Prostate checks: fact and fiction.

I am getting to the age when a prostate check is recommended as part of a medical examination and I have read many 'horror' stories about such tests and I want to know the facts and not the fantasy.

Is it common to get an erection or is it a myth?

Do the doctors really touch and even manipulate the penis or just rely on nature taking it's course?

Do men sometimes actually fully ejaculate while being probed?

I have no fear of such things. If it happens, so be it. I am a big boy now and I will live to tell the tale but it would be nice to know what is real and what is not.

My guess is I would be so uncomfortable that any erotic thoughts would quickly vanish.

Skin,

I turned 50 last year and had my first Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) / prostate check in August. It was by a female Physician's Assistant.

I did not get an erection.

She did not touch my penis during the DRE. Just before the DRE, she had me stand and hold up the gown to my waist as she visually examined my genitals and did a hernia check. She then directed me to lean over the table for the DRE.

I did not ejaculate.

It was not uncomfortable and was over before I knew it.

Now, prior to this I had several scenes with a medfet playmate. Her and I would switch roles and she played the sexy female Doctor and those sessions did a lot to get me ready for what happen at my first real DRE. 😁

Skin, I am 61 and have been getting prostate exams for the last ten years I would guess. The doctor (male) has me drop my pants to check my testicles and penis. This takes about ten seconds and then I bend over the table for the DRE which may take 30 seconds and that is it. No erection or ejaculation during the process. You do have to get a PSA blood test usually prior to the doctor visit. It's no big deal.

I'm 55 now and started getting a DRE every year at 45. My doctor is female and has done all my exams except one, which was done by a female Physician Assistant. I have never gotten an erection or ejaculated. The exam is just a little uncomfortable for me when the finger is inserted, but I think that is because of a hemmoroid I have. Other than that, it's just routine.

Hi skin

I would think that your prostate examination might be two part. A blood test to check the PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) levels and a digital rectal examination using gloved fingers through the anus to palpate the prostate gland through the rectal wall.

Only if one or other of these checks shows up a potential problem will a biopsy be taken. A bit uncomfortable but copeable with.

Its unlikely you will ejaculate during the rectal examination. pressing on the prostate gland causes a strange 'need to urinate' sensation felt right at the tip of the penis. Prolonged rubbing and pressing on the gland may cause some pre cum to dribble. You may become partly erect.

Hope this is useful to you and that you go on to have many more examinations!

I have been receiving DREs for several years now, and am always amused when the urologist goes through the ritual of saying, "Now this will be a bit uncomfortable, but there's no way to avoid it". In fact there is no discomfort at all, it is over before I even realize it.

As for PSA tests, I've been having these too for several years and the levels have fluctuated wildly. But biopsies for possible cancer have proved negative, so I've learned not to worry about a high PSA level, and it seems that the professionals themselves are starting to question the value of this test. That isn't a reason not to have it, of course.

My Physician Assistant's warning was, "This will be a little cold."

Sometimes it depends on how long it's been since you have had sex...makes the prostate fuller during the exam.

I once had a female urologist who spent a long time in there checking for hard spots on the prostate, and when she pushed down hard and reached way up and to the back, I shot some clear fluid up against the table edge that I was bent over and down on my leg.

I didn't say anything....but I think she noticed.

I think I've had my prostate checked about 4 times now. The exam is so fast, and trivial, it's not worth thinking about it.

For me, the worst part is the few seconds before she puts her fingers in there, when she separates my buttocks and looks at at my exposed backside. That and the fact that my wife always insists on being there for my physicals...

But the exam itself is literally only a few seconds long. There is nothing to it.

I have been getting digital rectal exams for the last 15 years and have never had an erection or ejaculated during a professional exam. I have thoroughly enjoyed them since I started going to female physicians.

"I shot some clear fluid up against the table edge that I was bent over and down on my leg"

I suspect that is what the doctor is hoping to see, to prove it all works as it should. While being tested as a young man trying to start a family the doctor did this to me while lying on my back. He held me penis flat against my stomach while inserting the finger. I shot some pre-cum through a non-erect penis with some force. I was not expecting it and it took me by surprise.

I'm also at the age (66) where the prostate check is routine on my annual physical as well as a PSA test.

