MriaGyrffy

English for Doctors

Authentic Consulting, Room Activities for Doctors,
Dentists, Students and Nurses
(with accompanying recorded material)

Customer information booklet

English for Doctors

Authentic Consulting, Room Activities for Doctors, Dentists, Students
and Nurses (with accompanying recorded material)

byMriaGyrffy
Published by Frugeo Geography Research Initiative, Shrewsbury (UK)
Year of publishing: 2014 (01.04.2014)
Number of pages: 304
ISBN-13: 978-0-9576442-2-9 (Paperback)
Synopsys
English for Doctors is recommended to doctors, medical students and
nurses whose native language is other than English. The format used
in this book will help to develop excellent communication skills between
doctors and patients. Topics like complaints, history-taking, physical
examination; treatment and advice are covered on all major medical
specialities: Internal Medicine, Medication, Obstetrics and Gynaecology,
Paediatrics, Urology, Oto-rhino-laryngology, Orthopaedics, Surgery,
Dermatology, Genitourinary Infections, Ophthalmology, Neurology and
Dentistry.
Exercises consist of a pre-listening activity aimed at preparing the reader
for better comprehension of the main dialogue of the unit, a listening
section involving both comprehension and new colloquial vocabulary as
well as practice of useful phrases, and a section on the doctors role
where new language skills can be consolidated.
To fit the needs of the users, some dialogues are available in both British
and American English since the two sometimes employ different
expressions and terminology.
Apart from being an aid in developing language skills used in medical
practice, this book can also be used in the preparation of professional
examinations.
The complementary recorded material, essential to the course book, is
specifically designed to assist in pronunciation, self-study and revision.

Would you like to order the

English for Doctors
language pack?
Visit the publishers online shop at

www.frugeo.eu
More information available at

www.frugeo.co.uk/efd.html

Sample pages

ENGLISH
FOR
DOCTORS
Authentic Consulting Room Activities
for Doctors, Dentists, Students and Nurses
with accompanying recorded material

Mria Gyrffy

Published by
Frugeo Geography Research Initiative
Shrewsbury, 2014

Frugeo Geography Research Initiative

3 Dorset Street
Shrewsbury, Shropshire
SY1 2JB
www.frugeo.co.uk
info@frugeo.co.uk
First published in the United Kingdom in 2014
Originally published in Hungary in 1996 by Idima BT., Pcs
Also published in
Czech Republic by Nakladatelstvi Triton, Praha (2001)
Japan by Medical View Co., Ltd. Tokyo (2002)
Germany by Schenk Verlag GmbH, Passau (2004)
China by Everwell Co., Sanghai (2004)
Lithuania by UAB Lingua Perfecta, Vilnius (2006)
Romania by Editura Studium, Tirgu Mure (2008)
South Korea by E*Public, Seoul (2009)
English for Doctors: Authentic Consulting Room Activities for Doctors, Dentists,
Students and Nurses with supplementary recorded material.
MP3 CD: Units 113
Written and researched by: Mria Gyrffy
Chief language consultant and supervisor: Joan Bayliss
Copyright Frugeo Geography Research Initiative, 2014
Copyright Mria Gyrffy, 2014
All rights reserved. No parts of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner and
publisher.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data. A catalogue record for this book is
available from the British Library.
UK and associated territories
ISBN 9780957644229 (paperback)
Typeset by Dr Gbor Horvth
Printed and bound in Hungary by Molnr Nyomda s Kiad Kft., Pcs

ii

CONTENTS
Introduction..................................................................................................... viii
How to use the book ....................................................................................... viii
UNIT 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17

INTERNAL MEDICINE
PAST MEDICAL HISTORY ................................................... 2
FAMILY HISTORY ................................................................. 4
SOCIAL HISTORY.................................................................. 5
PRESENT COMPLAINTS....................................................... 7
PAIN ......................................................................................... 8
HEADACHE........................................................................... 12
VERTIGO............................................................................... 14
BODY TEMPERATURE AND SWEAT............................... 16
NAUSEA AND VOMITING.................................................. 18
DYSPNOEA ........................................................................... 21
COUGH .................................................................................. 23
HEART ................................................................................... 24
BODY WEIGHT AND DIET................................................. 27
BOWEL MOVEMENTS ........................................................ 28
BLOOD................................................................................... 31
MEDICAL EXAMINATION ................................................. 32
ISOTOPE SCANNING .......................................................... 34

