Need a Prostate Exam? Here's What to Expect
Ann Schreiber
WEDNESDAY, May 31, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- You're due for a prostate exam, but you don't know what to expect.
So, what is this exam like?
Regular check-ups are essential for maintaining your health, and a prostate exam is crucial to preventive care for men. Not only is it a screening test for early signs of prostate cancer, but it also helps detect other potential health issues.
Here, experts walk you through what a prostate exam entails, when to consider scheduling one, how to prepare, and what the results might mean for you. So, dive in and learn more about this medical examination that every man should get at some point in his life.
Per the Cleveland Clinic, a prostate exam is a screening method to detect early signs of prostate cancer. Typically, the exam involves two main components: a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, and a digital rectal exam.
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The PSA blood test measures the levels of PSA in the bloodstream. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PSA is a substance produced by the prostate gland, and higher levels can indicate the presence of prostate cancer. However, it's important to note that elevated PSA levels can also be caused by other prostate-related conditions and factors such as age and race.
Medical procedures, medications, an enlarged prostate or a prostate infection can all influence PSA levels. Therefore, it is crucial to consult with your doctor to accurately interpret PSA test results. If the PSA test shows abnormal results, your doctor may recommend a biopsy to determine if prostate cancer is present.
The other test that is often conducted during a prostate exam is the digital rectal exam, or DRE. The prostate gland is located just in front of the rectum. The Prostate Cancer Foundation says that during this part of your prostate exam, your doctor will gently insert a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum to assess the size, shape and texture of the prostate for any irregularities. Although the test is brief, it may cause some discomfort, but it should not be painful.
By combining the PSA blood test results and the digital rectal exam, health care providers can gather vital information to evaluate the health of your prostate.
When should men get a prostate exam?
The ideal prostate exam age can vary, depending on individual risk factors. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommendations, men should have an informed discussion with their health care provider about the potential benefits and risks of prostate cancer screening starting at age 50 for average-risk individuals.
Further, the Prostate Cancer Foundation suggests that Black men are 1.6 times more likely to get prostate cancer. For this reason, if you are Black or if you have a family history of prostate cancer, you should talk with your doctor about starting a prostate exam at age 40.
The frequency of prostate exams also depends on the individual's risk profile and the results of previous screenings. Based on the ACS guidelines, if the initial PSA blood test and digital rectal exam results are normal, further testing is typically recommended every two years. However, if the results indicate a higher risk, more frequent screenings may be necessary.
How to prepare for a prostate exam
Preparing for a prostate exam typically requires minimal effort. As per the Cleveland Clinic, there is little specific preparation needed. However, it is important to inform your health care provider if you have existing conditions such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures or anal tears, as they may cause discomfort during the exam. Additionally, your health care provider may advise abstaining from sexual activity for 48 hours prior to the exam. Ejaculation can temporarily raise PSA levels, which might affect the accuracy of your test results.
Regarding the common question on whether you should poop before a prostate exam, urologist Dr. Wagner Baptiste suggested in a recent article that it is acceptable to do so if you feel the need.
“But don’t force it if you don’t need to move your bowels," Baptiste added. “There’s no specific bowel prep necessary. It’s common for poop to appear during the exam, but your doctor is used to it and knows what they’re doing and knows where your rectal wall lies to move feces out of the way.”
What is a prostate exam like?
“A prostate exam is a digital or finger exam in the rectum to feel the prostate through the rectal wall,” Dr. Matthew Sand, a urologist at Piedmont Physicians Urology in Atlanta, said in a recent article. “We estimate the size of the prostate and then we feel around for nodules, which are concerning for prostate cancer.”
Sand explained that the purpose of the exam is to assess the size of the prostate and check for any nodules that could indicate prostate cancer. The procedure is fairly straightforward and typically lasts only a few seconds.
"The whole procedure probably takes three to five seconds," Sand noted. Despite its brevity, the prostate exam serves as a crucial step in monitoring prostate health.