It is simple and quick. I simply drop my pants and bend over the table while he sticks a gloved finger in my butt and feels around for about 30 seconds.

I got a bit of a kick out of a remark he made the last time. He said "I know it's embarrasing, but compared to what the women have to go through this is nothing". Darn good point!

Some men do get erections during a DRE, however, after the first few exams, it is usually not a problem.

Usually before a DRE, the doctor will check for hernias, as well as examine the scrotum, testicles, and penis.

Yes, some men express prostatic fluid, which is clear. It may feel like you are either going to or are ejaculating.

My guess is I would be so uncomfortable that any erotic thoughts would quickly vanish.

It is not terribly uncomfortable, (Unless something is wrong, like a case of prostatitis) but it is an awkward sensation

I am french and I go to the doctor in France but it is quite the same as for you.

First there is until I have more than 40 age a PSA test in a laboratory which is made with a blood test.

then, when the doctor has the result, it is the DRE which beguins also around 40 age but it is not annual at that time, it become annual after 5o age with a female doctor I have for my annual check-up but she retired and the male doctor who replaced her is less consconcious, he perform a DRE only sometimes, not each year.

The position may be different. The male doctor asks me to bend over or if I am already lying on a table to roll on my side and to pull down my underwear, I have no gown. It seems to me that it is seldom that french doctors propose to wear a gown, it is only in hospital.

The female doctor told me to remove my underwear and that she left me the choice between two positions the first time : to be on all fours on a table, or to be lying on my back and to lift my legs and to tuck them under my chest in order to expose the anus.

She added that some persons were considering that the first one was more uncomfortable but she told that it was in her opinion the best one to perform the exam.

As I had already underwent some DRE during physicals for the military service in the first position on all fours, first at 18 age in a pre-induction center (it was my first in my life with a rough military doctor who treated me harshly), others after when inducted, I removed my underwear and I took that position on the table.

It was always a strange sensation when the doctor inserted fingers in the anus less or more deeply, but in fact it was fast and not really painful, I had no memory of being erected.

We have also a free check-up all five years in a community clinic which includes allways a DRE. It depends on the doctor for the position, it may be on all fours or lying on the back, and also one time a middle age female doctor asked me to just bend over after removing my underwear.

It is not a big deal once you know what is the exam.

It is only a demeaning when it is the first time at 18 age and performed without any privacy with a large group of spectators and without any explanations.

I am in my 60s and have had dozens of DRE's. The single most important thing I have learned that I can recommend is that a slim female finger feels a hell of a lot better than a fat male finger.

That said, most of my DREs have been by my female PCP or one of her female NPs. All are fairly quick, about half of them produced at least a partial erection, none produced any sort of fluid and none involved touching my penis (though an early part of the exam, the genital part, did).

I have had them done in all positions -- on my left side, bending over the exam table, on all fours, lying on my back with my legs drawn back. That is pretty much the order of popularity, too, at least of the doctors. As for myself I am fine with any of the first three, but lying on my back is unpleasant (and they have to lift your balls out of the way sometimes).

On two occasions that I can think of I have had very, very thorough exams and gotten a completely full and upright erection -- one from a female endocrinologist, who smiled and said "that's normal" and another from my female urologist, who said nothing. I also got an erection from an exam done by my substitute PCP (my regular PCP was on vacation), a new young and very attractive doctor that I found very sexy. She did a quick DRE but I was hard before she started and got more so when she did the exam. That was the sole occasion it was a sexually induced erection! I mean I found that woman, for some reason, just very sexy. In every other case where I got an erection or partial erection it was non-sexual seeming and involuntary (and often a little surprising).

One final comment. I would not sweat getting a DRE. It is usually done quickly. If you do get an erection during it, it will not be a big deal. Not one of any of the women who have given me DREs (and 90% of them have been done by women) during which I got an erection, said one word negatively about it, or made me feel bad. Some were light-hearted or humorous about it. Others barely noticed it at all, and I am sure none felt offended in any way.

