The GU medical abbreviation stands for genitourinary, the body system that joins the organs making and passing urine with the sex organs. Clinicians group them together because they sit close to each other and share some structures, especially in males, where the urethra carries both urine and semen.
You will see GU as a heading in the review of systems and the physical exam, as the name of a clinic or cancer team, and on nursing care plans that track urine output and catheters. This page explains what the system includes, how the shorthand reads in a note, and the nearby terms worth knowing.
At a glance
Stands for
GenitourinaryAlso written
GU, G/U, urogenitalWord roots
genit/o reproductive organs, urin/o urineOrgans included
Kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra, reproductive organsSpecialty
Urology, plus gynecology and nephrology for some problemsWhere you see it
Review of systems, exam notes, clinic names, care plans
What the GU medical abbreviation covers
Genitourinary blends two systems. The urinary part includes the kidneys, which filter blood and make urine; the ureters, thin tubes that carry urine down; the bladder, which stores it; and the urethra, which carries it out. The genital part includes the prostate, testes and penis in males, and the vulva, vagina, uterus and ovaries in females, although many notes chart female reproductive findings under a separate gynecologic heading.
Doctors often treat the two together because one problem can affect both, such as an enlarged prostate that slows urine flow, or an infection that spreads from one area to another.
GU in the review of systems and exam
In a history, the GU line lists urinary or genital symptoms the person reports or denies. In the exam, it records what the clinician saw or felt. The table decodes typical wording.
| Entry | Plain meaning |
|---|---|
| GU: denies dysuria | No pain or burning when passing urine |
| No hematuria | No blood in the urine |
| Frequency, urgency, nocturia | Passing urine often, sudden need to go, waking at night to go |
| GU exam deferred | The genital exam was not done at this visit |
| No CVA tenderness | The flank over each kidney was not sore when tapped |
Here CVA means costovertebral angle, not stroke, which is a good reminder that letters change meaning with context, as the CVA page explains.
GU on nursing care plans
Nurses track urinary function closely in hospital patients. A GU section on a flowsheet often records urine output, color and clarity, whether the patient voids on their own, and any tube in place.
Nursing shift note: "GU: Foley in place, draining clear yellow urine, UOP 45 mL/hr." A catheter is in the bladder, the urine looks normal, and the urine output, written UOP, is being measured each hour. The numbers show the format only.
Removing catheters as early as safely possible lowers infection risk, so many plans include a daily check on whether the tube is still needed.
GU clinics, specialists and cancer teams
Urologists are the surgeons most linked with GU care. They treat kidney stones, prostate enlargement, urinary leakage, blockages and cancers of the urinary tract and male reproductive organs. Nephrologists treat kidney function problems medically, and gynecologists cover the female reproductive organs.
In cancer care, a GU oncology team treats prostate, bladder, kidney and testicular cancers. A referral that says "GU onc" means this group. Some clinics also run a GU medicine or sexual health clinic for infections.
Questions to bring to a GU visit
- Is this symptom more likely from the bladder, the kidneys or the prostate?
- Would a urine sample, imaging or a urology referral help here?
- Could any of my medicines affect how I pass urine?
- What signs mean I should call the clinic sooner?
Writing down how often you pass urine over a couple of days, and any leaks or pain, gives the clinician useful detail.
This page describes medical shorthand in general terms. Urinary or genital symptoms deserve a conversation with your own doctor, nurse practitioner or urology team.
Frequently asked questions
What does GU stand for in medical terms?
GU stands for genitourinary, covering the urine making and draining organs together with the reproductive organs. It is used in exam notes, clinic names and care plans.
What does GU: negative mean in a note?
It usually means the person reported no urinary or genital symptoms when asked during the review of systems. It describes what was asked and answered at that visit.
Is GU the same as urology?
Not exactly. GU names the body system, while urology is the surgical specialty that treats much of it. People often say GU clinic when they mean a urology clinic.
What organs are part of the genitourinary system?
The kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra make up the urinary part. The reproductive organs, such as the prostate and testes or the uterus and ovaries, make up the genital part.