USLV Partners with Valley Preferred Cylcing Center to Promote Good Urologic Health

Charlie Fenstermaker
Chief Operations Officer  

If you’re going to visit the Valley Preferred Cycling Center in Trexlertown this year, you’re in for some memorable moments — not only during the exciting velodrome races themselves … but also when it comes time to take a bathroom break during all the bicycling action.

That’s because Urology Specialists of the Lehigh Valley (USLV) is partnering with Valley Preferred Cycling Center to promote good urologic health to all Cycling Center visitors through a unique, definitely eye-catching advertising campaign placed inside the facility’s men’s and ladies’ restrooms and locker rooms.

The campaign consists of posters placed on the doors of the ladies’ restroom stalls and inside both the men’s stalls and urinals. The ladies’ room posters focus on the issue of incontinence, while the posters in the men’s room focus on several male urologic issues including erectile dysfunction, BPH and problems with urination. Clever bicycling-themed headlines on the posters attract bathroom attendees’ attention and bring a slight touch of levity to these usually embarrassing-to-talk-about conditions.

When the Cycling Center first approached us with the idea, it was one of those rare instances when we knew right away we were a good fit for each other. First off, we both share a common background of promoting health and healthy living. The late Bob Rodale, president of Rodale Press and publisher of Bicycling and Mountain Bike magazines built the track. It was his dream and vision. And today, his family and Rodale Inc. still remain key supporters of it and continue to promote cycling … professional cycling and cycling in general along with its associated health benefits. It’s a commendable not-for-profit organization that is renowned worldwide as the cycling capital of the United States.

Then when we sat down and met with Valley Preferred Cycling Center Executive Director Marty Nothstein. He shared with us how bicyclists are prone to develop urologic issues and that he is often privately asked by bicyclists who use the track about pains and discomfort they develop from riding. But as he admitted to us, he can only offer so much advice or input. “I’m an Olympic champion …not a physician!’ he joked.

We talked more, and it became immediately apparent that a partnership between USLV and Valley Preferred could be beneficial for many, many people … beyond the serious bicyclists that Marty initially mentioned. It was surprising to learn just how many people visit the Cycling Center complex in a year — there are the casual bikers who frequent the track from time to time  … the spectators who attend the races … the general public who use the Cycling Center’s facilities while participating in sports events on the surrounding sports fields. Our messaging was going to reach a lot of people.

So, please check out the wonderful Valley Preferred Cycling Center … learn about the many opportunities available there … and catch a race this summer. And, of course, when you are there … remember to visit the restrooms!

USLV Radiation Center earns elite ACR Accreditation

Charlie Fenstermaker
Chief Operations Officer

What does that mean for you, our patient?

We here at USLV are extremely proud to announce that our Radiation Center has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in radiation oncology as the result of a recent review by the American College of Radiology (ACR). 

To achieve ACR accreditation, our facility’s personnel qualifications, equipment requirements, quality assurance and quality-control procedures underwent a rigorous review process by board-certified, expert radiation oncologists and medical physicists and met all of the specific qualifications.

But what exactly does this accreditation mean to you?

Quite simply, you can think of it as a sort of Good Housekeeping seal — this important accreditation means that you can now know with total certainty that you are receiving treatment at a facility that has met the highest level of quality and radiation safety.

We hope that you already have felt this way about USLV and the treatment you have received from us in the past and that this accreditation is merely a reaffirmation of your choice to use us for your urologic issues.

Women need to focus on the FACTS when looking to solve their incontinence issues

Author: Dr. Berger

For many women who have incontinence issues, it’s an embarrassing subject to talk about … even with their personal physician. Rather than openly discuss the issue or ask for help some women choose to try and live with it … others may try and research the problem on the internet to self-diagnose or self-treat their condition … and may pursue unnecessary and sometimes harmful treatment options.

Facts and communication are the keys to solving this medical condition, just as they are with any other ailment or affliction.

Fact: incontinence can be a natural part of growing old, but you don’t have to put up with it.

Fact: You need a SAFE modality of treatment because incontinence in itself is not a life-threatening problem — it’s a quality of life issue. So you need a treatment that gives a better quality of life while maximizing your safety — with as few adverse side effects as possible.

Fact: There are very few very simple incontinence issues. Your doctor has to ask a lot of questions and do a lot of detective work to properly solve your condition. And you have to ask a lot of questions of your physician as well.

Lastly, Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you NEED an operation to solve you incontinence issues. Incontinence is not a life-threatening condition. But surgery is. In no way should any medical professional ever try to convince you or force you into doing a procedure that you do not want.

We treat many women struggling with incontinence here at Urology Specialists of the Lehigh Valley. Among our patients, unfortunately, we see those who have had the wrong operation performed elsewhere… in addition to those who shouldn’t have been operated on at all in the first place, are currently suffering complications stemming from their surgeries, and are now worse off than they were before. Do not be embarrassed to talk about your incontinence and thoroughly examine all possible options … and choose a course of action that you are comfortable with.

Which type of medical doctor should a woman see for her incontinence issues?

Author: Dr. Berger

Women who are bothered by incontinence issues are sometimes unsure what specialist they should see to address their condition. Should they see their gynecologist? A urologist? Someone else? Which one is best-trained to properly and promptly address your incontinence issues?

