How it is Performed
The physician instructs the patient to bend over the examination table resting his elbows on the table. Alternatively, a patient can lay on his side on the exam table in the fetal position during the test.
At this point, the doctor gently inserts one lubricated, gloved finger ("digit" means "finger") into the rectum and palpates the back of the prostate to determine its size and consistency. A normal prostate is about the size of a walnut and soft to the touch. This usually takes about five seconds to perform.
Men are very uncomfortable with the DRE procedure for many reasons. The position, the discomfort and the stigma surrounding this test are unmatched. However, the DRE can detect prostate cancer that goes undetected by the PSA blood test.
Recommendation:
The DRE with the PSA test should be given annually for every man once they reach 50 years of age. If a man is at higher risk for prostate cancer, he should start having the annual exams earlier in life.