UNIT 2
1
2
3
4

MEDICATION
PRESCRIPTIONS .................................................................. 36
THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF DRUGS ............................... 36
SIDEEFFECTS OF DRUGS ................................................ 37
ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION.............................. 38

35

UNIT 3 OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY

1 GENERAL QUESTIONS....................................................... 41
2 GYNAECOLOGICAL COMPLAINTS.................................. 42
A: DYSMENORRHOEA, PMT..................................42
B: HYPERMENORRHOEA .......................................43
C: METRORRHAGIA ................................................43
D: DYSPAREUNIA ....................................................44
E: LEUKORRHOEA ..................................................44
F: PROLAPSE ............................................................44
3 PHYSICAL EXAMINATION................................................ 45
4 PREGNANCY (A, B, C) ........................................................ 46
5 PAST PREGNANCIES (A, B) ............................................... 49
6 PREECLAMPSIA / TOXAEMIA .......................................... 50

40

iii

7 GENERAL QUESTIONS REGARDING

PAST PREGNANCIES .......................................................... 50
8 MISCARRIAGE ..................................................................... 51
9 DILA(TA)TION AND CURETTAGE ................................... 52
10 DELIVERY (A, B, C)............................................................. 53
11 CONTRACEPTION ............................................................... 55
12 CLIMACTERIC ..................................................................... 56
13 HYSTERECTOMY (A, B) ..................................................... 57
14 REFERRAL ............................................................................ 59

iv

UNIT 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

PAEDIATRICS
NEONATAL HISTORY......................................................... 62
BABY'S CONDITION AT BIRTH ........................................ 62
NEWBORN COUNSELLING................................................ 63
NEWBORN DISEASES......................................................... 64
FEEDING ............................................................................... 65
PSYCHOMOTOR DEVELOPMENT .................................... 65
INFANT COMPLAINTS ....................................................... 66
FEBRILE CONDITION ......................................................... 67
PYLORIC STENOSIS............................................................ 68
DIARRHOEA ......................................................................... 68
ASTHMA (Obstructive bronchitis)......................................... 69
ACCIDENTS .......................................................................... 69
MENINGITIS ......................................................................... 70
FEBRILE CONVULSIONS ................................................... 71
HENOCHSCHNLEIN PURPURA .................................... 72
BEDWETTING ...................................................................... 72

61

UNIT 5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

UROLOGY
BENIGN PROSTATE HYPERPLASIA ................................ 74
ADVANCED STAGE OF BPH.............................................. 74
CHRONIC INTERMITTENT PROSTATITIS ...................... 75
PROSTATECTOMY.............................................................. 76
CYSTITIS............................................................................... 77
CYSTOSCOPY ...................................................................... 79
RENAL STONE ..................................................................... 80
INFERTILITY EXAMINATION........................................... 81

73

UNIT 6
1
2
3
4
5
6

EAR, NOSE AND THROAT

EXAMINATION OF THE EAR ............................................ 84
DEAFNESS ............................................................................ 85
PATIENTS' COMPLAINTS .................................................. 86
TINNITUS.............................................................................. 87
WAX PLUG IN THE EXTERNAL EAR............................... 88
OTITIS EXTERNA ................................................................ 90

83

7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
UNIT 7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

OTITIS MEDIA...................................................................... 91
FOREIGN BODY IN THE NOSE.......................................... 91
NOSEBLEEDS ....................................................................... 92
SINUSITIS ............................................................................. 93
DEVIATED NASAL SEPTUM ............................................. 95
PHARYNXLARYNX EXAMINATION.............................. 96
CANCER OF THE LARYNX ................................................ 97
FOREIGN BODY IN THE PHARYNX................................. 97
TRACHEOSTOMY TUBE CHANGE................................... 98
GOOD AND BAD NEWS...................................................... 99
ORTHOPAEDICS
100
INJURIES ............................................................................. 101
DIAGNOSIS ......................................................................... 102
TREATMENT ...................................................................... 103
SCOLIOSIS .......................................................................... 104
CONGENITAL DISLOCATION OF THE HIP ................... 106
DISLOCATION OF THE HIP
AS A LATE COMPLICATION ........................................... 107
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS .............................................. 108
PHYSIOTHERAPY.............................................................. 109
FLAT FEET.......................................................................... 110
RICKETS.............................................................................. 111

