Seeing an urologist can sometimes seem daunting, but during Urology Awareness Month, we want people to feel more confident talking about urology health and encourage you to speak to a doctor if you need help.

At LivingCare, our team will do everything they can to make sure you feel at ease. We’re always on hand to answer any questions you may have about your appointment and treatment. With that in mind, we’ve taken a look at a typical appointment with an urologist, so you know what to expect.

At Living Care, our urology specialists are able to help diagnose and treat a number of urology problems including, urinary tract infections, bladder dysfunction, renal pain, incontinence, scrotal pain and lumps, penile conditions, prostatitis or lower urinary tract symptoms.

To find out more about when to see an urologist, take a look at our blog here.

What can I expect from an appointment with my urologist?

Urology appointments are available at our Thorpe Park clinic in Leeds. During the consultation the urologist will ask you a series of questions about your symptoms in order help them diagnose your condition.

The consultation normally lasts approximately 15 minutes and you may be asked to undress so that the doctor can examine you appropriately. All examinations are carried out with the utmost care to ensure your privacy and dignity is respected. We are also able to provide a chaperone for your appointment if you would like someone to be with you. If you would like a chaperone for your examination, please just let us know in advance.

After the examination the doctor will then discuss the next steps with you. In some cases, this may include further tests or examinations.

If you require another test or procedure as part of your treatment, this will be organised by our nursing and administration team for you. Instructions and details of the test and when to expect an appointment will be discussed with you at the time and our team are always happy to answer any questions you may have.

If the urologist advises that further tests are necessary e.g. an ultrasound scan, MRI or x-ray, they will explain the procedure in full. A specialised member of our imaging team will carry out these tests for you, and your results will then be discussed with you at a follow-up appointment.

For examinations such as a flexible cystoscopy, or bladder function tests, the results of will be discussed with you on the same day.

What is a cystoscopy?

A cystoscopy is a medical procedure used to examine the inside of the bladder using an instrument called a cystoscope. At LivingCare we’re able to carry out this test at our Thorpe Park clinic, so you won’t need to go to hospital.

A cystoscope is a thin, fibre optic flexible tube that has a light and a camera at one end. It's inserted into the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body) and moved up into the bladder. The camera then relays images to a screen, where they can be seen by your urologist. After the examination, you will be able to go home on the same day.

Why are cystoscopies used?

A cystoscopy can be used to:

• ​Check for abnormalities in the bladder
• Remove a sample of bladder tissue for further testing (a biopsy) in cases of suspected cancer
• Treat certain bladder conditions, such as removing small kidney stones

Is a cystoscopy painful?

A flexible cystoscopy is usually carried out using a local anaesthetic gel or spray to numb the urethra. This will reduce any discomfort when the cystoscope is inserted into the urethra.

For a few days after the procedure, you may feel a burning sensation when passing urine and you may also pass blood in your urine. This is normal and isn't something to worry about, unless it's severe and lasts longer than a few days. If you are unsure about anything, please call us.

Risks

It's rare to experience serious complications after having a cystoscopy, but some people may experience persistent bleeding or problems passing urine. If this is the case they should seek medical advice. There's also a small risk of developing a urinary tract infection that affects your urethra, bladder or kidneys. If you experience the symptoms of infection, such as a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above, you should get in touch.

If you have any questions about our urology service, please call 0113 249 4655 and a member of our team will be happy to help you.

At LivingCare we provide all of our services for NHS patients as well as on a private basis. To be seen through the NHS for any of our services, we just require a referral from your GP.

‍