Yes, some gynecologists do limited incontinence work. And urogynecologists — specialists in gynecology work that deals with incontinence — focus only on incontinence issues. But your best choice is actually a urologist.

Urologists know more about the bladder than gynecologists and urogynecologists and we deal with more bladder conditions across the spectrum than they do. In fact, in most cases, it was urologists who developed the procedures that we use today to solve most incontinence issues.

The urologists at Urology Specialists of the Lehigh Valley deal with all conditions involving the bladder and surgery of the bladder. We are extremely experienced in helping women curb their incontinence … whether it be stress incontinence, urge incontinence or incontinence caused by a neurological condition.

And, of course, we treat men with continence issues, as well.

The Continence Program at USLV can help resolve your incontinence issues

Author: Dr. Berger

Incontinence is a bothersome medical condition that affects women as well as men … the young and the old. If you have incontinence issues you need to talk with a urologist.

At Urology Specialists of the Lehigh Valley all of our doctors deal with all conditions involving the bladder and surgery of the bladder. In fact, we have a program dedicated solely to the care of incontinence issues.

USLV’s Continence Program has been steadily meeting the needs of residents in the Lehigh valley with incontinence issues — both male and female — for 16 years. The program consists of two physicians, a nurse practitioner, and a registered nurse and features two specially annexed rooms where continence treatments take place. Most counseling and determination of treatments occur in the privacy of the physician/patient encounter. Biofeedback and specific hands-on training sessions, as well as the urodynamics studies, are performed by our R.N. and nurse practitioner. Both are also available to work with you on the more practical aspects of incontinence management such as the use of pads and day-to-day matters to help you achieve dryness.

To learn more about the program, and how it can help you improve your incontinence issues, call 484-UROLOGY today.

If your first attempt at treating Erectile Dysfunction does not give you the results you desire, know you have other options

Author: Dr. Lieberman

E.D. is very common in men today — in fact 53% of men over 40 have some form of it. Despite its widespread impact, however, there is no sense of fraternity among these men. In fact, most men still don’t want to openly talk about E.D., choosing to either ignore the problem and hope it will go away … or attempting to find a solution, but doing so half-heartedly — and very often unsuccessfully — because they are embarrassed about their situation.

It’s rather puzzling, really. If it were any other affliction, these men would not rest until they’d exhausted every reasonable option at a cure. But when it comes to trying to resolve their E.D. issue, they dabble a little and often give up. They try some pills they borrowed from a friend … a crème they bought off the Internet … or maybe even tried getting an injection from a medical practitioner. But if they didn’t see immediate results, they shrugged their shoulders, clammed up, and unnecessarily returned to their life with E.D.

As is the case with nearly all health issues, education is key. Men with E.D. must know that 85-90% of the time there is a physical condition causing their E.D. which needs to be addressed — such as uncontrolled diabetes … heart disease … or hypertension. And, most importantly, they must know that there are not one, but SEVERAL proven, medically-sound ways that can resolve your E.D. (should it not be resolved by treating the pre-existing physical condition).

Yes, there are medications. But if the little blue pill does not give you the results you want, don’t give up! Injectables — which have an 85% success rate, but are not the most convenient option — may be the solution for you. Or perhaps you should consider a penile implant that has a 95+% success rate with producing reliable erections when needed.

Only a urologist, like myself, who specializes in the treatment of male E.D. can offer you the options of oral and injectable E.D. treatments, as well as surgical implants.

Erectile Dysfunction can be a sign of a serious health condition that needs treatment

Author: Dr. Lieberman

In the United States, approximately 50 million men suffer from erectile dysfunction. As our population continues to grow and age, this number is expected to increase. In fact, the worldwide prevalence of erectile dysfunction was 152 million in 1995 — and is expected to increase to 322 million in 2025, according to the Web site edguidance.com. 

These numbers are alarming, no doubt. What’s perhaps more alarming, however, is the amount of misinformation that men have regarding this condition. When a man faces the inability to have an erection when he wants to, he will often dismisses this problem as being “in his head.” Now this can be true, but psychological issues such as stress and anxiety are usually not the only factors at work. Problems getting or keeping an erection can be a sign of a serious health condition that needs treatment, such as heart disease … poorly controlled diabetes … vascular disease …hypertension. By ignoring your E.D. you may be also ignoring a much larger threat to your overall health!

Treating an underlying health problem may be enough to reverse your erectile dysfunction. If treating an underlying condition doesn't help your erectile dysfunction, medications or other direct treatments may work. The key with treatment, however, is the credentials of the person providing it. Long story short — you should only consult trained medical doctors. Start with your primary care physician. Don’t be embarrassed and talk honestly and candidly about your situation. Usually, he or she will refer you to a board-certified urologist, like myself, who specializes male sexual dysfunction.

I cannot overemphasize the importance of seeing a urologist that specializes in male sexual dysfunction. He or she will be able to address your E.D. with all modalities of treatment, including both medical and surgical alternatives. And when it comes to surgical alternatives for E.D., make sure to evaluate the level of experience that your urologist has in this area. This is extremely critical. Choose someone like myself who has a record of successfully performing penile implant surgery for many, many years. In fact, I have the most widespread experience in penile implant surgery in the Lehigh Valley, performing implant surgery on a regular basis.