Men: What position do you prefer to have a digital rectal exam?

Does it really matter?

It takes less than 10 seconds unless there is a real problem.

Evidently, for some, it does matter.

I have never been completely naked at the doctors office. For a full physical, occasionally in a hospital gown with or without underwear (they can have me pull it down if they want to check anything down there). Every prostate exam I've had has been leaning over the exam table. Either with my pants around my knees or then hospital gown open in the back. No big deal. I had one urologist stay in there for about 20 seconds - usually it's only around 5 secs.

For a real exam just get it over with and give me good news. For a play exam....use your imagination 😃

Left side, sims position.

Here is an actual study that was done on which position is best for the DRE.

http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1677-55382011000300011

Here is an actual study that was done on which position is best for the DRE.

http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1677-55382011000300011

Well, they sort of tried to run a good study, but they failed.

SUCK IT UP GUYS. Just stand there and spread'em or lie on your side and let them do the exam. The whole thing takes several seconds.

Grow up and grow a pair. Just do it.

No sympathy from me, or probably most women.

SUCK IT UP GUYS. Just stand there and spread'em or lie on your side and let them do the exam. The whole thing takes several seconds.Grow up and grow a pair. Just do it.No sympathy from me, or probably most women.

I hate that exam but I have to agree with Susie. It has to be done so just get it over with. My doctor has me put my hands on my knees and then quickly does it. It is over with quickly but I still hate that sucker.

My GP has me lay on my left side when doing a DRE on my prostate. About three years ago, I was having some rectal issues, and went to a specialist for an exam. His MO was to have me bent over the end of the exam table, and then the table was tilted at a relatively high angle, with my head lower to the floor, and my backside up towards the ceiling. He spread my cheeks, then proceeded to take a look. No probing, as the issue was external, not internal. He put me on a cycle of meds, and three weeks later, I was back in his office in the same position, asshole and elbows. I was good to go after that. From what I understand, it is rare for docs to put their patients in that position, as his assistant was apologetic about it. I got a kick out of it.

My doctor usually has me laying on my left hand side with my knees bent up to my chest. I have also been bent over the table. Both positions are effective I think

SUCK IT UP GUYS. Just stand there and spread'em or lie on your side and let them do the exam. The whole thing takes several seconds.

Grow up and grow a pair. Just do it.

I agree. We probably all hate the parts of a physical with the pants and underpants down but going through it is part of being a man.

I've experienced #1-3. I prefer #2 (left Simms) in the doctor's office. #1 (bent over a table) might be better for play. 😃

I just had a physical and he always saved the prostate exam for last. He did a hernia check then had me stand with legs slightly apart and put my hands on my knees. It was over in a few seconds and many guys love their exam but I don't. I'm not sure why, maybe the embarrassment but I don't like the feeling either. It felt like I was going to shoot a load on the floor luckily I got through it.

Seems that doctors generally work up to the more embarrassing/less pleasant parts. With you, having it done at the docs is nothing like having your wife play with your butt, but after you get over the embarrassment it really isn't a big deal.

I was with my wife for the birth of two babies, and she had to put up with her genitalia being the center of attention for around two hours. Guys can suck it up for under a minute.

I agree. We probably all hate the parts of a physical with the pants and underpants down but going through it is part of being a man.

Speak for yourself. Even for a real exam from a real doctor, I actually enjoy those parts of the exam.

Going with 3. On knees and elbows on the exam table. Real and play exams.

Speak for yourself. Even for a real exam from a real doctor, I actually enjoy those parts of the exam.

i do too. about 20 years ago i was getting a DRE from a doctor and it felt nasty until I reminded myself, "hey, remember, you LIKE this" I relaxed and really enjoyed it. Now, I love those exams. The exposure? after many exams and several enemas over the years, plus doing live webcam shows, I'm not embarrassed a bit.

If there is a choice, I prefer leaning onto the table rather than being on my side. When standing and spreading my legs, there is the instruction to "relax and push" while the doctor spreads me and soon his finger is finding its mark.

I have had the exam done bending over, lying on my side and on my back but not on knees depending on the doctor at the time. Being on my back was by far the most intrusive. I suppose the next would be on your knees but haven't truly experienced that yet. On my back just felt that I was entirely visible and observable. The finger sensations also felt different though compared to leaning over as I recall but who knows. Bending over is more likely to elicit a slight gasp or clench.

I have had the exam done bending over, lying on my side and on my back. Being on my back was by far the most intrusive. On my back just felt that I was entirely visible and observable. The finger sensations also felt different though compared to leaning over as I recall but who knows.

I have always liked the concept of having the rectal on my back but did not think this would be done in a real exam situation. If you would please tell us whether this part of a routine physical or was it a specialized exam? Which body parts were examined immediately before and after the rectal, and what verbal instructions did the doctor give you?

Real exams only in France : it was depending on the doctors and if they were young or middle age or old and if it was on the past or recently.

