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Doctor Discussion Guide
Need help talking to your doctor? This guide can help. |
Print this doctor discussion guide.
These tips can help you prepare for your appointment with a urologist:
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- Write down your symptoms, when they started, and how they affect you.
- Write down any questions or concerns you want to discuss with your doctor.
- Most healthcare professionals will ask you to bring a picture of your penis to the first or second appointment in order to help evaluate your symptoms. If you don’t have a picture, you may need to have an erection induced in the office so that the symptoms can be observed.
- Bring your list of questions and concerns with you to your appointment, along with any photos that may help your doctor with diagnosis.
- During your appointment, write down important information your doctor tells you.
Want to know more about what to expect during your evaluation exam? Dr. Levine explains the process.
Tips for Taking a Picture
- It is best to have someone else (for example, your partner) take the pictures of your erect penis if at all possible.This will help ensure the best image.
- Take a picture from multiple angles – from the top looking down, right side, and left side.
- The most important aspect of your picture is that it shows the curvature of your penis and the nature of your symptoms. Different patients have different treatment plans depending on the severity of their symptoms, so a clear picture will help your doctor plan the best course of treatment for you. You may have to experiment with different camera angles in order to get the best representation.
Questions for your doctor:
- What causes Peyronie’s disease?
- Is this a form of cancer? Is it life threatening?
- Will my condition keep progressing?
- Can I continue having sex, or will it make things worse?
- What are my treatment options, both nonsurgical and surgical, and how effective are they?
- Is shortening of the erect or flaccid penis common in Peyronie’s disease? What can I do about it?
- How many Peyronie’s patients do you see in a month?
- What can I expect emotionally? Should I see a counselor or psychologist?
- Does insurance cover any of my treatment options?
- Is it better to do something rather than nothing?