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Dr. Benjamin Whittam

Pediatrics - Urology
Indianapolis, IN
17 years experience male

Locations

Pediatric Urology

Indianapolis, IN

Address

705 Riley Hospital Drive, Suite 4230, Indianapolis, IN, US
Directions

My office hours

Thursday: Closed
Show more

Insurances accepted

CIGNA Health Care

About

Bio

I am a pediatric urologist who specializes in minimally invasive surgery, particularly robotic surgery. I also have an interest in sacral neuromodulation for pediatric patients with refractory voiding dysfunction.

Specialties
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.

Pediatrics - Urology

Pediatric Urology

Doctor Q&A

81 Answers
25 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 17-year-old male asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Possible...unlikely: The kidney is well protected by your ribcage and fatty tissue and usually injuries are caused by car accidents or falls from a significant height. Bu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A member asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
See your doctor: Testicles should not turn black or have black spots appear. It is not uncommon to have testicles with a bluish tint that can be a sign of a hydroc... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A member asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Nothing: Avoid retracting or pulling back the foreskin as this can create a problem.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
No problem: Hydronephrosis is swelling of the part of the kidney that drains urine. Mild hydronephrosis can be a normal finding, particularly if found incidental... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Probably fine: No hydronephrosis and no masses is normal, so these are both good. Renal cysts are very common and usually benign (ask if they are simple cysts). Sm... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Urinary infection: Uti: infection of the urinary tract, also called cystitis or bladder infection. Typical symptoms include increased urgency and frequency of urinatio... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Possibly: Phimosis is a tightening of the foreskin making it difficult or impossible to retract. You may have pain with erections because of the tight foreskin... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Possibly: Phimosis is the tightening of the foreskin making it painful or impossible to retract the foreskin. I recommend seeing your primary md to see if your... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
When you need to...: Adult bladders hold about 400-600 milliliter of urine (about 1.5 - 2.5 cans of soda). You should pee when you feel the urge, which is usually every 2-... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 22-year-old male asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
See your doctor: If you are uncircumcised, it sounds like you have a minor phimosis (tight foreskin). So when you have an erection and intercourse it causes some crac... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Possible UTI: If you are having frequent urination with significant urgency and blood in urine you could have a uti. An std is also possible, if you had unprotecte... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 18-year-old male asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Ask your surgeon: Increasing activity to soon after surgery can cause worsening swelling and pain.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Nothing serious: Hydronephrosis can be caused by obstruction or reflux but also can be normal or not a serious problem (usually low grade hydronephrosis). Your docto... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
72 hours: About 72 hours.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
No good answer: Most of the world is not circumcised however ~60-70% of the usa is circumcised. Some data suggests circumcision reduces sensation during intercourse.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old male asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Find out why!: If your right testicle was removed for torsion you should definitely undergo a left sided orchiopexy (securing of testicle). Testicular torsion is of... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 23-year-old male asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Not typically...: Increased frequency of urination and pain with urination and urgency (gotta go feeling) could be signs of a urinary tract infection (uti). Some women... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 18-year-old male asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Phimosis: A tight foreskin or phimosis is actually very common. If you cannot retract your foreskin over the glans (head) of your penis this is abnormal and yo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 39-year-old male asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
See your doctor: If you are having swelling in your groin you need to see your doctor for a physical exam to rule out a hernia. A hydrocele sometimes can cause swelli... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Bladder Irritation: Increased urinary frequency can be caused by many different things beside a uti. Often bladder irritants can result in frequency such as caffeine, re... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Depends: Tight foreskin or phimosis is a common medical problem. If it is causing you pain or bleeding with erections or difficulty with urinating it should b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Having: Having urinary tract infections associated with sex? Try peeing immediately after sex.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 28-year-old female asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
See a peds urologist: Revision circumcisions are one of the most frequent operation performed by pediatric urologists. Too much skin is a frequent problem and can easily b... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Ureteroscopy: This depends upon the size of the stones and the size of your ureter. Smaller stones < 5 mm can typically be grasped with small basket and removed in... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 57-year-old male asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
See a urologist: Ed is not uncommon with advancing age despite no other medical problems. Make an appointment to see your md or urologist, be ready to discuss your li... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 31-year-old male asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
