What tests are done by my GP?
Digital rectal examination (DRE)
A common way of helping to diagnose a prostate problem is for the doctor or nurse to feel the prostate gland through the wall of the back passage (rectum). This is called a digital rectal examination (DRE).
The DRE may be carried out by your GP and will be repeated by the hospital specialist (urologist) if your GP thinks you should see one.
You may be asked to lie on your side, on an examination couch with your knees brought up towards your chest, or to stand and lean over the back of a chair or the examination table.
The doctor or nurse will put on a thin protective glove, lubricate their gloved forefinger, and slide it gently into your back passage. You may find this uncomfortable or embarrassing, but it should not be painful.
The doctor or nurse feels the back surface of the prostate gland for any hard or irregular areas and to estimate its size. If the prostate gland is larger than expected for your age group this could be a sign of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A prostate gland with hard bumpy areas may suggest prostate cancer and may need further investigation by a hospital specialist.
