Test Overview
A digital (finger) rectal examination is done to check for problems with organs or other structures in the pelvis and lower belly. During the examination, the doctor gently puts a lubricated, gloved finger of one hand into the rectum, Opens dialog. The doctor may use the other hand to press on the lower belly or pelvic area.
A digital rectal exam, Opens dialog may be done as part of a complete physical examination to check the prostate gland, Opens dialog or the uterus and ovaries, Opens dialog. Other organs, such as the bladder, can sometimes also be felt during a digital rectal exam.
Why It Is Done
A digital rectal exam (DRE), Opens dialog is done to:
- Check for growths in or enlargement of the prostate gland, Opens dialog. A tumor in the prostate can often be felt as a hard lump. This may be done as part of a regular examination or to check on symptoms, such as a change in urination. Not all problems of the prostate can be felt through the rectum.
- Check for problems in the reproductive organs, Opens dialog, such as the uterus and ovaries. It may also be done to check on symptoms, such as pelvic pain or vaginal bleeding.
- Help find the cause of symptoms such as rectal bleeding (blood in the stool), belly or pelvic pain, a change in urination, or a change in bowel habits.
- Check for hemorrhoids, Opens dialog or growths, such as cancer, in the rectum. DRE alone is not used to diagnose colorectal cancer, Opens dialog. Also, a DRE may not find internal hemorrhoids because they are soft and hard to feel. A sigmoidoscopy, Opens dialog may be needed to diagnose internal hemorrhoids.
How To Prepare
In general, there is nothing you need to do to prepare for a digital rectal exam. If you have hemorrhoids, anal fissures, or rectal pain, tell your doctor before the exam begins. Your exam may be postponed.
How It Is Done
For a digital rectal exam, you will take off your clothes below the waist. You will be given a gown to wear.
- You might stand during the exam, bending forward at the waist and resting your forearms on the exam table. Or you might lie on your left side with your knees bent and pulled up toward your chest.
- Sometimes the exam is done at the same time as a vaginal exam. In this case, you may be lying on your back with your feet supported by footrests for the rectal exam.
Your doctor gently puts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum. The doctor may use the other hand to press on the lower belly or pelvic area to feel for tenderness or problems, such as enlargement, hardness, or growths.
How It Feels
You may feel some discomfort during a digital rectal exam (DRE).
Your doctor must press firmly on the internal organs to feel for problems. This pressure may make you feel the need to urinate. The examination may be painful if there are some problems with the organs.
People with hemorrhoids, breaks in the skin around the anus, Opens dialog (called anal fissures, Opens dialog), or other anal sores may find a DRE more painful than people without these problems. You can talk with your doctor about postponing the exam.
Risks
There is very little chance of having a problem from this test.
Results
Digital rectal exam
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Normal:
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No problems such as organ enlargements or growths are felt.
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Abnormal:
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Problems such as organ enlargements or growths are felt.
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The prostate gland may be enlarged. This may mean benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), Opens dialog or inflammation of the prostate gland (prostatitis, Opens dialog). Tumors are felt.
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Growths such as tumors of the cervix, Opens dialog, uterus, or ovaries, Opens dialog are felt.
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Growths such as hemorrhoids, Opens dialog, polyps, tumors, or abscesses, Opens dialog may be found in the lower rectum. Breaks in the skin around the anus (anal fissures, Opens dialog) may be found. Problems of the bladder may also be felt.
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Credits
Current as of: October 19, 2024
Current as of: October 19, 2024
