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How To Do A Prostate Exam

Are You Seeing Prostate Cancer Becoming More Prevalent In Younger Patients

What to Expect from a Prostate Exam

Its pretty rare. Its less common that men in their 40s have prostate cancer, but, we also are very rarely screening them. The young men who come in to be screened tend to have one of those high-risk features. They most likely had a father who had prostate cancer, so theyre nervous about it. Or theyre African-American, and theyve been flagged by their health care providers.

If youre young, your quality of life is even more important to you right now. We know that, if diagnosed with low-grade prostate cancer, a person will need treatment at some time in life. If we can delay treatmentwhich could negatively impact urinary or sexual functionby several years, then we should do that and obviously discuss that there is a low but possible chance of metastasis developing during that time.

Can’t I Just Get A Blood Test

If you have concerns about prostate cancer you certainly should have a Prostate Specific Antigen blood test. Knowing your PSA level can help to establish what’s normal for you so that a spike is more easily identified. But a blood test alone is not enough. The test has been known to deliver ‘false-positive’ results in some cases – leading men into have invasive biopsies for no reason. Up to 20% of men with prostate cancer show no increase in PSA levels*. So it’s best used to check against the result of a rectal exam but can’t be relied upon in isolation.

What Do You Want Men To Know About Prostate Cancer

The important thing to know is that, if you live long enough, you will probably get prostate cancer. If you live into your 80s, about 80 percent of men have some sort of prostate cancer. That doesnt mean theyre going to die from prostate cancer because, as a percentage, very few men die from prostate cancer. It means its important to be aware of it and consider screening early, so if its a high-grade type, we can identify it and treat it.

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Self Prostate Exam For Prostatic Hyperplasia

Clinically we divided prostatic hyperplasia into three gradients, indicating the severity of benign prostatic hyperplasia disease. So, in our daily lives, how to perform self prostate exam? What are the evaluation criteria?

According to the severity of the disease, each disease can be divided into mild, moderate and severe, benign prostatic hyperplasia is with no exception. So what are the typical symptoms for mild, moderate and severe prostatic hyperplasia? How can we male patients to perform self prostate exam?

Screenings Can Lead To High Costs

Is a prostate self exam something you can do safely and ...

The cost for a PSA test is fairly lowabout $40.

If your result is abnormal, the costs start adding up. Your doctor will usually refer you to a urologist for a biopsy. Costs may include:

  • A consultation fee .
  • An ultrasound fee .
  • Additional professional fees .
  • Biopsy fees .

If the biopsy causes problems, there are more costs. You might also have hospital costs.

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When Is A Psa Test Needed

If you are age 50 to 74, you should discuss the PSA test with your doctor. Ask about the possible risks and benefits.

Men under 50 or over 75 rarely need a PSA test, unless they have a high risk for prostate cancer.

  • You are more likely to get prostate cancer if you have a family history of prostate cancer, especially in a close relative such as a parent or sibling.
  • Your risks are higher if your relative got prostate cancer before age 60 or died from it before age 75. These early cancers are more likely to grow faster.
  • If you have these risks, you may want to ask your doctor about getting the PSA test before age 50.

This report is for you to use when talking with your healthcare provider. It is not a substitute for medical advice and treatment. Use of this report is at your own risk.

04/2014

What Are The Symptoms Of Prostate Problems

The symptoms of prostate problems may include

  • urinary retentionthe inability to empty the bladder completely
  • urinary frequencyurination eight or more times a day
  • urinary urgencythe inability to delay urination
  • urinary incontinencethe accidental loss of urine
  • nocturiafrequent urination at night
  • trouble beginning a urine stream
  • weak or interrupted urine stream
  • blockage of urine
  • urine that has an unusual color or odor
  • pain after ejaculation or during urination

Different prostate problems may have similar symptoms. For example, one man with prostatitis and another with BPH may both experience urinary urgency. Sometimes symptoms for the same prostate problem differ among individuals. For example, one man with BPH may have trouble beginning a urine stream, while another may experience nocturia. A man in the early stages of prostate cancer may have no symptoms at all. Because of this confusing array of symptoms, a thorough medical exam and testing are vital.

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Who Can Have A Prostate Orgasm

There’s a problematic yet persistent notion out there that you can’t be straight and enjoy butt play. This is falsea complete myth.

Anyone who has a prostate can potentially have a prostate orgasm, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation, says Dr. Justin Lehmiller, a research fellow at the Kinsey Institute, host of the Sex and Psychology Podcast, and member of the Men’s Health Advisory Board.

Another Option: Digital Rectal Exams

How to Check Your Prostate

Most prostate biopsies are driven by PSA results. Urologists also use the digital rectal exam, or DRE.

