What was the reason for your prostate/rectal exam at a young age

Those of you who have had rectal/prostate exams at such a young age, below 30, what was the reasoning for the exam? Did you have issues that prompted the exam? Those of you who had the exam during the routine physical did he say why he wanted to examine it? Did you question it or object or just do as you were instructed?

Ir recently had a blood discharge that only lasted a day but thought id better get it checked out. I made an appointment and doc asked me to lower trousers and underwear and bend over. He lubed me and said this might feel uncomfortable and inserted is finger and palpated. He said he could find nothing and on further questioning he suggested it was because i had eaten beetroot. Must do this more often if it means i get a rectal exam!

I had a feeling of discomfort in my rectum and in my penis area so the doctor had to do a rectal exam to make sure it was nothing with my prostate. Ended up being a minor inflammation, which she gave me medication for.

I had a rectal exam in A&E after being knocked off my bike & having suspected pelvic injury. At the time i was in severe pain - despite pain relief - and was developing a raging erection; which I understand can be an indication of spinal damage. I believe the exam was to check for anal tone and also injuries, as I seem to remember them being concerned i had internal injuries due to unexplained blood on my clothing.

Military induction physical, age 20. Why would they do that for a 20 year old boy? Perhaps to impress upon him the level of control they have over his body, once he is inducted.

My first few rectal exams didn't get actually penetrated as for an anal fissure, but then they ended up sending me for a flexible sigmoidoscopy, before which I recieved a quick DRE, fleet enema, then another DRE before the scope. At the followup appointment the doctor then gave me a -remarkably- long rectal exam where he felt all around really thoroughly, and then also with an anoscope.

More recently, and probably the first /prostate/ exam as such, I had some mild urinary difficulty so went to my GP. He took a history then asked to feel my stomach area, so I lay down and lifted up my sweater. He then asked to examine my genitals, so I lowered my jeans and briefs, and he had a thorough examination including my testicles and newly (well, a year before) circumcised penis, paying really careful attention to the meatus and scar. Then, just as I thought he was all finished up and was going round the curtain to tell me to get dressed, he asked me to roll onto my side and and gave me a rectal exam (which was a bit painful as he somewhat ignored as I said I'd always had a problem with mild fissures - he took his finger out and had a look and said I didn't at the moment, but did have a pile) - and then put his finger back in and gave a really thorough ‘loop’ all around the canal and then finished by brushing back and forth and squeezing my prostate.

At so many moments during the appointment I thought that that was it, there wasn't even going to be any exam, then that it was just going to be a quick press on the stomach, etc!

He then finally went back round the curtain, without handing me a tissue to clean the lube, and told me to get dressed

Military induction physical, age 20. Why would they do that for a 20 year old boy? Perhaps to impress upon him the level of control they have over his body, once he is inducted.

The guy marching you down to the physical is impressing the ‘control’ they have over you. Seriously doubt a doctor, even a military doctor, would do an invasive exam just to exert ‘control’. DoD Instruction for military service.

DOD INSTRUCTION 6130.03, VOLUME 1, MEDICAL STANDARDS FOR MILITARY SERVICE: APPOINTMENT, ENLISTMENT, OR INDUCTION

f. Anorectal.

(1) Current anal fissure or anal fistula.

(2) History of rectal prolapse or stricture within the last 2 years.

(3) History of fecal incontinence after the 13th birthday.

(4) Current hemorrhoid (internal or external), if symptomatic or requiring medical intervention within the last 60 days.

About age 16 I had blood on the toilet paper wiping my butt. I had read about someone dying of rectal cancer. I was terrified!! Mother took me to the pediatrician. Nurse had me take off pants and underwear, and gave me a paper sheet. I told doctor what I found and fear of cancer. She told me right away that rectal cancer doesn't happen in teens. Whew! However I still had to stand up, & bend over the table. I felt my balls hanging down. She asked me to ‘spread your cheeks.’ It felt weird pointing my asshole at her. She said, ‘You’re going to feel something cold; it's KY jelly.' It was cold. “I'm going to touch you on the outside.” At the touch I clenched my sphincter, but relaxed. “I'm going to insert my finger; push like you're going to have a b. m.” It went in; it felt weird but only lasted 15 seconds. She gave me some paper to wipe off; I was still exposed in front. After I pulled the sheet over she told me what hemorrhoids were, to eat veggies, oatmeal, drink lots of water.

I was 18. It was done at my pre-op physical for my hernia surgery. I certainly wasn’t expecting it and definitely did not like the DRE.

My first ( and only ) was when I was in my mid 20's. I had been experiencing pain in my lower abdomen without any other symptoms. The pain would come in waves and it increased in severity and in frequency as time went on. After a couple of days of that I reluctantly scheduled an appointment with my doctor. During the exam he had me get on the table on my knees and elbows and did a rectal exam. He had me hold a glass slide to the tip of my penis and collect some of the fluid that was expelled as a result of him pressing on my prostate. It turned out that I had a prostate infection and antibiotics cleared it up. Interestingly he also asked me if I had recently had anal sex….I hadn't, and I did not know why he would ask that.

For me it was a overly concerned mother and a new pediatrician who wanted to give my mother piece of mind. My dad had colon cancer at a young age and express concern to the doctor about it. So starting around 13.5 years old until I went to college a DRE was included in my annual physical. The first one was embarrassing as hell and quite frankly just became normal and part of the exam Over the years.

Family history of prostate cancer . All was for any ‘ early detection ’ issues . Fortunately , all is ‘ good ’ even as I age . The ‘ DRE ’ was / is a ‘ bit of medical insurance ’ as well as ' peace of mind ' for my family and me .

