you’re exploring your fertility options, we have many physicians who specialize in the complex field of male infertility. Learn more.

We want to help you laugh, cough, and sneeze – without the ‘oops.’ The EMSELLA® Chair is an FDA-approved, non-invasive treatment for urinary incontinence, offered at Michigan Institute of Urology’s REDEEM Sexual Wellness & Aesthetics Center. It can help reduce urinary leakage by stimulating the pelvic floor muscles, allowing you to regain control and comfort. EMSELLA Chair treatments:

• Use high intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology to stimulate the pelvic floor muscles – it’s like performing 11,200 Kegels in a signle treatment!
• Only take about 30 minutes – you sit on the chair fully clothed.
• A standard treatment plan consists of six sessions scheduled twice a week.

Retrain and strengthen weakened pelvic floor muscles with the EMSELLA Chair. Schedule a consultation today.