UNIT 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

SURGERY
112
THYROIDISM ..................................................................... 113
PROBLEMS OF THE OESOPHAGUS ............................... 115
GALLBLADDER DISEASE ................................................ 116
APPENDICITIS.................................................................... 116
BREAST LUMPS ................................................................. 117
GOOD AND BAD NEWS.................................................... 118
HERNIA ............................................................................... 119
EMBOLISM ......................................................................... 119
ANAESTHESIA ................................................................... 120

UNIT 9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

DERMATOLOGY
121
SKIN APPENDAGES (A, B, C)........................................... 122
PSORIASIS .......................................................................... 124
HERPES SIMPLEX.............................................................. 125
ACNE.................................................................................... 126
WARTS ................................................................................ 127
MOLES................................................................................. 128
ECZEMA .............................................................................. 128
FUNGAL INFECTIONS (A, B, C) ...................................... 130
LEG ULCER......................................................................... 131

10
11
12
13
14

vi

URTICARIA......................................................................... 132
ERYSIPELAS....................................................................... 133
SCABIES .............................................................................. 134
GOOD AND BAD NEWS.................................................... 134
REFERRAL .......................................................................... 135

UNIT 10
1
2
3
4
5

GENITOURINARY INFECTIONS
136
GENITAL HERPES ............................................................. 137
VAGINAL INFECTIONS AND DISCHARGE ................... 138
GENITAL WARTS .............................................................. 140
HIV ....................................................................................... 140
ADVICE TO A HOMOSEXUAL MAN .............................. 141

UNIT 11
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

OPHTHALMOLOGY
142
MOST COMMON COMPLAINTS...................................... 143
REFRACTIVE ERRORS (A, B, C)...................................... 143
EYE TESTS (A, B, C, D, E, F, G)........................................ 144
CHALAZION, HORDEOLUM / STY(E) ............................ 145
CORNEAL ABRASION....................................................... 145
IRITIS ................................................................................... 146
CATARACT ......................................................................... 146
GLAUCOMA........................................................................ 147
RETINAL DETACHMENT ................................................. 148
MACULAR DEGENERATION........................................... 148
RETROBULBAR NEURITIS .............................................. 149
EYE INJURIES .................................................................... 150
DIPLOPIA, STRABISMUS ................................................. 150
TUMOUR OF THE EYE, BLIND REGISTRATION.......... 151
REFERRAL .......................................................................... 151

UNIT 12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

NEUROLOGY
152
TYPICAL SYMPTOMS (A, B, C, D, E).............................. 153
NAMES OF INSTRUMENTS.............................................. 154
ASSESSMENT OF HIGHER MENTAL FUNCTIONS ...... 154
EXAMINATION OF THE CRANIAL NERVES (A, B) ..... 155
EXAMINATION OF THE ARMS (A, B, C) ....................... 156
EXAMINATION OF THE LEGS (A, B, C, D).................... 157
HEADACHE......................................................................... 158
HEAD INJURY .................................................................... 158
EXPLAINING NEUROLOGICAL PROCEDURES............ 159
REFERRAL .......................................................................... 162

UNIT 13
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

DENTISTRY
163
ROUTINE CHECKUP ....................................................... 164
ROUTINE FILLING ............................................................ 164
BRIDGEWORK ................................................................... 166
BLEEDING GUMS .............................................................. 166
ORTHODONTICS ............................................................... 167
FOLLOWING EXTRACTION ............................................ 169
NEW DENTURES, ANGULAR CHEILITIS ...................... 170
MOST COMMONLY SEEN DISEASES ............................ 171
DENTAL IMPLANTS.......................................................... 171

TAPESCRIPTS .............................................................................................172
ANSWER KEY .............................................................................................266
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE TO MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY .............279
ABBREVIATIONS THAT APPEAR IN THE BOOK ..............................289
BRITISH ENGLISH AMERICAN ENGLISH .......................................291
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..........................................................................293

