Making an appointment with a urologist for the first time can feel uncomfortable. Most people put it off longer than they should, either because they’re unsure what the visit involves or because the conditions that bring someone to a urologist feel too personal to discuss. At Lazare Urology in Brooklyn, Dr. Jon Lazare and his team see patients at every stage of that hesitation. Some have been dealing with symptoms for months. Others were referred by their primary care doctor after an abnormal lab result. Whatever brought you here, knowing what to expect before you walk through the door makes the experience considerably less stressful.
Before the Appointment: How to Prepare
A little preparation goes a long way toward making your first visit efficient and productive.
Start by gathering your medical records, or at least a written summary. Your urologist will want to know your full medical history, including any chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease, medications you’re currently taking (prescription and over-the-counter), previous surgeries, and any family history of urological conditions such as prostate cancer or kidney stones. If your primary care doctor ordered lab work or imaging that prompted the referral, bring those results with you or have them sent to the office ahead of time.
Write down your symptoms before the visit. It sounds simple, but people often forget details once they’re sitting in the exam room. Note when the symptoms started, how frequently they occur, whether anything makes them better or worse, and how they’re affecting your daily life. If you’re experiencing urinary issues, pay attention to patterns: how often you’re going, whether you’re waking up at night, any difficulty starting or maintaining a stream, and whether there’s been any blood in your urine.
You’ll also want to bring your insurance card and a photo ID. If Lazare Urology’s in-house lab is running any tests during the visit, you may be asked to provide a urine sample, so arriving with a reasonably full bladder is helpful.
What Happens During the Consultation
The first visit is primarily a conversation. Dr. Lazare will review your medical history, ask about your symptoms in detail, and discuss what’s been going on. This is the part that makes people nervous, but urologists have these conversations dozens of times a day. Whether you’re dealing with erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, a lump you’ve noticed, or pain in your lower abdomen, nothing you say is going to surprise the doctor. Being direct and honest about your symptoms leads to a faster, more accurate diagnosis.
After the history review, a physical exam is typically the next step. For men, this often includes an examination of the abdomen, genitals, and in many cases a digital rectal exam (DRE) to assess the prostate. The DRE takes about ten seconds and, while not the most comfortable experience, is one of the most informative tools for evaluating prostate health. For women seeing a urologist for bladder or incontinence issues, the exam may include a pelvic assessment to evaluate the pelvic floor.
The entire consultation, including the history, exam, and initial discussion of next steps, usually takes between 20 and 40 minutes depending on the complexity of your symptoms.
Common Diagnostic Tests
Depending on what your symptoms suggest, Dr. Lazare may recommend one or more diagnostic tests during or shortly after your first visit. Having an in-house lab and a certified in-office operating room allows Lazare Urology to handle many of these on-site rather than sending you to a separate facility.
Urinalysis and Lab Work
A urinalysis is one of the most basic and commonly ordered tests in urology. It checks for signs of infection, blood, protein, glucose, and other markers that can point toward conditions affecting the kidneys, bladder, or urinary tract. If an infection is suspected, a urine culture may be sent out to identify the specific bacteria involved and determine which antibiotics will be most effective.
Blood tests are often ordered as well. A PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test screens for prostate issues, including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer. Testosterone levels, kidney function panels, and complete blood counts may also be drawn depending on your symptoms. Because Lazare Urology has an in-house lab, many of these results are available quickly.
Cystoscopy
If your symptoms involve blood in the urine, recurrent urinary tract infections, difficulty urinating, or bladder pain, a cystoscopy may be recommended. This is a procedure where a thin, flexible scope with a camera is inserted through the urethra to examine the lining of the bladder and urethra directly.
The idea of a camera being passed through the urethra understandably makes people anxious. In practice, the procedure takes only a few minutes and is performed with a local numbing gel applied to the urethra beforehand. Most patients describe the sensation as uncomfortable pressure rather than sharp pain. It provides a level of diagnostic detail that imaging alone can’t match, particularly when looking for bladder tumors, strictures, or structural abnormalities.
Imaging
Depending on the clinical picture, your urologist may order an ultrasound of the kidneys, bladder, or scrotum. Ultrasound is non-invasive, painless, and gives real-time information about organ structure, fluid buildup, and abnormalities like kidney stones or varicoceles. A CT scan may be ordered for more complex presentations, particularly when kidney stones or masses need to be evaluated in greater detail.
Uroflow and Post-Void Residual
For patients experiencing weak urine stream, hesitancy, or a feeling that the bladder isn’t emptying completely, a uroflow test measures the speed and volume of urination. You simply urinate into a specialized device that records the data. A post-void residual test, usually done with a quick ultrasound immediately after urination, checks how much urine remains in the bladder. Together, these tests help evaluate whether an enlarged prostate, a stricture, or a bladder function issue is causing your symptoms.
After Your First Visit
Once Dr. Lazare has reviewed your history, exam findings, and any test results, he’ll discuss a diagnosis or, if more information is needed, outline the next steps in the workup. Treatment plans vary widely depending on the condition. Some patients leave with a prescription and a follow-up appointment in a few weeks. Others may need a procedure scheduled at the in-office operating room, which is staffed by a board-certified anesthesiologist and equipped for surgeries including cystoscopy, circumcision, varicocelectomy, vasectomy, and penile implant placement.
For conditions like BPH, the conversation might involve comparing options such as medication, UroLift, or GreenLight Laser therapy. For erectile dysfunction, the discussion typically progresses through lifestyle modifications, oral medications, self-injection therapy, and, for more severe cases, the three-piece penile implant. Dr. Lazare takes a stepwise approach, starting with the least invasive option and escalating only as needed.
You’ll leave the appointment with a clear understanding of what’s going on, what the recommended path forward looks like, and what to expect in terms of timeline. If any procedures are recommended, the team will walk you through preparation instructions, recovery expectations, and costs.
Why Patients Choose Lazare Urology for Their First Appointment
Choosing a urologist is a personal decision, and comfort matters as much as credentials. Dr. Lazare completed his surgical training at Mount Sinai Medical Center and his urologic training at George Washington University Medical Center. He is board certified by the American Board of Urology and has built a Brooklyn practice with over 400 five-star reviews from patients who consistently note the combination of clinical expertise and a straightforward, respectful approach.
If you’ve been putting off that first urology appointment, the hardest part is making the call. Contact Lazare Urology at (718) 568-7516 or visit drjonlazare.com to schedule your consultation. Most patients walk out of their first visit wishing they’d come in sooner.