“The American Urological Association hasn’t recommended rectal exams because there has yet to be a randomized trial in which some men get the rectal exam and some don’t. Based on who lives and dies, this would show if rectal exams have value,” says Dr. Freedland. “Many people, myself included, think they do have value. It’s part of the evaluation that we use even if it’s not officially in our guidelines.”

The DRE may cause momentary discomfort, but it can also detect prostate cancer for those patients with normal PSA levels. “We use the exam because we think it should work and be helpful, even if it hasn’t been studied,” Dr. Freedland adds. “Most people are screened with PSA and DRE.”

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What To Expect During Your Prostate Exam

If you’ve been avoiding a prostate exam, you could be putting your health at risk. Knowing the facts about the procedure will help put any fears, concerns, or squeamishness to rest.

If you’re a man older than 40 and have not yet had a prostate exam, it’s a good time to talk to your doctor. If you’re also African American or have a family history of prostate cancer, it’s a really good time. One of six men eventually gets a prostate cancer diagnosis. And even though most men have a slow-growing type, prostate cancer is still the leading cause of cancer deaths in men older than 75. So if you’re afraid of a prostate exam, it’s time get over it and protect your prostate health.

“Start talking about your prostate care plan at age 40, and if you and your doctor think the time is right, get a digital rectal exam and a PSA blood test during your annual physical,” suggests Dan Zenka, senior vice president of the Prostate Cancer Foundation and a prostate cancer survivor who was diagnosed at age 51 in 2010.

What to Expect During a Primary Care Prostate Health Exam

Your doctor will probably start by asking you if you have any prostate health symptoms like a weak urine stream, dribbling, straining to urinate, or blood in your sperm or urine. Your doctor may also ask if you have a father or a brother with prostate cancer – and if the doctor doesn’t ask, volunteer the information.

Here are the two tests that will be done:

What to Expect if You Need a Prostate Cancer Exam

Are There Any Risks And Side Effects To Prostate Massages

The anal mucosa and the anus itself are very sensitive,” Hong explains. Although the anus is built to stretch to a certain extent, it doesnt self-lubricate, meaning without proper precautions anal stimulation can cause pain and tearing . This means that its super important for everyone involved to prepare for giving and receiving a prostate massage . Its also worth mentioning that this might feel a bit uncomfortable at first. As SELF previously reported, making sure youre getting in sufficient amounts of foreplay is a big part of lowering the odds that youll deal with things like pain and tearing.

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Before Having A Rectal Examination

Your doctor or nurse should explain what’s going to happen and why you need a rectal examination.

They’ll know that some people can feel embarrassed, but it’s a common procedure.

Let the doctor or nurse know if:

  • you’d prefer a man or woman to perform the examination
  • you’d like someone else in the room it could be a friend, family member or another doctor or nurse
  • you have severe pain in your bottom they may be able to use local anaesthetic to numb the area

How To Stimulate Prostate For Maximum Pleasure

Prostatitis (Infection of the Prostate): Symptoms ...

There are a number of ways to achieve the goal. Here is how you should proceed for maximum effects.

Step 1: Prepare the Things That You Need

You need to pay attention to certain things before you even think of stimulating your prostate internally or externally. If you are have someone massaging it for you, then he/she should make the preparations. For instance:

  • You should trim your nails and use a filer to get rid of any sharp edges. You will be using your finger to learn how to stimulate prostate and sharp nails can hurt your sensitive tissues.
  • You should wash your hands thoroughly using an antiseptic solution to reduce the chances of infection.
  • You should get a good quality lube and lubricate your hand properly. You may even consider lubricating the anus.
  • You should spend some time massaging your perineum and anus from the outside before taking it to the next step.

Step 2: Prepare your Body and Sexual Organs

You need to understand that rushing through things may lead to complications. You need to be patient and always start with an external massage. The perineum, the area located between the anus sand the scrotum, should be massaged lighting from the outside. Even though you dont feel your prostate when massaging the perineum, youre still giving a massage to your prostate in an indirect way. Maintain a rhythmic, circular motion when massaging the anus it is fine to gently push on your anus without inserting your finger in for now.

Step 3: Find the Prostate

Also Check: Man To Man Prostate Cancer Support Group

How To Locate Your Prostate

This article was medically reviewed by Erik Kramer, DO, MPH. Dr. Erik Kramer is a Primary Care Physician at the University of Colorado, specializing in internal medicine, diabetes, and weight management. He received his Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine from the Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2012. Dr. Kramer is a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine and is board certified.There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 194,296 times.

The prostate is a walnut-sized organ in males that plays a major role in the production of semen. The easiest way to access the prostate is by way of an index finger carefully inserted into the rectum. The processes for accessing the prostate as part of a medical exam or for sexual pleasure are the same, and the same precautions should be taken. You should also keep an eye out for signs of potential prostate problems and contact your doctor as needed.

