Male Genital Problems And Injuries: Preparing For Your Appointment

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Preparing For Your Appointment

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.

You can help your health professional diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions.

Before your appointment

• If you have a genital rash, do not have sexual contact or activity while waiting for your appointment. This will reduce the risk of transmitting a possible infection to your partner. If you do have an STD, your sex partner or partners need to be evaluated and treated also.

Questions to prepare for your health professional

• What are your main symptoms? How long have you had your symptoms?
• Have you had this problem before? If so, do you know what caused the problem at that time? How was it treated?
• What activities make your symptoms better or worse? What sports do you participate in?
• How and when did an injury occur? How was it treated?
• Have you had any injuries in the past to the same area? Do you have any continuing problems because of the previous injury?
• Have you had infections or rashes in the genital area in the past?
• Do you engage in high-risk sexual behaviors? Do you suspect you have been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease (STD)?
• Does your sex partner have any genital symptoms or problems?
• Have you had any genital surgeries or procedures?
• Do you perform testicular self-examination? How often?
• What home treatment measures have you tried? Did they help?
• What prescription and nonprescription medicines have you taken? Did they help?
• Do you have any health risks?

Last updated:	March 29, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, Philip Belitsky, MD, FRCSC - Urology
Editors:	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC, Tracy Landauer