Rectal examination is for many people fearful and embarrassing. Unnecessarily, because for a doctor it is a routine examination and, what is very important, it allows to diagnose many dangerous diseases even at a very early stage. Rectal examination enables, among other things, the diagnosis of hemorrhoids and rectal tumors.
Rectal examination(finger through the anus) is widely used in gynecology, proctology and urology. Rectal examination allows the assessment ofanus , the anal canal and rectum, as well as the organs adjacent to the rectum, and allows the diagnosis of hemorrhoids. In addition, rectal examination
- in men it allows to assess the bottom of the bladder, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate gland, penile bulb
- in women it is used in the diagnosis of diseases of the posterior surface of the uterus, upper vagina, ovaries, cervix, utero-rectal cavity, as well as in the examination of the fetal head in pregnant women
You may feel some resistance for understandable reasons, but the rectal examination is almost painless and only takes a few minutes. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, you don't need to prepare yourself for this test.
Rectal Examination: Indications
Rectal examination is routinely performed, for example in the prophylaxis of such cancers as prostate cancer, rectal cancer or colorectal cancer. It is also executed when:
- rectal bleeding occurs
- fresh blood found in stool
- positive for occult blood in stool
- there was an unexplained weight loss
- anemia was found
- colon X-rays must be verified
- there is a change in the frequency and nature of bowel movements (often alternating constipation and diarrhea)
- severe pain in the abdomen and anus area
- troublesome itching of the anus
- problems with urination appeared in men
- pain with defecation and a feeling of incomplete bowel movements
- abnormal discharge from or around the anus
Rectal Examination: Mileage
The test may be performed in a standing position. You can also kneel, lie on your side or on your back. Doctorfirst, he looks at the area of the anus, also examining it by touch. Then, the finger is gradually introduced into the rectum (to a depth of about 8 cm), protected by a glove and covered with a friction reducing agent (petroleum jelly, lignocaine gel). Sometimes, due to the strong pressure on the coccyx by the rectum, you may feel pain, but this does not necessarily mean that you are ill. Using the fingertip, the physician draws a complete circumference at each depth to obtain information from all the walls of the anus and rectum. After removing the finger from the rectum, he checks it for blood. After the examination is complete, you will be given lignin to cleanse the anal area.