See your doctor...: You have multiple urologic complaints: penile pain and discoloration, and testicular pain. I would recommend seeing your doctor and having a physical... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 25-year-old male asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Normal: Testicles derive their blood supply and innervation from higher in the abdomen (where they initially develop while in utero) so referred pain to the a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Ask your surgeon: This is something your surgeon should have told you and please call his/her office to determine postoperative activities that are permissible. Most s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Absolutely: Discuss with your doctor but normal occurrence. Also, as your child ages and becomes toilet trained, a erection can be a sign of a full bladder.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Minimal, very safe: The most common things to expect that are normal are dysuria (burring, pain with peeing), hematuria (blood in urine) and sometimes increased urgency a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
No: If semen or ejaculate comes in contact with the inside of your vagina then pregnancy is a possibility.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 42-year-old male asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Maybe: Chronic prostatitis is a difficult diagnosis to treat and harder to cure. The causes are often difficult to determine, some evidence has shown improv... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 23-year-old female asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Somewhat: Removing the stent will cause some ureteral spasm and discomfort. I would recommend taking some Ibuprofen (if okay for you to take) about 45 minutes ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 40-year-old female asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Personal Approach: Interstitial cystitis is a very difficult diagnosis to treat, or provide a simple treatment that works for everyone. Diet modification, elmeron, cert... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 70-year-old male asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
See a Urologist: A calcification in the bladder can be benign or incredibly serious, you need you have urinalysis and be checked for hematuria (blood in your urine). ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
See your doctor: There are many causes for fecal incontinence and you need to see your doctor to help determine the cause. They may refer you to a gastroenterologi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 31-year-old male asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Yes: Urethritis means infection or inflammation of the urethra (tube that you pee out of). This results in penile pain, pain with urination and penile dis... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 25-year-old male asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Testicular Pain: You need to see your doctor for a physical exam to rule out any serious issues like a hernia or infectious process. In the meantime try taking Ibupro... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 17-year-old male asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Depends: Orchitis typically refers to infection of the testicle and antibiotics are used to treat such infections. Sometimes a prolonged course of antibiotics... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 30-year-old male asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Semen analysis: For males the simplest way to assess your fertility is a semen analysis. Most physicians will not initiate a workup unless you are unable to conceive ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A member asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
See your doctor: You could have epidydimitis (infection of part of the system that carries semen). See your doctor, especially if you have worsening pain, pain with u... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
UTI: See your doctor or a walk-in clinic. A simple urinalysis will give you the answer almost immediately. If urine tests don't show any signs of infecti... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Tight foreskin: Phimosis is scarring or tightening of the foreskin in uncircumcised man. It makes it painful or impossible to retract the the foreskin over the glans... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old male asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Not really: Testicular torsion is the twisting of the testicle on its blood supply, causing severe pain and may cause death of the testicle. When a procedure is ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 51-year-old male asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
It depends...: The ureter (tube that drains kidney) is often dilated during surgery which can cause pain. After surgery, a ureteral stent is often placed (but not al... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 29-year-old female asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
See your doctor: If you think the nerve stimulator is causing the pain, then you could try turning off the device and see if your pain goes away. Regardless you nee... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 25-year-old male asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Ask your doctor...: As always contact the physician who implanted the device regarding their specific postoperative instructions. I tell my patients to avoid strenuous... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 21-year-old male asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Talk to your doctor.: Renal cell carcinoma (rcc) is a cancer of the kidney. Staging is not definite till after tumor is removed. Stage 2 rcc is a tumor only in the kidney ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
Cystoscopy: Cystoscopy is looking in the urethra (pee channel) into the bladder. Ureteroscopy is looking into the ureter (tube that drains the kidney) flexi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Benjamin Whittam
Pediatrics - Urology 17 years experience
See a urologist: An undescended testicle (udt) should be corrected early in life, it is unclear to me if you had your udt corrected. Sometimes after surgery for an ud... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.

Testimonials
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.

3
Recommendations
175
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Whittam is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Whittam is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Nov 26, 2015
I am grateful for this doctor this Thanksgiving!
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! She is potty trained. But she is constipated alot. Also, they keepfinding white blood cells in her urine. But they are saying it isn't a uti
HealthTap member
Thank you I am on immunosuppressant's, last time an invasive biopsy of prostrated I ended up in septic shock & barely servived.
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! it's hard to get an answer when you can only say so much in the paragraph

Education & Training

Medical/Graduate school

Dartmouth Medical School, NH
Graduated 2006MD

Residency

VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Awards

Top Pediatric Urologist, First Place, Indiana - Winter
2013
Top Pediatric Urologist, Second Place, National - Summer
2013

Affiliations

American Urological Association
Society for Pediatric Urology
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