Urology
If you’ve been referred to the Urology Department by your primary care doctor, you may be worried about what happens next. Each person’s experience will be different. Visiting a urologist is not much different from visiting any doctor, but it’s helpful to know what to expect.
Next Steps
Before you arrive
We specialize in treating diseases in the urinary tract for men and women, and on male reproductive health. This includes a wide range of diseases and conditions, including urologic cancers, incontinence and bladder control, painful conditions like kidney stones and urinary tract infections, and men’s sexual health, including erectile dysfunction.
Our urologist will normally have notes from the referring doctor. However, you will be asked to provide a detailed medical history. If you have that information available, please bring it with you.
You typically also will be asked for a urine sample, so avoid coming with an empty bladder if you can help it. Since many urological conditions prevent you from being able to hold urine in, let the office staff know you are ready to provide a specimen.
Testing and evaluation
Your urine will be tested for bacteria and other signs of disease. The physician will also perform a physical examination, focusing on the genitourinary tract — the kidneys, urinary bladder, adrenal glands, urethra and male reproductive organs.
Other tests that you might undergo include:
- An imaging test, such as an MRI or CT scan, which can help locate the problem.
- A probe test with a long, thin tool called a cystoscope, which can look inside the urinary tract and even take tissue samples.
- A biopsy, which can check for cancer and other disorders.
- A urodynamic test, which measures how well your bladder and urethra are doing their jobs of storing and releasing urine.