Anyone mind sharing their last rectal exam

Seems like DREs are becoming less and less common. what was your last?

I had a colonoscopy last March. I assume the doc did a DRE prior to inserting the scope, after the anesthetic took effect. I believe a DRE is standard practice before inserting the colonoscope.

Before that, my PCP did a DRE on me as part of my annual physical, which was last September. I was just in my underpants for the majority of the physical. At the appropriate time in the exam, she told me to stand and drop my underpants as she donned gloves. She did the genital exam and then said, "Are we doing a rectal today?" I said, "As long as we are going to all this trouble, yes, let's do the rectal." She then had me turn around and bend over the examination table, as she inserted her lubricated, gloved fingers and palpated all sides of my rectum. She also did the fecal occult blood test. Everything was fine except for some small hemorrhoids. So I felt good about that encounter.

BTW, these days many medical practices call the annual physical a "wellness check", which is the term that my doc uses.

Last November, at my Annual Wellness Visit (a term that Medicare uses that has really perverted the Physical Exam). I insisted on regular screening for colon and prostate cancer, which, for me, at low risk, involves an FIBT of the stool and a feel of the Prostate for lumps. Both of these can be done with the same DRE. Done by the male PA on my "PCP Team."

My last one was done in March during my annual physical. After the genital exam I was told to roll onto my left side then my doctor stepped around the exam table and lifted the gown exposing my butt. He then proceeded to examine me visually, spreading my cheeks and looking at me. He never says much, if anything at all during the exam other than telling me to roll onto my side. When he was done examining me visually I was able to watch him go open a drawer and pull out a little packet of lube, squirt on his finger and walk back around the table still without saying anything. Then I felt him spreading my cheeks again, then his finger touching me, then entering me quickly. As he felt around inside my rectum I heard him quietly commenting to himself about what he was feeling. This year after he was done with the rectal exam he told me to roll onto my right side then he spread my cheeks looked quick, then told me I could get dressed. Otherwise this is how he has examined me since I started going to him about ten years ago.

Haven’t had a DRE for over 10 years, then a few months ago got one checking for enlarged prostate. Slightly enlarged which is not abnormal for my not so young age. Prescribed Flomax and I am peeing less often now and when I do I’m emptying my bladder better.rather than just a pitter patter.

It has been awhile. My current PCP has never done one. Last one from my gastroenterologist but it has been 4-5 years since that one. I got a colonoscopy from her last year, so doubt another DRE is on the table from her any time soon.

Had a prostate cancer screening and the doc preferred having the PSA and prostate scan done. Think DRE's are a thing of the past now

Have it and a PSA done as part of an annual, routine checkup at my urologist.

Digitals seem to be less common as we age but they are still a vital defense procedure for prostate cancer.

I get one at my annual checkup from my urologist. It is over much too quickly.

I go to the urologist every six months, at each exam my doctor does a complete evaluation with a rectal examination

My last one was at the end of March during my annual physical exam. After the testicle and hernia exam I was asked to bend over the exam table for the rectal exam.

New female doctor last December: Getting ready for the physical I noticed the assistant had laid out on the counter, purple (I remember the color) gloves and a tube of KY jelly. She didn't have a 'chaperone' or have me take off all my clothes. After ears, eyes, nose, mouth & neck, she has me pull up shirt and listens to chest & heart, then vaguely presses on stomach. Casually says, "I need to examine your prostate. Please drop your pants and underwear." Meanwhile she puts on the gloves. I stand there pants, underwear around my ankles, and turn around. "Let's do the front first." She mentions the hernia scars, has me cough, rolls testicles in fingers (disappointed she didn't examine penis) "Turn around the table and bend over." I heard the 'glop' sound of jelly being expelled, then one hand spreading a cheek. A pause. She's looking. "Hemorrhoids don't look bad. I'm going to touch you now." I felt a finger on the outside of my anus for a couple seconds, pressing. I couldn't help clenching my sphincter, but she slid the lubed finger in. No pain. Less sensation than bowel movement. Weird feeling, but no pain, feeling her check for internal hemorrhoids (she said I was ok). Pressure on the prostate was only 10 seconds, and she was out. I stood up and as I turned, she handed me several tissues. "Wipe off with these." I sort of squatted and wiped off, facing her, as she said, "I'll tell the orthopedic surgeon you're OK for the knee operation. I need to check on the hypertension in six months." I pull up my pants. Exam over.

I’m guessing that it was 25 years ago? The medical practice that I go to has never subjected me to this procedure. Not even once.

Last time I got a rectal was probably 4 years ago from the urologist I saw for suspected prostatitis. He had me lay on my back as he examined my front then he turned around and generously lubed his finger. He had me roll onto my left side and bring my knees up a bit. He opened my cheeks quickly and with little hesitation slide his finger inside. He mentioned my prostate was smooth and small. Then with his finger still inside told me that this might be uncomfortable as he was going to massage my prostate to express some fluid. He massaged for about a minute then stopped and removed his finger. He wipe the excess lube from my backside then asked me to roll onto my back as he removed the soiled glove. To my shock I was fully erect, he made a comment that he had my full attention and had me milk some of the extracted fluid onto the slide. He then left to examine the fluid and told me to get dressed. My erection quickly subsided and I redressed and waited for the doctor to come back in.

A year ago last March.

