Are rectal exams still done ??

Yup, I get a digital prostate exam as part of every annual medical I undergo, in addition to checking serum PSA. My doctor reckons the PSA blood test can sometimes give false positives and negatives, so it's better to do both PSA and DRE. The doc happens to be gay so he probably enjoys the procedure more than he bloody well should.... 😁

I usually get a quick rectal exam at a sexual health check up. It's done just after they've taken the rectal swab, so while I'm still bent over the table with my underwear off / down.

Every year my doctor does one, right after she does the genital check. Says "while she's in the neighborhood might as well"

I had DREs done every year since I turned 50. I had prostate cancer and had my prostate removed at age 62. My urologist continued to give me DREs for another 6 years or so. While my PSA labs were negligible (as they should be without having a prostate), he told me if he found anything at all with a DRE it would indicate the cancer was still there. Anyway, it's been 5 years since I had a DRE and don't see one again in my future.

The last 2 yearly physicals I had the MD said I could defer the DRE, that was allowed, and I did defer because the psa was very low and he’s a great MD but his fingeris jet thrust in and out.

I have neurogenic bowel and bladder from MS that causes a bit of urinary incontinence and a lot of constipation. I've been to my primary care physician, Nurse practitioners, my neuroligist, my rehab Dr. and others. I've yet to have a rectal exam. I think I"ll ask for one because they haven't ruled out prostate, I think.

I had one done yesterday at the tail end of my yearly physical. My primary care doctor gives me one every year during my physical and my urologist gives me one every year when I see him once a year. (I am in my early 60's)

I work in the medical field. Most people say ok to the rectal exam because will not tell the Dr. no. For the average healthy adult you do not need to have a rectal exam unless you are having specific rectal issues, bleeding or other issues that clearly indicate a rectal problem. For men if blood work is ok and PSA is within the normal limits do not need rectal exam. Many GYN's do not do a rectal and if they do it is like quick in and out maybe 5 seconds. If longer Dr. is having a free feel. Most patients think they have to do what the Dr. wants them to do. But there is a bill of patients rights and you can question a DR. why or what for and say NO. And if you PCP does a rectal exam then why does GYN have to do another and visa versa. Unless you like to have a rectal exam.

If there are any females that like rectal exams and want or need one performed just let me know and I do not bill the insurance company.

My PCP doesn't do them anymore

I don't know how a doc would know if the prostate had become enlarged or changed since the last exam a year earlier. I had regular DRE's up until 5 years ago - now they just check my PSA. Don't know how many false positives resulted in needless biopsies due to a 'suspected' prostate enlargement. Unless your PSA skyrockets, it's a relatively useless test.

I started getting a prostate check a couple times a year after I turned 60. Other than that I have never been asked to have one done in any physical before that. Not my favorite thing for sure.

My sub hasn't had one with all of his medical visits. But his problem isn't his ass.

The only Dr that does a DRE on me is my gastro Dr every time I see him which is twice a yr.

I'm now in my still-to-mid 40s and yet I still have never had one. I figure I'm now at that age where prostate issues start becoming a concern so I'm a little bit surprised, but on the other hand...no way I'd ever actually suggest one out loud!

That said, in some recent internet wandering I came across this recent journal article -- from 2016 -- encouraging more, and thorough, rectal exams by pediatricians.

https://sci-hub.tw/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11894-015-0478-5

I can only imagine, if it's possible that a DRE could become more popular again for children, I'm sure it could easily rise again in the adult medical community as well.

-g

I'm 38 and never had a DRE. I've gotten examined before with one of those small scope thingies (sorry don't remember what its called) when I had a case of rectal bleeding years ago (turned out to be just hemmeroids) but aside from that, nope. I even had a full physical about this time last year (due for another soon no doubt), but even though I stripped down to my underwear, I never had to take it off, b/c no DRE or genital exam was performed.

I think that if you reach adulthood, this should become a part of your examination or by your late 30s or so. Some doctors just disregard age expectations and do one, which makes sense to me, as its not all that involved. I also had one when it was suspected that I had appendicitis. Thankfully it wasn't and all was well but yes, I had to receive and unexpected rectal exam in an ER.

I think that if you reach adulthood, this should become a part of your examination or by your late 30s or so. Some doctors just disregard age expectations and do one, which makes sense to me, as its not all that involved. I also had one when it was suspected that I had appendicitis. Thankfully it wasn't and all was well but yes, I had to receive and unexpected rectal exam in an ER.

I don't think 30's is the number that most doctors use. I think unless you are presenting symptoms they will usually wait until 50 to start invasive exams. I know that is the number suggested for colonoscopy's as well. I think the medical community is big right now on not doing unnecessary and embarrassing procedures, enemas being another one much out of favor.

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Thread to be merged as rectal exam discussions seem to be occurring yet those posting are not carrying out Site Searches beforehand

This post to be deleted following the locating of said errant thread/posts

Haven’t had a DRE at my last three physicals. Supposedly it makes patients uncomfortable and docs too. They’re reluctant to do PSA tests, too - supposedly leads to too many unnecessary biopsies. All I know is my dad died from prostate cancer and I’ll be damned if I’m going to forego a diagnostic procedure because the doc is embarrassed or a blood test is deemed not cost effective. My advice: get a referral to a urologist, or ask the doc at your next colonoscopy. That’s what I did and the results are in the after-visit report.

Last time i had a rectal exam from a real dr was before covid came along, went to doc because i occasionally have a bit of bother peeing, he checked out my prostate and seemed happy with it, the one who wasnt happy was my partner, that was the only time she couldnt be there with me, so she didnt see it done !

All my patients get a rectal unless there's a specific reason not to give one. It's part of a full well woman exam.

Doc.

I had one every year when I had a prostate.

I’m in my mid 40’s and have had a colonoscopy however my primary care physician has never given me a DRE

My gynecologist does it as part of recto vaginal exam

My Doctor still gives rectal exams, and she is a female.

Over the past 15 years or so the only DRE's I've received have been from urologists. I saw a urologist annually for 5-6 years before retiring, then I did not see another urologist for 6 years (just a year ago). Personally, I don't see much value in them for routine exams.

My internists used to do a DRE at every annual physical. About 5 years ago he stopped doing them. He does check my PSA every year and most years he wants me to come back in six months for another PSA check. The PSA has been rising for several years. Last year he referred me to a urologist and the urologist did a DRE. He sent me for an MRI and it came back with very little chance of any cancer. But after the research I did on prostate cancer, I am going to have either my internists do an DRE at my annual physical or I will go to the Urologist every year. I want to know if any hard spots or nodules have developed.

Glad to see that enemas and exams are stil done in families. Usually all the boys and girls have them done together so we see everyone having it done also - wow. We like watching everyone, and as we got older we learn how to do the others

It seems that advanced blood tests have eliminated the need for prostate/rectal exams, in many cases. I haven't had one in over 20 years, although it may still depend on the doctor. Obviously, I can't speak for gynecologists. Maybe they still do that for women. I went to a Spanish doctor 25 years ago, and he was lagging in his medical knowledge. He sent me to have a lower intestinal exam done, that two other doctors discovered to be entirely unnecessary, after the fact. My insurance at the time refused to pay for it. It took me over a year to pay the $2,000 bill.

Not sure what the official recommendations are these days, but I get a rectal every year at my gyno exam and my guy does as well at his physical. We are in our forties .and go every year. We go to each other's exams and at some point the doctor puts on a glove and my guy knows what to do. He lowers his briefs and bends over the end of the table. The doctor parts his cheeks and examines the anus and then applies a good deal of KY to his index finger and does an examination of the prostate.