Results And Follow Up

After a DRE, your healthcare provider will know right away if there are any problems like lumps or a prostate that is larger than usual . You will discuss any findings with your provider and plan the next steps. The results from a PSA test typically take around two weeks to come back, and your healthcare provider will go over these with you.

If all of your test results are normal, and you and your provider decide to continue screening, you will most likely need testing every two years. However, if the PSA test is abnormal, your healthcare provider may refer you to a urologist for additional testing.

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What To Expect During The Digital Rectal Exam

This examination can be done while you are either standing or lying down. This may depend on the examination room and any other health conditions that you have.

If standing, you will be asked to stand facing the examination bed, with feet apart, body bent forward, and your arms or elbows on the bed. Feel free to ask your healthcare provider to give you a heads up before each part of your exam.

Your healthcare provider will coat their gloved finger in lubricant. They will insert their finger into your rectum at a downwards angle. You may feel a little pressure or slight discomfort, but it shouldn’t hurt. It is important to relax and take deep breaths and let your healthcare provider know immediately if you feel any pain.

It may take a few seconds for your external sphincter muscle to relax, and your provider may ask you to bear down as if you are having a bowel movement. They will move their finger in a circular motion in order to identify the lobes of your prostate gland.

A normal prostate is usually around 2-4 cm long and has a triangular shape, with a firm and rubbery texture.

During this exam, the healthcare provider checks for:

  • Lumps on or around the prostate
  • Swelling

Screening Tests For Prostate Cancer

How to give a Prostate Exam

Screening is testing to find cancer in people before they have symptoms. Its not clear, however, if the benefits of prostate cancer screening outweigh the risks for most men. Still, after discussing the pros and cons of screening with their doctors, some men might reasonably choose to be screened.

The screening tests discussed here are used to look for possible signs of prostate cancer. But these tests cant tell for sure if you have cancer. If the result of one of these tests is abnormal, you will probably need a prostate biopsy to know for sure if you have cancer.

Read Also: Zero The End Of Prostate Cancer

Any Sign Of My Car Keys

At what age should you get a prostate exam? Because the early stages of prostate cancer often show no symptoms, detecting it ASAP is the only reason you need to get checked. And if the doctor finds your keys, consider it a bonus. The Canadian Cancer Society recommends you wait until youre around 50 to get screened for prostate cancer.

As you can tell, prostate exams are, ahem, the butts of some pretty good one-liners. Here are some more:

After my prostate exam, the doctor left. The nurse came in with a worried look on her face, and said the three words I was dreading to hear: Who was that?

I had a prostate exam yesterday. Thats the last time I will ever fall asleep on the subway!

I went to see my doctor for a prostate exam. There was nothing to worry about he gave me the thumbs up!

What Are Some Common Prostate Problems

The most common prostate problem in men younger than age 50 is inflammation, called prostatitis. Prostate enlargement, or benign prostatic hyperplasia , is another common problem. Because the prostate continues to grow as a man ages, BPH is the most common prostate problem for men older than age 50. Older men are at risk for prostate cancer as well, but it is much less common than BPH.

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How Do I Get Ready For A Dre

You do not need to do anything special to prepare for a DRE. But there are a few things to keep in mind.

  • Tell your health care team if you have hemorrhoids or anal fissures. The DRE may make them worse.

  • If you are concerned about the cost of your DRE, find out from your insurance provider what costs they will cover beforehand. Ask how much of the cost you will have to pay out of pocket.

  • You will be asked to sign a consent form before your DRE. The form will state that you understand the benefits and risks of the DRE and agree to have the test. Your doctor or nurse will explain the test before you sign the form, and you can ask questions.

What Does A Prostate Orgasm Feel Like

Giving The Finger To My Prostate Exam

Sex should not be painful, and that goes for working toward a prostate orgasm. With lots of lube and patience, the most you should feel is a little discomfort until your body familiarizes itself with the sensation of prostate stimulation, Play says.

Once you get to the climax, the feeling of a prostate orgasm can be other-worldly. “It feels more like a full-body orgasm, and is very different from the kind youve had from penile stimulation,” Play says. Pretty powerful, eh?

Unlike penile orgasms, prostate orgasms don’t come with a refractory period, making them ideal for penis-owners who want to experience multiple orgasms. “To my surprise, what Ive found is that after I have a prostate orgasm, my penis stays hard and is still responsive to sexual stimulation,” Play says. “If you continue to masturbate by touching your penis, you can immediately have another orgasm. Eventually, you can have more and more orgasms. So, all in all, I think that prostate orgasms have the most potential for accessible multiple orgasms.”

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