Go And See Peyronie's Specialist
Peyronie's disease is a medical condition so you must see a Peyronie's specialist, a doctor that specializes in treating men with Peyronie's disease. Urologists are the specialists within the medical profession that evaluate and treat Peyronie's disease (among other things).
In this article I discuss why and how you should prepare yourself prior to seeing your Peyronie's doctor. The better prepared you are for your visit, the better results you will get from your meeting.
Good preparation will help you to ask the right questions and understand better the answers and explanations you get.
Why You Should See Doctor About Your Peyronie's
Peyronie's disease is a medical condition and you should get a specialist in treating Peyronie's disease to diagnose it. First, the Peyronie's specialist needs to confirm that you are suffering from Peyronie's and not from something else.
- Sarcoma of the penis is a rare form of cancer with some similar symptoms as Peyronie's disease. It is extremely rare but it is still important to eliminate it as a possibility
- Your Peyronie's doctor should also eliminate Congenital Penile Curvature. This is relatively easy to do as congenital penile curvature is present during all of man's adult life and does not change over time. Therefore, if you used to have straight erected penis and it starts to bend, then it is not congenital penile curvature
Even though Peyronie's resources are getting better and more easily available to the public (thanks to the internet), researching Peyronie's on-line does not substitute seeing a Peyronie's specialist in person.
You need to have your penis examined by a qualified health professional and to go through your treatment options with a specialist in treating Peyronie's disease.
Your Peyronie's specialist should also be able to provide you with the practical information you need (or at least advice you where you can find the information you seek).
Like about the treatment cost involved and if your public healthcare system or health insurance provider may cover some or all of the cost involved.
Your doctor should also be able to advice you if there are any appropriate support groups in your area or where to get professional help if needed (like finding psychologist or couple counseling).
Prepare Yourself Prior To Seeing Your Peyronie's Specialist
Peyronie's disease is daunting experience in the beginning, as there is so much new information and advice to take in. The more you know about the disease in advance, the better questions you can ask your Peyronie's doctor and the better you will understand what your doctor is explaining to you.
Consider taking someone (partner or trusted friend) with you to see your Peyronie's doctor. You are likely to feel stressed and your partner may remember and understand better some of the things you might miss, and ask some of the questions you might forget to ask.
You should always write your questions down in advance. However, new questions are likely to arise during your doctor's visit and your partner can be fundamental in identifying and asking those questions.
What To Ask Your Doctor About Your Peyronie's Disease?
Most likely you will first see your physician / general practitioner (GP). However,your family doctor is unlikely to have much experience of Peyronie's so he is likely to refer you to a specialist (urologist) if he suspects you have Peyronie's disease.
Not all urologist are specialist in treating men with Peyronie's so ask your family doctor about the urologist he is referring you to, i.e. is he a specialist in treating Peyronie's disease or not.
One of the best indication is how many Peyronie's patients the uroglogist sees per month. If he does not treat many Peyronie's patients, then ask if you can be referred to another urologist that specializes in treating men with Peyronie's disease.
It is recommended to see a specialist in treating men with Peyronie's disease from the beginning so do everything you can to make it possible.
Try to be flexible about where and when you meet him. Good Peyronie's specialists are few and far between, so they tend to be busy and you might have to travel some distance to see him (depending on where you live).
Write down your questions in advance and bring the list with you. APDA (Association of Peyronie's Disease Advocates) offers excellent printable Doctor Discussion Guide 
that can help you to prepare for your urologist appointment. I recommend printing out a copy of their guide.
Don't be shy asking questions and take your time. Appointment with a Peyronie's specialist cannot, and should not, be rushed (appointments commonly last 30 - 45 minutes).
First, ask about the disease itself and get formal diagnosis. Make sure you understand what Peyronie's disease is all about, i.e. the symptoms, the likely progression of the disease, etc.
Then move on to what treatments are available and which may be suitable for you. It is not only important, it is vital, that you are familiar with all the Peyronie's treatment options available to you, prior to meeting your Peyronie's specialist.
Why is this so important? Because the treatments offered to you will depend on your doctors' knowledge and experience.
Your Peyronie's specialist is likely to have some preferred treatment options based on his experience but they do not have to be the same as your preferred treatment options. Peyronie's treatments are also evolving all the time and new treatments are coming up on regular basis. How up to date is your specialist with the latest developments?
So know the pros and cons of each Peyronie's Treatment Option and identify in advance those you feel are most suitable for you and your condition.
Ask your doctor especially about those treatment options. If your doctor is not familiar with the treatment option you like, ask if he is willing to look into them for you.
Ask your Peyronie's specialist thoroughly about the treatment options he recommends.
What are the benefits? What are the side effects? Is there a health risk involved? What result can you expect? What is the success rate? Are there scientific studies that confirm the success rate? What is his personal experience of the relevant treatment option?
And don't forget to ask about the estimated total cost of each treatment option he recommends.
Listen carefully to what your Peyronie's specialist recommends. If you are not comfortable with his recommendations, consider getting a second opinion.
I would not do anything that your Peyronie's doctor recommends against without (at least) second opinion. However, if you doctor is against a treatment option you particularly like, try to find out why. Is itbecause he feels it is unlikely to work or because he is not familiar with this as treatment for Peyronie's disease.
If your doctor recommends Surgical Procedure, you will need to ask carefully about the options and take your time. Don't be pressed into decision on the spot, rather get another appointment when you have had the time to digest all the information.
If you need penile surgery, it is important to choose the right surgeon and the most experienced (best) surgeons tend to be those with the most practice i.e. that perform the relevant operation on regular basis.
If your urologist recommends the “wait and see” approach, i.e. to do nothing and check the situation in 6 months time, then always seek second opinion. Time is your enemy where Peyronie's is concerned, the sooner you start your treatment the better.
Many treatment options, especially those less invasive, will be lost to you if you don't start your treatment while in the acute phase of the disease
Where To Find Good Peyronie's Specialist?
I cannot recommend nor do I endorse any Peyronie's doctors. You will have to do your own homework in this area.
Good starting point is to ask your family doctor for recommendations and then research carefully the options he gives you. APDA also offers 'Physician Finder' that may be useful in identifying urologist in your area (especially for those seeking treatment in the US).
Don't be shy to ask your urologist about his experience of treating men with Peyronie's disease. If you are not satisfied with his experience or commitment, then continue looking for the right Peyronie's specialist for you.
