Prostate Examination Procedure

The Prostate Examination

At some point most men will either be offered a prostate examination as part of general health screening, or, it will be advised because of their age (usually 50+) or some problem relating to difficulty in passing urine.

Procedure

· The man is advised that a finger needs to be inserted into their rectum in order to examine the prostate gland.
· Usually the man is asked to stand, feet apart, face the examination couch and bend forward so that arms or elbows are on the couch.
· The doctor will put on a surgical glove and will cover a finger in lubricant
· The doctor will most likely say that you will feel a little pressure but no discomfort
· The finger will be inserted in a downwards angle as if pointing to the umbilicus (belly button)
· A few seconds may elapse as the doctor waits for the external sphincter muscle to relax
· You may be aware of some movement of the finger before it is removed. The doctor will probably tell you they are going to remove their finger and then offer you some tissue to wipe the lubricant from the anus and buttocks.

What The Doctor is Examining

The doctor moves their finger in a circular motion in order to identify the lobes and groove of the prostate gland. In a normal sized prostate gland they would expect to find the prostate around 2-4 cm long and triangular in shape. They would also expect the prostate to feel firm and rubbery.