Content

• Steps
• Warning
• What you need

The finger rectal exam (DRE) is one of the basic methods for doctors to check the prostate gland. With this method, the doctor inserts a finger into the rectum to feel for abnormalities. Abnormalities may include symptoms related to prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis (due to infection). Medical experts do not recommend a home exam, as you do not have the knowledge required to be able to draw accurate conclusions. However, if you want to do your own exams, you should be familiar with the techniques used by your doctor.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Determine if you need prostate screening

1. 

   Determine the need for age-based screening. The American Cancer Society recommends screening for prostate cancer for all men 50 years of age and older. However, some special cases may require early screening. These situations include:
   • From age 40 for a man with more than one close relative (son, brother or father) who had prostate cancer before age 65.
   • From age 45 for men with a close relative who had prostate cancer before age 65.
   • From age 45 for African-American men because they have a higher risk of prostate cancer.

2. 

   
   
   Watch for any symptoms related to the urinary system. Problems involving the bladder, urethra, and penis can all have potential implications for prostate disease. Because the prostate gland is located close to these organs, as they grow, they can become compressed, causing dysfunction. When you have prostate problems, you may experience the following symptoms:
   • Slow or weak urine flow
   • Difficulty urinating
   • Urinating a lot at night
   • Urinal burning
   • Blood in the urine
   • Hard erection
   • Pain during ejaculation
   • Lower back pain

3. 

   
   
   Make an appointment with your doctor. If you experience any symptoms in the urinary tract the cause can be caused by many other diseases, and DRE alone cannot diagnose. Also, DRE is just one of the tests a doctor performs to evaluate prostate health.
   • Your doctor may recommend an anal ultrasound (TRUS) to find suspicious tissue located in your rectum.
   • You may need a biopsy to confirm or rule out the cause of your cancer.

4. 

   
   
   Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is required. Your doctor may recommend a test to check the level of PSA (a protein in the prostate gland) in case there is an abnormality in this gland. Most doctors consider PSA 4ng / ml or lower to be normal.
   • The PSA level can produce false positives or false negatives. The US Preventive Services Task Force advises against prostate screening with PSA levels due to these risks.
   • Ejaculation (caused by sexual activity), prostate infection, finger rectal exam, and cycling (due to pressure on the prostate gland) can cause PSA levels to skyrocket. People who do not have prostate symptoms and have high PSA levels may request another test in two days.
   • When PSA levels are consistently elevated with symptoms, you may need DRE and / or a prostate biopsy (inserting the prostate tissue for analysis).
   • Men with PSA levels below 2.5ng / mL will only need to have the test again every two years, but you should have the screening test every year if your PSA level is 2.5ng / mL or higher.

Part 2 of 2: Examination of the prostate gland

1. 

   Consider having the doctor do the exam. Examination of the prostate gland seems quite simple, but it does require you to perform the right technique and know what to look for.
   • Possible complications include bleeding from a nail stabbing into a follicle or other flesh. This can lead to infections or other complications that you cannot control at home, and you will need to see your doctor eventually.
   • Plus, if you find an abnormality on your own and visit a doctor to answer your questions, they'll definitely have to re-examine to confirm the results.

2. 

   Choose the right posture. During the clinic work, the doctor will ask you to lie on one hip with your legs bent, or stand bent forward at the hip. That pose makes it easier for the doctor to access the rectum and prostate gland.

3. 

   Check for skin conditions in that area. This involves using your hands and a hand mirror, or with the help of a wife or partner. Check for skin conditions in the rectal area, such as cysts, pimples or hemorrhoids.

4. 

   Wear sterile gloves. You or your partner should wear sterile rubber gloves for the DRE method. Remember to wash your hands before handling gloves to put them on. You will only use your index finger to examine, but gloves should still be worn.
   • Be sure to cut your nails closely before washing your hands and wearing gloves. Even if you are wearing gloves, you can accidentally scratch the area, puncture the follicle or other texture.

5. 

   Lubricate gloves. Lubricants like Vaseline or KY Jelly will make it easier to insert your fingers into your rectum and less stress. Apply plenty of lubricant to the index finger of the glove.

6. 

   Touch the rectal wall. You or your partner will insert your index finger into the rectum. Rotate your finger in a circle to feel for lumps or lumps that may be a sign of cancer, lump or cyst along the rectal wall. If nothing is out of the ordinary, the rectal wall should be smooth with a uniform shape.
   • Touch with light force.

7. 

   Feel at the position of the rectal wall towards the navel. The anterior gland is located above / in front of this rectal septum. Unusual findings when you feel in the direction of the prostate include hard, lumpy, not smooth, bulging and / or painful areas to the touch.

8. 

   Pull out your finger. The whole test takes place in about 10 seconds when done in the clinic, so don't touch it for too long as the longer the exam takes you to feel uncomfortable. Throw away gloves and be sure to wash your hands afterwards.

9. 

   See a doctor. You must then see your doctor for additional tests or discussion. If you feel something is wrong, you should make an appointment with your doctor right away. Be sure to let your doctor know if you see them on your own if you see them within the next two days, as this can cause PSA levels to rise in other tests.

Warning

• Note that you can still get cancer with normal results with the PSA and DRE tests.
• First, you have to cut your nails closely.
• There are disagreements about the reliability of the screening, many doctors advocate, but others not. Talk to your healthcare provider about family history, age and symptoms so you can make an accurate decision.

What you need

• Surgical gloves
• Lubricant