Doctors may have different approaches in diagnosing a patient’s health condition. Physical examination is a basic procedure which helps determine the cause of many health problems. For more complicated health conditions, a rectal examination is usually included in the process. Rectal examination is commonly administered on patients with colo-rectal diseases.

A rectal examination is performed in the lower rectum. A visual inspection of the perianal skin, digital palpation of the rectum, and assessment of neuromuscular function of the perineum completes the process. Before a doctor performs the procedure, an examination of the area outside of the anus is recommended to determine if there are external hemorrhoids or fissures. The doctor then puts a latex glove on his finger and checks the anus for any abnormalities.

What are the significant benefits of this procedure? Digital or finger rectal examination is used to check for growths in or enlargement of the prostate gland in men. It can detect tumors in the prostrate. Other symptoms like frequent urinating in men may also require a rectal exam. For women, rectal examinations can help determine problems in the reproductive organs like the uterus and ovaries. It is commonly included in the regular check up of women while undergoing pelvic examinations or Pap test. Women suffering from pain in the pelvic area and experiencing vaginal bleeding will be advised to undergo a rectal exam.

Digital rectal examination will also help a medical practitioner to find the cause of rectal bleeding or blood in stool which is commonly associated with constipation and chronic hemorrhoids. Belly or pelvic pain, changes in urination and a change in the bowel movement are some of the symptoms of other diseases which can be detected by the procedure. The method can also be used in collecting stool sample to check for blood in the stool.

A rectal exam will also help the doctor check for any abnormalities of the tissues in the rectal area such as the presence of hemorrhoids and growth of tumors or cancer in the rectum. Since rectal examination has its own limitations, patients with colo-rectal cancer need additional laboratory tests. A doctor may also fail to diagnose patients with internal hemorrhoids at an earlier stage because they may be soft and difficult to feel. A sigmoidoscopy may be needed to determine the status of internal hemorrhoids.

Rectal examination is also performed before a colonoscopy to make sure nothing is blocking the rectum before inserting an instrument. The rectal exam is considered as an initial screening examination thus it is recommended that other exams or lab tests must be done to have a more reliable diagnosis.

Patients required to undergo a digital rectal exam should not worry since the procedure is simple. They may only feel some discomfort in the rectal area during the examination. Although there are some cases where it causes bleeding due to the existing condition in the anal area like patients with inflamed hemorrhoids.

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