vii

Introduction
For most doctors whose first language is not English communication with colleagues at
international conferences or when working abroad does not pose a great problem, as the
medical language used is fairly universal. However, when faced with Englishspeaking
patients in the consulting room different vocabulary and language is required. This book
has been written bearing this problem of direct communication in mind. It is aimed at
those wishing to work in Englishspeaking countries, e.g. doctors, medical students,
assistants and nurses, who have to communicate in English.
The author has had many years of experience teaching medical English to doctors and
undergraduates. She appreciates the vital need for medical professionals to communicate
accurately with patients at their own level. She has worked to fulfil this need by collecting
authentic materials in consulting rooms in the United Kingdom and in the United States.
This book is a revised version of English for Doctors, published in 1995, which is already
used by students at the Medical University of Pcs, Hungary.
The book is accompanied by CDs and cassettes; complete tapescripts of which are found
at the back of the book along with the exercises, answer key and pronunciation transcript
for the medical words.
The book is divided into 13 units based on the main medical specialities. Each unit
contains dialogues on patients' complaints, historytaking, examination, treatment and
advice. Exercises consist of a prelistening activity designed to model existing knowledge
and vocabulary, a listening section involving both comprehension and new colloquial
vocabulary, as well as practice of useful phrases and a section on the doctor's role where
new language skills can be consolidated.
The book is a valuable resource for both individual and group study. Knowledge of
medicine is not essential for teachers using this book as their own language expertise
combined with their students' professional knowledge has been found to be a valuable
learning combination.
The purpose of this book is to provide a means for doctors, nurses and medical students to
learn the colloquial English used by both British and American patients and to provide
opportunities for review, repetition and practice which will be indispensable in their
professional lives.

How to use the book?

Prelistening activity Do this before listening to the tape and check your answers
after listening.

Listening Listen to the recording as many times as you like before attempting the
exercises and listen again to check your answers.
Doctor's role Formulate your questions and explanations, basing your vocabulary
on that used on the recording. Remember to keep your language as simple as
possible and avoid medical terminology wherever possible.

viii

Gyrffy: English for Doctors

UROLOGY

Unit 5

UROLOGY
Contents
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

BENIGN PROSTATE HYPERPLASIA

ADVANCED STAGE OF BPH
CHRONIC INTERMITTENT PROSTATITIS
PROSTATECTOMY
CYSTITIS
CYSTOSCOPY
RENAL STONE
INFERTILITY EXAMINATION

73

UROLOGY

Gyrffy: English for Doctors

5/1 BENIGN PROSTATE HYPERPLASIA

1

 Below is a list of words which are connected with water. Tick the
ones a patient might use when talking about their urinary system.
a) stream
e) drizzle

b) wave
f) canal

c) trickle
g) leak

d) pass water
h) dribble

2 As you listen to dialogue 5/1, make notes of the patient's replies on

the following topics.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)

frequency
difficulty starting
difficulty stopping
stream
quantity of urine
burning, stinging sensation
change in colour
fluid intake

...............................................................
...............................................................
...............................................................
...............................................................
...............................................................
...............................................................
...............................................................
.... normal ..............................................

How does the doctor ask about the patient's...

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)

urinary problems
frequency of urination
commencement of urination
ceasing of urination
type of stream
quantity of urine
sensation
change in colour of urine
fluid intake

...............................................................
...............................................................
...............................................................
...............................................................
...............................................................
...............................................................
...............................................................
...............................................................
...............................................................

5/2 ADVANCED STAGE OF BPH

1

 Before listening to dialogue 5/2, complete the questions below using

the verbs from the box.
begin

74

come away
leak
pass

dribble
passing

dribble on
empty
hold on
stop and start
take

Gyrffy: English for Doctors

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
k)

Can you.......................................................
Does it ever ................................................
Does it ........................................................
Do you .......................................................
Does it ........................................................
Does it ........................................................
Does it.........................................................
Does it continue to .....................................
Do you feel you .........................................
Do you feel you need to .............................
How frequently are you .............................

UROLOGY

until you get to the toilet?

before you reach the toilet?
some time to begin?
quite quickly?
with good force?
when you are passing water?
at the end?
after you pass water?
your bladder fully?
water again?
water at night?

2 Listen to the dialogue and check your answers.

Do you think that the patient's problem in dialogue 5/2 is more serious
than that in 5/1? Upon what evidence is your decision based?
5/3 CHRONIC INTERMITTENT PROSTATITIS

 Read the GP's referral and write at least five symptoms the patient
may have given.
This patient has a history of chronic infection in his prostate with
continuous discomfort. I think he may be suffering from chronic prostatitis. I
would be glad if you could give me some further advice on his management.

Listen to dialogue 5/3 and note the symptoms mentioned by the

patient.

Find the questions in the dialogue which mean the same as those below.
a) Has your urine stream changed in force?
b) When you feel you want to pass water, do
you feel you have to go straight away?
c) When you are passing water, do you find
that the flow is intermittent?
d) Do you find a bit more urine trickles out?
e) Do you feel your bladder is completely
empty after you've passed water?

...........................................
...........................................
...........................................
...........................................
...........................................

