A digital rectal examination (DRE) is a simple procedure doctors use to examine the lower rectum and other internal organs. A DRE is done for a number of reasons. It’s a quick, easy way to check the ...

Mark Gurarie is a writer covering health topics, technology, music, books, and culture. He also teaches health science and research writing at George Washington University's School of Medical and ...

What Is a Prostate Exam? A prostate exam is a test that checks for early signs of prostate cancer. It doesn't reveal cancer, but if the test shows an abnormal result, your doctor will likely need to ...

The quality of evidence to support the use of digital rectal exams for prostate cancer screenings in primary care setting was “very low,” according to a systematic review and meta-analysis recently ...

Reisman is a general internist in Connecticut. In August, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a government-sponsored panel of medical experts, issued new recommendations regarding prostate cancer ...

SAN DIEGO — By skipping rectal examinations as part of their workup, physicians may be missing the cause of constipation for some, a new study suggests. Constipation is one of the most common reasons ...

Brett Montgomery is a fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, whose guidelines he discusses in this article. He was not involved in the writing of these guidelines. Ceasing ...