Genitourinary Considerations in the Athlete

The athlete’s genitourinary system responds dynamically to the physiologic demands of exercise and demonstrates compensatory changes to sustain function. Although genitourinary injuries will occur infrequently in traditional sports, the growth and popularity of extreme sports and ultraendurance events has increasingly tasked the genitourinary system to function under higher levels of stress. Genitourinary considerations in the athlete require knowledge of the genitourinary system and the mechanism of sports-specic injury that occurred. Diagnosis and return-to-play decisions must follow a careful history and physical exam with specic algorithmic guidance to assist the treating primary care provider in arriving at a quality management plan (Table 57.1).