75

UROLOGY

Gyrffy: English for Doctors

f) How many times do you usually have to get

up in the night to pass water?
4

...........................................

Pay attention to the way the urologist explains the massage of the
prostate and fill in the gaps.
Now we'll massage the prostate and if there is any (a).................. discharged
from your (b)............. we'll collect it and send it off to the lab for an
(c)............... to see if there is any infection in it. What I'm going to do is
(d)........... the urethra which is the (e).......... of the inside of the penis. This
will be a little (f)............. but will not last very long.

Read this letter the urologist wrote to the GP after examining the
patient. On the basis of this referral write a dialogue between the
patient and the urologist.
Dear Dr Barnes,
Thank you for referring this man to the outpatient clinic today. He gives
a history, as you say, of chronic relapsing prostatitis. In the first instance I
examined him and took samples of urine for analysis and undertook
prostatic massage. I managed to obtain a small amount of discharge which I
have also sent to bacteriology. I will see him again in 3 weeks' time in the
clinic when I have the results of his investigations. I will keep you informed.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Griffin
5/4 PROSTATECTOMY

Before listening to how the urologist prepares the patient for

prostatectomy, tick the topics you think he will touch upon.
a)
c)
e)
g)

aetiology of the disease

necessity of operation
the patient's wife's diseases
diet after the operation

b)
d)
f)
h)

number of children in the family

tests necessary before the operation
operative techniques
the patient's sex life after surgery

2 Listen to recording 5/4 and check your answers.

Listen to the recording and gather the following information:

a) preoperative tests

76

.......................................................

Gyrffy: English for Doctors

UROLOGY

b) postoperative advice
c) postoperative abstinence
d) likelihood of fathering children
4

Listen to the recording again and note the periods of time mentioned
when referring to the following events:
a)
b)
c)
d)

removal of the tube

urination
hospital discharge
sexual intercourse

.......................................................
.......................................................
.......................................................
.......................................................

Listen to the doctor's explanation again and complete the statements

below.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

.......................................................
.......................................................
.......................................................

The prostate quite often enlarges and causes .............................................

You will have a few tests before your operation, like ................................
You will speak to the anaesthesiologist who will decide on ......................
There are two ways of removing the prostate: ...........................................
You can have intercourse a few weeks after the operation but ..................

Using the prompts below give five pieces of advice to a patient who has
undergone prostatectomy.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

drink large quantities

tea, coffee, squash, water
fizzy drinks
constipation
safe contraception

.......................................................
.......................................................
.......................................................
.......................................................
.......................................................

5/5 CYSTITIS
1

 You will hear these expressions in the dialogue. Choose the correct
meaning.
a) It can floor me
A I can't stand up
B It makes me very ill
C I have to lie down

b) I have had a bad bout of infection

A a complicated recovery after the disease
B a problem fighting the disease
C a severe attack of the disease

77

UROLOGY

Gyrffy: English for Doctors

2 Listen to dialogue 5/5 and note the patient's answers to queries on

the following topics.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

urination
frequency
colour change
general health
medication

....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................

How many tests are mentioned in the dialogue?

3

Below are a patient's answers to questions about cystitis. Write the

questions which elicit each answer.
D:
P: I have to keep urinating all the time and I have a burning and stinging
sensation when passing water.
D:
P: It doesn't happen all the time, Doctor, but it keeps coming back every few
weeks.
D:
P: Yes, it's cloudy and sometimes there is blood in it.
D:
P: Yes, it's often cloudy when I'm feeling ill.
D:
P: Normally, I'm very fit and healthy except for this problem.

Give the first part of each of the instructions to prepare the patient for
physical examination.
a) ...............................................................................examine your abdomen.
b) ...............................................................................get undressed.
c) ...............................................................................get up on the table.

Pair up the type of examination with the purpose for which it is carried
out.
a) Xray
b) ultrasound
c) cystoscopy

78

A visualise the kidneys and the bladder without radiation

B inspection of the inside of the bladder
C to assess the renal tract

Gyrffy: English for Doctors

UROLOGY

Listen to recording 5/5 again and complete the text.

Now about the tests. I'll send some of your urine off (a) .......................... in
the lab (b).............................. if there's any infection present. We would
advise you (c) ......................... to drink plenty of fluids and (d)
......................... any antibiotics that your own doctor prescribed for you. (e)
.................................. routine Xrays and an ultrasound scan to assess the
renal tract further. An ultrasound scan is a simple scan and (f)
......................................... any radiation. It involves you attending the Xray
department for a few hours and (g) .................................. your tummy with a
probe (h) ................................... to visualise the kidneys and the bladder. It's
not a painful or unpleasant procedure. Once we have all these tests, we (i)
................................. to have an inspection of the inside of your bladder. We
call it a cystoscopy.

