Does your urologist do a rectal at every visit?

Does your urologist do a rectal at every visit?

Yes. My urologist is “old school” and I am thankful he is. In 2019, he felt an abnormality up my hiney even though my PSA was considered to be in the “normal”range. A prostate biopsy confirmed cancer. After drugs and radiation treatments, I am still ticking seven years later. Last month, at my now annual appointment, I had both a PSA test and rectal exam. All was normal.

Coincidentally, yesterday, I had my annual urologist visit and I did NOT have a digital rectal/prostate check, and that sort of surprised me.

However, there were some extenuating circumstances that might explain it.

My urologist for the previous nine years retired 10 months ago, two months after my last annual visit, in which she did do a digital rectal/prostate check, probably for old time’s sake and to have one last farewell look at my handsome hiney before hanging up her scalpel.

For this year’s annual visit, the office scheduled me with a different urologist, but the day before the appointment last week, I had to reschedule so they put me with a P.A.

The P.A. was very thorough on everything but the digital rectal/prostate check. He reviewed my PSA, discussed my medications, went over how soon I might have my second prostate reduction surgery (TURP), and did an ultrasound scan of my bladder to see how well I emptied.

Maybe only the doctors do the digital rectal/prostate checks.

I suppose I should have asked, but I felt I would have sounded too eager to have him stick his finger in my bum.

In the past, my previous two urologists did the digital rectal/prostate checks at least once a year. If I had follow-up visits, in between, they did not do the checks.

My male urologist always performs a rectal exam on me at my annual checkup.

I was released from my urologist several years ago. When I did go, he never did a DRE (although my issue was a varicocele).

Not always. He has done a DRE when my PSA has gone up, or when my symptoms would indicate it.

With my current urologist he did it on our initial visit. Never saw him again, follow-ups have been with his PA, wh did it once 3 years ago due to complaints of frequent urination and she ordered a PSA test. None since then, just a review of meds, symtons worsening, same, getting better. They want me to get a cystoscopsy, I’ve been putting it off!

First time at any urologist, they've done one for a baseline exam of the prostate if the symptoms involve urinary issues. Follow ups the prostate exam was not typical, but a genital and testicular exam is typically done at most exams.

Mine did a couple of them when I first saw her (BPH with urinary symptoms) but now she says I don't need them because my PSA is stable, and, I periodically get ultrasounds (kidney/bladder/pelvis) due to kidney stones, and she says she can monitor the overall size because it can be seen

Same with me

She does not do each time a prostate exam because she finds,that useless since the PSA is normal

And I have not had other radio exams since several years.

My urologist is a middle-aged male; during my appointments, he examines my testicles, penis, and prostate, performing a rectal exam. I go to the urologist every six months for an evaluation of my prostate.

RN here. In case you don't know:

PSA = Prostate specific antigen. Found by blood test.

DRE = Digital rectal exam (of prostate).

BPH = Benign prostatic hypertrophy (enlarged prostate gland).

PA = Physician assistant.

NP = Nurse practitioner.

I visited one for the first time - for a bit of help with what I figured is an enlarged prostate and .. a self-inflicted UTI.

Not a finger in sight, just a quick check of the boys and an order for a CT scan.

Still only had one, and that was earlier this year. Maybe it’s me? 🤔

The current urologist performed a DRE during my annual checkup in January, he did not perform one during a follow up in May.

I have an urologist appointment every six months for urinary incontinence and enlarged prostate. With having an enlarged prostate and prostate cancer in the family history, rectal exams are done at every appointment.

During the preventive check-up, after examining the penis and testicles, my urologist always performs a rectal examination of the prostate.

I’m on year 2 of seeing a urologist. I was referred due to frequent urination. At my first appointment she went through a ton of history and questions before asking me to lower my shorts and she did a thorough genital exam. Including hernia, palpating my penis then testicles. She then did a DRE and checked my prostate. I went for my second year exam a couple weeks ago and she did a genital exam, it’s was brief though. And followed that with a finger in the ass. I’m scheduled to go next year but she sounds like that’s my last visit unless my labs or symptoms change. She did find a small lump that she believes to be a variocele that I have to get an ultrasound on. It will be my first testicular ultrasound.

I have never had a rectal exam, but that's probably because I'm only 22. I went to two different urologists this year due to a tight foreskin, and one of them checked my testicles, too. I found it a bit weird because he didn't explain anything about it but I'm certainly not complaining.

No. Not even when I had been diagnosed with prostatitis and had significant pain. I didn't really want them too, but I also wanted answers because it wasn't an infection and I have a family history. But I found that whole place to be useless after my original doctor there left and I could only be seen by a very rude and condescending NP.

I see a urology nurse practitioner who has only given me one DRE about 2 years ago at my request during first appointment with her. At my last appointment in January, I asked about it and she told me that the PSA is sufficient and the DRE "doesn't tell us that much." I'd rather she do it just to be safe given the low flow issues I have along with my "play" habits. I'll probably ask for it next time, although I'd rather she just inform me that I'm due for a prostate exam.

I haven’t had one in years. I get periodic scans of my abdomen because of kidney stones, and I’ve also had prostate biopsies because of elevated PSA levels. This is far more information than a rectal exam would give.

Yes, he does it every time, even though he makes an ultrasound beforehand to measure the size of the prostate and see if it has gained weight since the previous year. He always asks permission first.

However, he doesn't touch the penis or testicles.

My urologist does one once a year.

My urologist does one once a year too.

Yes she do the DRE and then rectal ultrasound every visit. I go to her for my check-up every year, and a complete rectal is something I have to face every year, this after the testicular palpation and the prepuce retraction during the initial genital examination.

Only during the first visit, after that I’ve never had one for the 4+ visits I’ve had. I’d guess they start doing one every visit at a certain age or if something indicates it.