Kidney stone treatment: Costs, Recovery, Stats & What to Expect — A Urologists Guide
September 3, 2025 · by the Help Me Find A Doctor editorial team
Everything patients ask about kidney stone treatment — how it works, who it's for, typical recovery, costs, risks, and how to choose the right urologists specialist. ESWL, ureteroscopy, and PCNL.
Men's health, prostate care, and urinary conditions. Below: the procedures patients ask about most, the numbers that put the field in context, and the questions worth raising at a first consultation with a urologists specialist.
Top procedures & treatments
Kidney stone treatment
ESWL, ureteroscopy, and PCNL.
Vasectomy
15-minute office procedure; one of the most effective forms of contraception.
Prostate cancer screening and management
PSA, MRI fusion biopsy, and treatment options including focal therapy.
BPH treatment (UroLift, Rezum, GreenLight, HoLEP)
Office and OR-based options for enlarged prostate.
Erectile dysfunction and men's health
Medical, injection, and surgical options including penile implants.
By the numbers
- Prostate cancer is the #1 non-skin cancer in U.S. men — ~290,000 new cases per year.
- Kidney stones affect ~1 in 11 Americans.
- ~500,000 vasectomies are performed in the U.S. each year.
How to choose the right specialist
Verify board certification, ask how many of your specific procedure the clinician performs each year, and review patient outcomes — not just star ratings. A urologists provider who clearly explains your options, the evidence, and the realistic recovery timeline is worth more than the most heavily advertised name.
Use our directory to filter urologists specialists by city, then bring this article (and the FAQ below) to your consultation.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start PSA screening?
Most guidelines suggest shared decision-making starting at age 50 (45 with risk factors).
Is vasectomy reversible?
Microsurgical reversal is possible but success drops with time since the procedure.
Topics covered