What is a digital rectal exam?

A digital rectal exam is used by your doctor to examine your rectum and nearby organs. During the exam, your doctor will gently insert a gloved finger with lubricant into the rectum and may press on your belly or pelvic area with the other hand.

Digital rectal exams are commonly performed to check a man’s prostate. But this exam also allows your doctor to feel abnormalities for both men and women in other areas, such as the rectum, anus, uterus, ovaries and bladder.

doctor discussing digital rectal exam with a patient

Why might I need a digital rectal exam?

You might have a digital rectal exam as part of a routine checkup, for screening, or when you have symptoms related to your digestive, urinary or reproductive organs. For example, your doctor may use the exam to feel for changes in your prostate if you have symptoms like frequent urination.

As part of the screening and diagnosis of prostate, gynecologic, colon or rectal cancers, your doctor will often use a digital rectal exam along with other tests—like a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, a pelvic exam or a stool test. Your doctor can sometimes collect a stool sample during the exam to test for hidden blood, called a fecal occult blood test, which may help detect colorectal polyps or cancer.

Some symptoms that might lead to a digital rectal exam include:

The exam lets your provider look for signs of conditions such as:

Who performs a digital rectal exam?

A digital rectal exam is typically performed in the office by primary care providers or specialists caring for digestive, urinary or pelvic health needs. The provider who performs your exam will depend on your specific symptoms or health condition. 

For example, your gastroenterologist could perform the exam if you have a digestive condition. For pelvic health, your obstetrician and gynecologist might perform a digital rectal exam along with a pelvic exam. Other doctors, such as urologists, surgeons and oncologists, use this exam, too. 

doctor discussing digital rectal exam with a female patient

How often should I get a digital rectal exam?

Your doctor may recommend a digital rectal exam as part of your annual checkup, prostate cancer screening or well-woman exam. If you choose prostate cancer screening, the American Cancer Society recommends screening every two years if your PSA test is below 2.5 and every year if it’s above 2.5.

How do I prepare for a digital rectal exam?

Because it’s a simple in-office exam, you usually don’t need to do anything to prepare for a digital rectal exam. Let your doctor know if you have rectal pain, hemorrhoids or anal fissures before having the exam.

How it is done

Like many other routine physical exams, a digital rectal exam is done in your doctor’s office in the privacy of an exam room. Your care team will give you instructions on how to stand or lie down for the exam. They’ll let you know what to expect as they perform the exam so that you feel more comfortable.

Before the exam

Before your exam, you’ll need to undress from the waist down and be given a gown or sheet to cover up. Depending on the reason for the exam, you may lie on your side with your knees bent up, stand up and lean over an exam table, or lie on your back with your feet in stirrups. Tell your physician of any concerns you may have about the exam.

Understanding the results

You can talk with your doctor and ask any questions about your results immediately following your digital rectal exam. Your doctor will also let you know if you need other tests as a follow-up to your exam.  

Normal

A normal digital rectal exam means your doctor didn’t find anything unusual or abnormal during the exam. Depending on the reason for your exam, you may have other tests or repeat the exam as part of your next routine appointment.


Abnormal

An abnormal digital rectal exam means your provider found signs of a possible condition, but this could be many things. These signs could include bleeding, a lump or inflammation, or pain. Additional tests, such as blood tests, imaging tests, or an examination under anesthesia, including a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy, could give your provider more information.

Frequently asked questions

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