DRE
A common way of diagnosing a prostate problem is for the doctor to feel the prostate gland through the wall of the back passage (rectum). This is called a DRE (Digital Rectal Examination).
The DRE may be carried out by your GP and will be repeated by the hospital specialist, if your GP thinks you should see one. If you have a prostate problem, the DRE will become a familiar examination.
You will be asked to lie on your left side, on an examination table with your knees brought up towards your chest. If you find it easier, you can stand and lean over the back of a chair or across the examination table instead.
The doctor will put on a thin vinyl or rubber glove, lubricate their gloved forefinger with gel and slide it gently into your back passage. You may find this uncomfortable or embarrassing, but it should not be painful.
The doctor feels the back surface of the prostate gland for any hard or irregular areas and to estimate its size. If the prostate gland is larger than expected this could be a sign of BPH. A prostate gland with hard bumpy areas may suggest prostate cancer. If the DRE result gives cause for concern, you will be referred to a hospital specialist. This will usually be a urologist.