I'm in my 50s and very anal erotic. Whenever I've gotten a dre, which takes very little time, I get at least semi erect. However, I have often gone to a naturopath who gives prostate massage lasting about 5 minutes more or less. During that procedure I get fully erect. I've never had an orgasm during the massage, but it is intensely pleasurable. He always places paper towels on the floor beneath me before the massage. Usually, a half dozen globs of prostatic fluid drop onto the towels while he massages my prostate. On occasion when I've turned around afterwards he has examined my penis milking it from the base up to draw out any remaining fluid to see if it's clear.

I posted a reply to 'skin' a few months ago. Since then I have had what I refer to as a prostate cancer scare. I went to see my doc, a middle aged female, to report the onset of ED probably, it now appears, as a result of some personal worry.

She said OK, we'll consider medication but first I would like a PSA count done. I saw the PN a couple of days later who drained one arm of blood. "Come back in a week for the result"

Two days later, letter arrives. 'Urgent' - 'See doctor'. Make appointment. Doctor says," norm is 4 nanogm/mltre. Yours is 120. I'll make arrangements for a prostate biopsy. (up to 12 cores taken by needle rectally).

No way said I. "Im going to book in at the funeral home!" "What sort of 'PSA count' is that?"

"Well, the other doc has asked the lab and they say its correct but never heard of one so high before" " But I still advise you to have a biopsy"

"Why not another sample?" so, in due course, the other arm was drained.

Letter to telephone for result - no URGENT this time. - went to docs office anyway.

"Good news" said the doc. "The 120 before should have been 13.7"

"So 1/9th of what was reported"? "Yes, I don't undertand it but you should get your bottom stabbed 12 times" (or words to that effect)

"What about this weeks blood sample?"

"Ah, that was 3.7 -but you should still get your bottom stabbed 12 times" (Or words to that effect)

Me! " f*** off" (or words to that effect)

So gentlemen - by all means get checked out - but take (as we say in the UK) a 'large pinch of salt' before you undergo a potential threat to your continence, your sexual potency or your bloodstream (infection invariably follows a biopsy)

I endorse almost everything you say, BigK. I too have had my share of false alarms as a result of inaccurate PSA readings, and even the accurate ones have to be taken with your pinch (or grain) of salt.

But I do disagree with your final words. I've undergone three biopsies over the past few years, with a fourth scheduled for later this month. Each time I was prescribed a five-day course of an antibiotic (Cipro), starting on the day of the biopsy. Not once have I suffered an infection, nor to the best of my knowledge have any of my acquaintances who were subjected to the same procedure.

You are of course entitled to disagree hengist, about the risk of infections etc.

However, in my family 3 males have had prostate biopsies and all have had significant after effects. One has become impotent, one is intermittently urine incontinent and all three have had severe infections. One was so bad that he was hospitalised for several days and apparently near death at one point. None had any symptoms prior to the biopsy procedure other than an elevated PSA count found at a general check up.

In none of the cases was prostate cancer detected and it is a stated fact in numerous studies that in biopsies resulting solely from an elevated PSA count, 75% of men are not found to have cancer. There is a new non invasive check available now called PCA3 which calculates the likelyhood of an elevated PSA count accurately predicting prostate cancer.

Hospitals in this country, including major private facilities, are riddled with MRSA and Clostridium difficile and there's no way I'm going anywhere near.

So whilst you are entitled to your view I submit that I am likewise entitled. Our readers must of course make up their own minds. But its always good for conflicting opinions to be aired and I trust your next biopsy will go as smoothly for you.

NOT a biggie some do and some don't get erect. And it depends upon the time for me . I Have heard of a few guys cumming with an exam . Hope you are a lucky one . :😃 :😃 :😃 :😃

BigK, you have made a very worthwhile contribution to this debate over the value of the various methods used to detect prostate cancer in men. I don't have any major differences of opinion with you! This was simply a factual point which, as stated by you, ran counter to my personal experience.

I am sorry to hear about the high incidence of infection and other negative side effects following prostate biopsies in your country. If it was the same case here (in Canada), I doubt if urologists would be advocating them to the extent they do, and certainly this would long ago have become an issue of public concern. At the same time you are entirely right to question their value as a detection tool, and I may say that my urologist and I spent quite a long time discussing whether or not I should be sent for another one. In the end he convinced me that on balance it would be worthwhile. I deeply appreciate your best wishes and like you hope that it goes smoothly, with a negative result and none of the unfortunate consequences you have described.

