If you have decided that the time has come for you to know how to do a prostate exam, then it is first essential that you get yourself acquainted with the procedure. In a nutshell, the way this test works is that your doctor will insert a gloved stick called a speculum into the rectum through the rectal opening. It is through this method that he will be able to inspect the prostate and detect whether or not there are any abnormalities in it. This examination is usually done only once, and thus it is referred to as the rectal exam. The purpose of this examination is mainly to discover any abnormal growths in the prostate gland or in its surrounding areas, but sometimes it is used to determine the patient’s prostate cancer status.
Since we know the purpose of how to do a prostate exam, we may now proceed to the specifics. First, what happens during the examination? Usually, your doctor will insert a gloved stick called a speculum into the anus via the anal opening and carefully look around the area. He will either look for signs of cancer or simply study the anatomy without any particular agenda. Once this is done, he will likely explain what he is looking for and how these cells or tissues are detected. Sometimes he will ask you questions regarding your daily habits and diet, and some doctors even conduct blood tests on you to ensure that your PSA levels are normal.
When you go to the doctor to know how to do a prostate exam, it is important that you remember that this is not considered a major surgical procedure. There are times when such exams are needed in order to detect prostate cancer or for other serious medical conditions. Usually, though, this process is not required unless a patient has a particularly pressing health problem or if his doctor feels that he must check things out. As such, always inform yourself about the whole process of how to do a prostate exam so that you can decide whether it is something that you need to go through or not. Also, it helps if you find out beforehand whether the procedure will be done by the doctor or whether you will be able to perform it on your own.
What usually happens during the examination is that the doctor inserts a gloved stick called a speculum into the male’s rectum through the anus. This is then brought back out and inspected. Sometimes, there may only be small amounts of tissue to be checked, but this is not always the case. When the exam is over, a special tube called a cannula is inserted into the rectum to remove the material removed from the testicle. This is then inspected for cancer cells or if the cells are malignant.
During a pelvic examination, the doctor will also take a sample of fluid from the man’s private area. This sample will be examined under a microscope to determine if there are any abnormalities. The doctor may also take out a tissue sample through the scrotum for more examination. During this part of the exam, it is important to note that prostate cancer growths can be very large; therefore, there is no need to worry if a small amount of tissue is removed.
Once a man has received the all-clear from the exam, he will be asked to undergo another one called a transrectal ultrasound. During this procedure, the ultrasound is used to determine the thickness of the prostate tissues in the testicles. It can help determine if the tissue is malignant or not. If it is found to be cancerous, other tests will be performed to determine the type of prostate cancer. This includes having the doctor asks you questions about the family medical history, the size and shape of your testicles, and any previous health problems you may have had.
Another option when you want to know how to do a prostate exam is to do so manually using a device known as an Anoscope. However, using such equipment requires a lot of skill, patience, and experience which is why many doctors don’t try to perform such a procedure. When you want to know how to do a prostate exam, it is important to wear comfortable clothing like loose fitting pants and underwear. A tight-fitting shirt is not advisable either. You should also ask your doctor for some alternative treatments you can do before and after the exam to be able to relieve any pain that you may feel during the procedure.
How to do prostate exams is important for a number of reasons. One is to determine whether or not there are indeed abnormalities on your prostates and to know your risk factors for acquiring prostate cancer. Another is to be able to monitor your health particularly if you have had prostate cancer or if you are currently at risk. There are several prostate exams out there but you must know how to properly use each of them in order to determine your condition and to know what you are dealing with.
Source:
