How long prostate exam

A DRE usually does not hurt, but you may be uncomfortable. You may also feel the need to urinate. If a man's prostate is enlarged, there may be some discomfort or mild pain during the exam. After your DRE, you can go back to your normal activities right away. You may bleed slightly from the rectum afterward. This is more likely to happen if you have hemorrhoids or anal fissures. Will I need more tests, such as a colonoscopy or a barium enema , if the DRE suggests cancer? Cancer Screening.

Prostate Cancer. Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, and Peritoneal Cancer. Uterine Cancer. MedlinePlus: Digital Rectal Exam. This test can help your doctor check for cancer and other health problems, including: Prostate cancer in men An abnormal mass in the anus or rectum Uterine cancer or ovarian cancer in women, along with a vaginal examination When would I need a DRE?

Or you may need a DRE if you have symptoms such as: Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool A change in bowel habits Discharge or bleeding from the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body A change in how your urine flows About the rectum The rectum is a part of your digestive system. The drawing below shows the different parts of the colon and rectum.

This illustration shows the 5 sections of the colon and rectum. The ascending colon is the beginning the large intestine into which the small intestine empties; it begins on the lower right side of the abdomen and then leads up to the transverse colon. If your initial PSA test was ordered by your primary care provider, you may be referred to a urologist a doctor who treats cancers of the genital and urinary tract, which includes the prostate gland for this discussion or for further testing. For higher PSA levels, doctors are more likely to recommend getting other tests, or going straight to a prostate biopsy.

If the initial PSA result is abnormal, another option might be to get another type of test or tests to help you and your doctor get a better idea if you might have prostate cancer and therefore need a biopsy. It is common for older men to have some cancer cells in their prostate glands. These cancers are usually slow to grow. They are not likely to spread beyond the prostate. Studies show that routine PSA tests of 1, men ages 55 to 69 prevent one prostate cancer death. But the PSA also has risks.

If your PSA is not normal, you will probably have a biopsy. The doctor puts a needle through the wall of the rectum and into the prostate to take a few samples. Wearing a lubricated glove, the doctor inserts his index finger into the rectum. We then palpitate the prostate from side-to-side a couple of times, taking a feel for nodules, bumps, lumps or a hard spot. Then we estimate the size of the prostate gland. Find a urologist near you so you can schedule a prostate cancer screening.

The exam only takes a few minutes and it could save your life. Need to make an appointment with a Piedmont physician? Save time, book online. Close X.