What do the results mean?
“Screening can lead to earlier prostate cancer detection, and with earlier detection, you’re eligible for multiple different treatments or active surveillance,” said Dr. Sia Daneshmand, director of urologic oncology at Keck Medicine of USC and a professor of clinical urology at USC's Keck School of Medicine. “So we encourage patients who are candidates for screening to discuss it with their urologist and/or primary care physician so that we can determine what’s the best course of treatment for them.”
According to the CDC, the goal of screening for prostate cancer is to detect cancers that may be at a high risk of spreading if left untreated and to identify them before they have a chance to spread.
However, the U.S. National Cancer Institute states there is no specific normal or abnormal level of PSA in the blood. While PSA levels below 4.0 ng/mL were previously considered normal, it is important to note that some individuals with levels below this threshold can still have prostate cancer, while many with levels between 4 and 10 ng/mL do not have prostate cancer.
PSA levels can fluctuate due to age, prostate gland size, inflammation or infection, recent prostate biopsy, ejaculation and intense exercise. Certain medications used to treat an enlarged prostate can lower PSA levels. Generally, a higher PSA level increases the likelihood of prostate cancer, but it is crucial to interpret PSA results in consultation with a health care provider who can assess the individual's overall risk profile and consider additional factors for a more accurate diagnosis.
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Agustina Gandolfo The Instagram sensation married Argentine striker Lautaro Martinez last month after being introduced to the footballer by Mauro Icardi's wife and fellow Insta star Wanda Nara.
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Camilla Bresciani The wife of Inter's defensive stalwart Alessandro Bastoni. To mark their wedding day she posted: "When I look back the only thing I see is my victory in choosing you. You are the truest and most sincere love I have ever felt." Beautiful.
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'Woke' light assembly question on Queen's engineering exam sparks controversy
Breadcrumb Trail LinksThe question said students have been asked to design a 'woke' light fixture capable of 'centering diverse anti-cis-normative identities'
This question appeared in a Queen's University engineering exam. Photo by Twitter
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Students sitting for an engineering exam at Queen’s University were faced with a question asking them to design a “woke” lighting assembly, and it has raised concerns on campus.
The question, reported by the Queen’s Journal, the student newspaper at the Kingston, Ont., university, was on an engineering mechanics exam in the first-year class taught by civil engineering professor Colin MacDougall.
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A photo of the question circulated online last month and some Queen’s students reportedly only learned about it after controversial author and psychologist Jordan Peterson retweeted it.
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The question said students have been asked to design a “woke” light fixture, with LEDs that “are capable of producing a wide range of colors providing an opportunity for centering diverse anti-cis-normative identities.” The assembly, according to a quote from the fictitious organizers, asks the designers to take into account sustainable materials to reduce the environmental impact of the light assembly.
“You’re not sure what any of that means but you decide to get to work,” the question concludes.
While some students apparently found the question funny, a group on campus, EngiQueers, which advocates for queer students in the engineering faculty, has raised concerns about the question, the Queen’s Journal reported.
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Article content“It really makes you question your place in engineering as (a) queer student,” Zoe Irwin, co-president of the club, told the student newspaper. “It makes you shrink. It makes you feel smaller.”
The group’s other co-president, Anna Wasylyk, told the Journal she had emailed MacDougall directly about her concerns.
On the Queen’s University subreddit, students discussed the exam question.
“I was so confused when this showed up on the exam…. His political rant doesn’t even help you solve the problem,” wrote one user, Tragicallycold. “Gonna be brutally honest. Couldn’t solve this problem to save my life, I left most of it blank lol.”
It is apparently not the first time MacDougall has generated controversy with his exam questions. One student on reddit said in their year, there was a Freedom Convoy-themed final exam question, and another said a question in their year mocked students with disabilities.
MacDougall did not respond to the National Post’s request for comment, nor did EngiQueers or the dean of the engineering faculty.
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