Lesson 11 — Urology and Reproductive Assisting
All procedural steps, PURPOSE rationales, and topic content below are verbatim from MedCerts HLT420A Storyline modules. Quiz items have been normalized to multiple-choice format with verbatim source rationales. Reference textbook: Niedzwiecki & Pepper, Kinn's The Clinical Medical Assistant, 15th ed., Chapter 27. No outside material added.
- Recognize common urology disorders and treatment
- Discuss prostate diseases, genital disorders, and STIs
- Summarize the urological examination and the medical assistant's role
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Goal: To gain and understanding of the various sexually transmitted infections (STIs), their signs and symptoms, and related treatments.
Most prevalent sexually transmitted disease; period of communicability is unknown; pinhead lesions may or may not be visible; warts tend to recur. Goal of treatment is to remove symptomatic warts; cryotherapy for lesions; podofilox (Condylox) solution or imiquimod (Aldara) cream for lesions.
Six stages that can affect multiple body systems; 10- to 90-day incubation; initial sign is a painless lesion, or chancre, at the exposure site (penis); serous discharge from chancre; lymphadenopathy; if left untreated, advances to later stages. Penicillin G (Wycillin); if patient is allergic to penicillin, doxycycline or tetracycline.
May be asymptomatic; dysuria; itching and white discharge from penis; testicular pain. Curable with antibiotic therapy: single dose of Zithromax or 1 week of doxycycline (Vibramycin).
Painful genital vesicles and ulcers; erythema and pruritus; tingling or shooting pain 1-2 days before episodes. Viral shedding may occur during asymptomatic periods. No cure, but antiviral therapy during episodes shortens duration of lesions: acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), or valacyclovir (Valtrex).
Dysuria and urinary frequency; thick, cloudy, or bloody discharge from penis. Curable with antibiotic therapy: azithromycin, doxycycline.
Asymptomatic in most men; may feel itching or irritation inside penis, burning after urination or ejaculation, or some discharge from penis. Single oral dose of metronidazole (Flagyl).
Knowledge-check items
Click an answer to lock it in — you'll see the rationale below. Reset any time to re-attempt. Items originally formatted as true/false, fill-in-blank, or drag-and-drop have been normalized to multiple choice; the source format is noted in the eyebrow.
L11-01 · Sexually Transmitted Infections
"May be asymptomatic; dysuria; itching and white discharge from penis; testicular pain."
Chlamydia can present with multiple signs and symptoms including dysuria, white discharge, and testicular pain. The correct answer captures all of these manifestations.
"Asymptomatic in most men; may feel itching or irritation inside penis, burning after urination or ejaculation, or some discharge from penis."
Trichomoniasis is asymptomatic in most men, making it unique among the listed STIs. While chlamydia can be asymptomatic, trichomoniasis is specifically noted as asymptomatic in most cases.
"Most prevalent sexually transmitted disease; period of communicability is unknown; pinhead lesions may or may not be visible; warts tend to recur."
Genital warts are explicitly identified as the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease in the source material.
"No cure, but antiviral therapy during episodes shortens duration of lesions: acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), or valacyclovir (Valtrex)."
Genital herpes is the only STI among the options that has no cure. While treatment can manage symptoms during outbreaks, the infection is lifelong. The other STIs listed are curable with antibiotic or other therapies.