Recently it is obvious that the most frequent position required by a doctor is lying on the side with knees bent up to the chest, but some years ago I have been told by a male doctor pretty old to sit on a table on all fours on elbows and knees, he had told me that it was for him the easier position but if I disagreed I could be on my back or on my side, I told him that I had no objection and I took the position on all fours and it is the best in my opinion, you do not see the face of the doctor, you feel only his fingers when they are inserted in your asshole and after he had spread your butts with the other hand.

An old woman doctor between 50 and 60 age had also required this position on all fours at an annual check up and she had instructed me to spread myself my butts widely. She did first a visual inspection of the anal area with a few comments about the fact that I had very few hairs on the sides of my butts, and then she put some vaseline and she inserted her fingers.

At that time I was about 35 age and it was the first time that she did a DRE at my annual physical examination.

She was what we called in France a doctor of "the old school " because she required to the male patients to be naked for all the time of the examination which was not required by younger doctors.

I was not surprised because I had been instructed to take that position many years before as a young man at physical examinations for the military service, I have had three physicals between the age of 18 and 21 before being declared fit and each time, I have had a DRE with the position on all fours required by the military doctor and the same after induction at a regular physical examination, the military doctors did not give you the choice, it was on all fours by their decision.

But now for medical reasons, like check of prostate, it is rather on lying on the side and a knee on my chest.

My preference is really to be on all fours and then next position would be standing bent over the table. For both of those positions I felt the doctor had the easiest access with the least amount of twisting and searching for the prostate. The most direct 'hit' to the prostate which I could verify by both the sensation of urination (which I know is the common feeling but you are not going to urinate) and then I could visually see the oozing of clear prostate fluid from the tip of my penis. When I have been on my side for this exam I felt more probing and didn't see the fluid leaking.

The first time I saw a digital rectal exam was on my father. I was 16 yo at the time and he had a physical scheduled for his work. He was 56 yo at the time. I had developed a planters wart from school locker room they told me that was not super clean in showers.

My mother thought to save a doctors appt $$ just go with dad. He was fine with it for it saved him money. After I had the wart removed I was next. The nurse was a young male about 21 yo. In prep for my dad's physical he told him to undress to his boxers and put on an exam gown with opening in the rear. The doctor came back in a few minutes later and moved to my dad now sitting on the exam table. I was never asked or told to leave.

The doctor after some questions on med history checked dad on his head area and then unfastened the top loop of the gown and brought it forward and down to his lap exposing his semi hairy chest. Checked his upper area etc.

Did other things and then had my dad stand up and told him to remove his exam gown, doctor put on latex gloves at the cabinet in the room and walking back told my dad to slip his boxers off and dad did and put them on the exam table. Doctor had him spread his feet and then gave him a genital exam, did the cough and examined his penis and I could see a bit of erection on my dad.

He then told him to turn and face the table and rest his chest on it. Had him spread his feet and he slipped on fresh pair of latex gloves and saw him put lube on his fingers from a push dispenser. As he walked back he put his hand on the small of dad's back and again told him to spread feet further. He pulled his cheeks apart and visually examined, he then put his finger in with lube and spread some on his entry way, I thought he was done and that was it but sure dad & the doctor knew differently, then my dad jumped a small bit and then gave several groans as the doctor I could see had his finger into him, doctor said relax as I go in a bit deeper, dad gave a few more groans and then doc pulled it out and said great, all is good.

All my recent DREs have been done bent over the exam table and have lasted only about 5 seconds.

I have had DRE exams for as long as I can remember. One of my primary care docs used to do it on hands and knees. My current primary care does it side-lying as did a surgeon years ago when he was ruling out appendicitis. I believe one primary care doc had me bending over the table. I guess that's 2 of the 4 choices, plus 1 additional.

Is there an actual position, on your back, knees pulled to chest? Because that would be my favorite 😃

Mine have always been leaning over the exam table. All but one was quick like @et986 said - about 5 seconds.

Knees back toward chest while naked on the examination table.

I’d have to say number 2 or 4, I like being able to see the doctor.

I have had rectal exam many times with the first one about 19 years old (it was army qualification). All of them were performed in similar manner: I was told to stand in front of the exam table with feet shoulder-width apart and feet pointed inwards. Then I had to bend forward at the waist and support myself on my elbows and forearms.

Up to now I had DRE twice, but both times on my left side legs tucked to the chest.

If I would have the choice, I would select option 2 or 4.

As I already stated here so far I've had them performed in 3 different positions, the "Traditional" stand with Legs apart and Chest on the Table, in All Fours on the Table and lying on my back with Legs bend and slightly apart.. Putting aside that they were really uncomfortable, it really hurted, if I had to choose I prefer the 3rd one, lying on my back, because the Dr lifts the Ball sack with one hand and performs the DRE with the other. I've just read here there's a 4th option which is lying on the Back with Knees to Chest.. If I had to have another Prostate Examination I wish the Dr will perform it that way (but I'm sure that won't happen)