For me it was a overly concerned mother and a new pediatrician who wanted to give my mother piece of mind. My dad had colon cancer at a young age and express concern to the doctor about it. So starting around 13.5 years old until I went to college a DRE was included in my annual physical. The first one was embarrassing as hell and quite frankly just became normal and part of the exam Over the years.

Did he do a Cologuard or FIT test where he sent a swab of stool off to a lab for colon cancer screening?

I googled for info on the FIT test - https://www.healthpartners.com/blog/what-is-a-fecal-immunochemical-test/

What surprised me was reading precancerous polyp or cancer can be missed if it wasn't bleeding when the test was done.

@reddevil I read that recently too. I’m also tired of collecting poop swabs with the home test kit so this year I’m going to ask for a colonoscopy. It’s good for ten years (I think) if nothing is found.

I was in my early twenties and began to exhibit the classic signs of an STD. I went to the Doc and he did a DRE which about sent me through the roof with pain. He diagnosed me with a bacterial prostate infection, prescribed a course of antibiotics, and soon I was good as new.

I was 20 and I dated a girl who was controlling and who didn't like the fact that my penis is curved downward. So I had the courage to talk to my parents about it and went to my dad's urologist for an exam and to talk about surgery to fix the curvature. The doctor quickly changed my mind when he said the surgery would take inches away from my size.

Then he said let's go in the exam room and left my dad and asked me to lay down on my back. He got me in stirrups (AMAZING) and gave me a DRE and then checked my testicles. It was fantastic and what started my MedFet.

So I had the courage to talk to my parents about it and went to my dad's urologist for an exam and to talk about surgery to fix the curvature. The doctor quickly changed my mind when he said the surgery would take inches away from my size.

Did you ever get the surgery? Did you ever get a second opinion? Do you still have that same curvature?

Do any of you other guys/gals have experience with this (I think it's called Peyronie’s disease)? I've never heard that the surgical correction would shorten the penis. I've never had this condition, but I'm interested to know (men or women) what others have experienced regarding this. It the corrected penis as good or better than the pre-surgery penis?

I had my first prostate exam a few weeks ago at age 47 because of a family history of prostate cancer and because I carry a genetic mutation that increases my chances of contracting it. It was all a very rushed affair. The doctor, a young, attractive woman of about 40, came in and made some brief small talk. Then, she just told me to lower my jeans and underwear and bend over with my elbows on the examining table. Very quickly I felt a gloved finger coated (and I mean coated) in jelly penetrate my rectum. But it was really a bang-bang affair. The finger was inserted and removed in a matter of seconds. She then gave me tissues to wipe myself and left the room. I wiped a bit, but left enough of a squishy feeling to remember it by.

Age 15.

I developed hemorrhoids at age 15 as a result of a physically demanding summer gig I did outdoors, in high temperatures, with lots of bending and stooping. I developed severely thrombosed hemorrhoids from this. I had no idea what it was, and bowel movements were incredibly painful. I thought maybe I had cancer. The doctor examined my anus and rectum, and he made the diagnosis. I was given suppositories with cortisone to use at home.

My anus and rectum have not been the same since, even though the thrombosis is long gone and bowel movements are not painful.

While the experience was humiliating and certainly didn't help my already poor body self-image (what teenager has hemorrhoids???), it taught me that putting things in the rectum can be a good thing. Also, as kids, we try not to think about things like anal / rectal health. This made me very aware of it.

BTW, I was not instructed on how to use the suppositories. So, I had to learn by doing.

I was early 20s and needed a mandatory exam completed.

My dad's doctor was chosen for me, and after the hernia, I was instructed to grab my knees.

That finale will definitely always be remembered.

I found out later that my paternal uncle had “issues”, although that may have been part of the “checklist" exam.

It was an employment exam after graduate school and I was only 25 or 26. The doctor was probably in his mid to late 60s and very old fashioned. He was working from a printed examination form. I just had my shirt off for the exam and he had me stand on a four legged step stool and lower my pants and briefs to have the genital and hernia exams, which he did bare handed. After I coughed for the second hernia, he reached in a box and pulled out a finger cot, which looks like a condom, and pulled it on his index finger as he said "a rectal is on the form, so we had better do it. Turn around and bend over." His finger entered my anus and I could feel his hand on my cheeks. I always liked the finger cot memory because it was my first anal penetration and the single finger covered with the latex emphasizes the reality that it is going to go in the anus. Gloves are great but they can be used for any part of an exam. The finger cot has only one purpose.

... I always liked the finger cot memory because it was my first anal penetration ...

@exam_doc Was that your first penetration ever, or just in a physical exam situation from a doctor?

Suspected blood in stool. It was coming out tarry (I wonder if being up in the mountains had anything to do with it).

Tested positive for blood, though coming home the GI said I was fine. Maybe I just recovered.

I was having something abdominal pain and the doctor wanted to make sure it wasn't something rectal or if it was appendix or anything serious..

I was having something abdominal pain and the doctor wanted to make sure it wasn't something rectal or if it was appendix or anything serious..

Same with me.. I was experiencing abdominal discomfort an my uncle was a surgeon and he would come over, palpate my lower belly and do a rectal. Fortunately, it turned out not to require surgery, or be anything more serious than an irritable bowel.

It was on my exam form given to me by the trainer I was seeing at the time. My doctor wasn't letting anything slip by.

While in my early 20's I had an unexpected rectal exam performed by my GP because of problems relating to my appendix. Nothing unusual was found during the examination but I was booked into hospital anyway to have it out…

It was the first time I had my prostate examined during the military medical examinations. It was a routine examination and no reason was given. I also couldn't make a protest.

I was in my late 20's and got my first rectal/prostate exam to check for a hemorrhoid.