5/6 CYSTOSCOPY
1

 Before listening to the dialogues discuss these questions.

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

What is a cystoscopy?
How often is a cystoscopy carried out?
Do patients need to be hospitalised for a cystoscopy?
What type of anaesthetic is used?
What is a flexible cystoscope?

2 Listen to the three explanations (5/6/A, B and C) and write down the
phrases used which have the same meaning as the following:
a) inspect the lining of the bladder
b) we'll bring you into the hospital
c) under general anaesthesia

..........................................................
..........................................................
..........................................................

After listening to the doctor's explanation, use the keywords below to

explain to the patient how a cystoscopy is performed and why.
hospital admission anaesthesia insertion of a tube
biopsies
inspection

79

UROLOGY

Gyrffy: English for Doctors

5/7 RENAL STONE

1

Before listening to the dialogue, read the following referral and

write down the questions you would ask a patient about the phrases
underlined.
This patient has had a history of (a) rightsided loin discomfort which (b)
radiates round the flank and into the groin. He may in fact have a renal
stone. On testing his urine, he has had some (c) microscopic haematuria but
he has had (d) no frank haematuria.

Before listening to the doctor's explanation, say which areas he will

examine on a patient who has been referred for renal stone.
a) abdomen
e) heart

b) genitalia
f) anus

c) lungs
g) back

d) prostate

2 Listen to the dialogue (5/7). You will hear the following words in the
dialogue. Give synonyms or explain what they mean.
a) nagging pain
b) groin
c) grit

After listening to the dialogue, write how the urologist asked about the
following:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)

80

....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................

onset of the symptoms

history of urinary stones
location of pain
radiation of pain
nature of pain
associated symptoms
severity of pain
urine

....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................
....................................................................

Listen to the recording again and write down all the doctor's comments
which could be placed under the following three headings.

Gyrffy: English for Doctors

UROLOGY

Informing the patient

about the next step
I'll examine your abdomen.

Informing and warning the

patient of possible discomfort
That might be uncomfortable.

Reassuring
remarks
That feels fine.

5/8 INFERTILITY EXAMINATION

1

 Before listening to the doctor's explanation, read the referral below

and put the verbs into the correct form.
This couple (a) ............................. /marry/ now for five years and (b)
......................... /try/ to have a family for four years. They (c)
........................................ /be/ unsuccessful and (d)....................... /not
achieve/ any pregnancy. I (e).................. /be/ grateful for your assistance.

Before listening to the doctor's explanation of the test, complete the text
using the words from the box.
after apart

at away by for in in order to

of off on to under with

into

Now I'd like to get a blood sample (a)................... hormone levels which will
be sent (b)................. to the lab, and we'd like to get a semen sample
(c).................. analyse it (d)................. the microscope (e)................... the
lab. What I'd like you to do is to take these two pots (f)................ and
(g)................. 3 days (h)................. not having any intercourse, put a sample
(i).............. this pot (j)................ masturbating not using a condom (because
the condom influences the sperm count) and then bring it (k).................. this
lab fresh (l)................ the same morning (m)................... collection. We
usually have two samples, one week (n)............... and thereafter we'll see you
back (o)............... the clinic (p).............. a couple (q)................ weeks' time
to see you (r)................ the results.
3

2 Listen to the recording (5/8) and check your answers.

81

UROLOGY

Gyrffy: English for Doctors

Listen again to the doctor's explanation and indicate whether the

following statements are true or false.
a) If the patient has a low sperm count, testicular biopsy is not
recommended.
b) For testicular biopsy the patient needs to be hospitalised.
c) Testicular biopsy is performed under a local anaesthetic.
d) Testicular biopsy is a painful procedure.
e) A testicular biopsy is not always necessary.

After listening to the doctor, ask similar questions to those in the

questionnaire concerning the following:
a) frequency of sexual intercourse
..........................................................................................................................
b) duration of marriage
..........................................................................................................................
c) previous infections of the urinary system
..........................................................................................................................
d) army service
..........................................................................................................................
e) previous medical investigations
..........................................................................................................................
f) previous operations on the external genitalia
..........................................................................................................................
g) STD
..........................................................................................................................

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