The DRE only takes seconds to perform. My doctor explains what she is touching/finding during the exam and finishes the exam with a guac smear (test for blood in the stool). I'm 60(s) so over time I've been examined in all the positions - bent over the table, bending over with hands on knees, left side with knee toward chest, knee-chest (on all fours with head and chest down), and my favorite - lithotomy (feet in stirrups). Luckily, I've not been on the receiving end of a prostate biopsy.

I went through it at 24, 30, 35 and yearly at age 40. My first prostate exam was with a female resident close to my age. She was somewhat attractive. I got a raging hard on before she even touched my groin or anus. Subsequent years have not been so intense but I still get aroused. Why isn't there a Fischer Price Toy "My First Prostate Exam?"

Is it common to get an erection or is it a myth? I doubt that it is common to get an erection during a rectal exam. I have had several rectal exams and had only one slight erection after one.

Do the doctors really touch and even manipulate the penis or just rely on nature taking it's course? Not during the rectal exam but a doctor might strip the penis to squeeze out prostatic fluid after the rectal if the doctor did a prostate massage.

Do men sometimes actually fully ejaculate while being probed? I doubt it but it could have happened. I have had prostatic fluid pushed out of my prostate during a rectal or prostate exam but that is not ejaculating. A wet spot on the crotch of my underpants is not unusual.

I have yet to get an erection at any medical prostate or not. The finger up the bum only lasts seconds anyway.

I have had my prostate checked annually for several years. My doctor probes the prostate for perhaps 20 seconds feeling for irregularities, and the best way I can describe it, painless, no erection, no ejaculation, but you do have the sensation of wanting to urinate. Once she completes the probe on the prostate, she moves her finger to the rectum to take a fecal sample. I doubt if the whole process lasts a minute.

In another posting, the only time I ever had an erection during a medical exam was during a rectal temp at age 7.

Unfortunately I had prostate cancer but no a lot about this subject if you ever want to chat

I've had it happen on at least one occasion. I was getting a physical from a new doctor about 15, 20 years ago and this was the first time I was completely naked for the genital and rectal exam. The genital exam already had me half-hard; the prostate exam finished the job.

I've been getting a prostate exam once a year by my female physician since turning 35. I've never gotten an erection, and she's a really pretty doctor. I don't think IMO, that getting your prostate checked is very pleasant. I actually dread it to tell you the truth, because it's a little uncomfortable even when a female does it. There's several distinct differences between prostate massage and prostate/rectal exams. When getting a prostate massage, the process is usually prolonged, with only light to moderately firm pressure on the prostate. The giver typically inserts one or two fingers only about 2" up the rectum to reach that critical spot of the prostate that causes intense pleasure. Genital stimulation is also key in causing an erection.

When getting a prostate/ rectal exam, the procedure only takes a few seconds. My doctor inserts two fingers up my rectum and presses firmly on my prostate, briefly from side to side. I often get the urge to piss when she does it. Then she inserts as far as she can go and feels around inside my rectum. It's uncomfortable, but everything's over in about 7-10 seconds. She smears fluid from her gloved finger on a card to check for blood in the stool / rectal bleeding.

After a few DREs, I started to really enjoy them. I would usually release some pre-cum. My male doctor said, "That's normal" and would pat me on the back and smile. This is where my interest in DREs started. I would really look forward to them to the point, I would get myself hard before he did the DRE. He knew what I was doing. This progressed into me finishing myself off in front of him. I am an exhibitionist as well. Once he walked out of the room, but now he stays, appears to be wrting notes in my file, but definately watches when I ejaculate. We have this dialogue that this is for medical reasons. I explain that my sex life is so much better after a DRE. I also go to another Urologist that is female. I have been erect in front of her. I said "sorry about that". She says "it happens". She once introduced the DRE as "now the fun part, I am going to check your prostate". Who says that? I know it is the fun part, but didn't expect her to tee it up that way. No pre-cum or erection. This is because she really doesn't apply the right pressure and very quick. I wouldn't dare try anything bold with her though. I wish she was better at it. I wish many of you much enjoyment once you are able to relax and really enjoy a DRE.