Prostate exams are a normal part of male health care. Whether your health care provider is checking you out for preventative measures or if he is trying to diagnose your symptoms, a prostate exam is an important tool for determining your urinary or reproductive health.
Your Prostate
Your prostate gland is a small walnut-shaped organ that is found at the top of the urethra, the tube through which urine is expelled from the body. As a member of the reproductive system, it aids in reproduction by releasing a nutrient for sperm during ejaculation. The prostate grows from puberty until about age twenty, but also experiences another growth spurt as you reach forty-five. Obviously, the prostate gland is only found in males.
Reasons for a Prostate Exam
Prostate exams are a routine part of medical care for men after they reach fifty years old. However, if you are experiencing health problems, your health care provider may suggest that you undergo one even if you are not fifty years old. One example is difficulty urinating. Even though the prostate is not a part of the urinary system, it sits at the top of the urethra and can affect your urination. Another reason you may have a prostate exam is that you have a high risk of prostate cancer and your health care provider wants to catch any abnormalities early.
Digital Rectal Exam
A digital rectal exam (DRE) is a physical examination of the prostate gland. Your health care provider will ask you to stand with your feet apart and bend slightly forward. Using a surgical glove and a little lubricant, your health care provider will insert his finger into your rectum at a downward angle. Expect to feel no discomfort, but a small amount of pressure as his finger enters. Your health care provider will wait for your rectal muscles to relax and then begin to move his finger in a circular motion. This helps him exam the prostate glands' lobes and groove.
Other Tests
Depending on the reason for your prostate exam, your health care provider may also run a few diagnostic tests. If your prostate exam is being done because of urinary problems, he may also run a urinary analysis or have a urine culture grown. There is also the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test, which is a blood test that measures a protein produced in the prostate. A high PSA test may indicate an enlarged prostate.
Follow-up
After your prostate exam, your health care provider will interpret the results and advise you further. If your results are clear, he may perform other tests to determine what else could cause your symptoms. If he diagnoses you with a urinary tract infection or prostate infection, he will provide antibiotics to cure the infection. A prostate cancer diagnosis will lead to a referral to an urologist, who can help you understand your treatment options.
Tags: health care, care provider, health care provider, your health care, care provider will, provider will, your health