A new Urologist checking my prostate. He was so quick I don't know how he would have found an issue if there was one.

My last rectal exam was in December during a visit to the urologist. I had to turn onto my left side and bend my legs.

It was last month during my annual wellness/physical exam. The doctor said I am going to check your prostate and had me stand up as I usually did and drop my pants. He first checked for hernias by doing the turn and cough routine while palpating deep in my groin. I don’t recall him checking my testicals or penis on this occasion. He then instructed me to turn around and bend over the table while he lubricated his finger. He separated my left cheek with one hand and placed the lubricated finger against my anus while saying something about feeling pressure. He quickly and not so gently inserted his finger and brushed it across my prostate about three times before announcing my prostate was fine. As I was bending over the table, I noticed it was lower than usual, almost uncomfortably so when bent over for the rectal exam. As a result, I felt more exposed than usual with my butt seemingly higher in the air.

My last rectal was about 6 years ago. My doctor said the DRE is falling out of favor in detecting prostate cancer since the PSA test came along. Since I have colonoscopies every three years, I don't seem to get rectals at my regular physical. My doctor is female. That being said, my wife's last rectal was at her gyn visit two years ago (she did not get one last year since she had a recent colonoscopy). Her female doctor just said "I have to do a rectal" and my wife said "OK". She did a quick rectal that lasted maybe 5 seconds and that was it. Her last rectal at her regular physical was when she has seen the nurse practitioner. At the end of the physical, my wife has seen that she put a glove on and got out the tube of jelly. My wife said "I guess thats for me". The NP said "bottoms up". She had my wife turn on her side. She pulled my wife's panties down a bit and gave her a quick rectal and then checked for blood with a guiac test. My wife's next gyn exam is scheduled in a couple of weeks. We will see what happens.

My last one was just over a year ago.

Moved last summer and had my annual physical with a new (to me) doc two weeks ago. He told me he no longer performs DREs since it only gave him a feel for a third of the prostate. And he said the PSA blood test is more accurate.

Didn't check my genitals, either.

Bizarre experience.

I've been having regular DRE's since the year 2000, always during annual physical exams. The majority of my rectal exams are done with me on my left side, knees drawn up. I've had 3 rigid cystoscopies done by my urologist in his office and always had a DRE right before the cystoscopy.

So long ago I don't exactly remember, but likely 8 years ago and that was really done when I had a prostate biopsy procedure done.

My new PCP doesn't even have me undress, at least not in the two visits I've been to him.

About a month ago at my urologist's office. On my left side, slow and complete insertion of the finger, massaged both lobes of the prostate. He then told me he'd like to schedule me for a cystoscopy. I had a rigid cystoscopy in his office about a week later.

My last rectal exam was 3 years ago in 2021. I was wearing an open gown, so it was easy for the doctor to see I was wearing a jockstrap. When it came time for the DRE and he asked me to roll to my left while I was lying on the table, he lifted the drape or whatever was covering my ass, and he said, "I see you came dressed for the occasion." He proceeded to do the DRE with my jockstrap on, and never asked me to remove or lower it.

It was the only time a doctor has made a comment in reference to the jockstrap I was wearing. And I've been wearing them to all medical appts since 2015 (wish I had started much sooner)

I had a physical a couple weeks with the Nurse Practitioner who works with my PCP. I have had appointments with her several times over the past couple of years but this was the first time I had seen her for my yearly physical. Unlike my PCP, who has me undressed to my white briefs for my physicals, she had me remain clothed throughout the exam and just had me lift my shirt at times. At the end she asked me if I performed self examinations of my testicles. I said that I did. She then stated that my PSA was unchanged from a year ago so she didn't think there was any need to do a DRE. She then asked me how frequently I need to get up to pee during the night. I said usually once or twice if I am good about limiting my fluid intake in the evenings but that sometimes up to four times. She then paused and said, "Oh...then I think we should do a DRE and I will check your testicles at the same time. Go ahead and lower your pants and underwear." She then demonstrated how she wanted me to rest my elbows on the exam table. I unbuckled my pants and they immediately dropped to my shoes. I then pulled my briefs down below my knees and assumed the position. I heard her snap her purple gloves on. She gently inserted her finger and did an internal rotation. All my previous DREs have been done by male doctors and I definitely noticed how her finger felt so much smaller during my DRE than all my previous ones. She then withdrew her finger and removed her glove and handed me a box of tissues. She then stated, "You definitely have an enlarged prostrate. You can go pull up your underwear and pants." She again paused before stating, "I forgot to do your genital exam. I got so focused on the digital exam that I forgot to do that first. Don't pull up your underwear yet." She proceeded to put on another set of gloves (and I'm glad she did lol) and then proceeded to manipulate my scrotum. She then said, "Okay, NOW you can dressed. I think we should talk about your potential need to use a medication like Flomax." I told her that although I see that in my future, right now I would rather not and that I will do some more research on that. She said, "You should do that and we can always talk about it at a future appointment."

She is young but has good skills and knowledge. I enjoy my appointments with her just as much as my PCP. My PCP is old school and I can tell that she is from the new generation of medical providers in fading away the traditional physical exam. I'm glad that she was able to ask the right questions and change her plan based on the information I provided. To me, that is a sign of a competent medical provider.

It was in March at my check-up at the gynecologist. Very quick.