{"id":37465,"date":"2022-10-22T05:33:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-22T05:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/?p=37465"},"modified":"2026-05-28T05:25:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T05:25:29","slug":"prostate-screening-recommendations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/prostate-health\/prostate-screening-recommendations\/","title":{"rendered":"How Often Should A Man Get His Prostate Checked?"},"content":{"rendered":"Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men.\n\n\n\n\n\nThe disease is prevalent in men over 50, and even if you’re not diagnosed with prostate cancer, this is the only gland in the body that continues to grow throughout life.\n\n\n\n\n\nThis means that the prostate can grow enormous before it becomes a problem.\n\n\n\n\n\nMen who do not have prostate cancer are likely to get benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) at some point in their lives.\n\n\n\n\n\nProstate cancer and BPH can be severe illness that causes pain, impotence, and urinary problems.\n\n\n\n\n\nThese symptoms may not be noticeable until the problem is severe.\n\n\n\n\n\nIf caught early, these diseases can be cured. If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early stage, you have a better chance of survival than if you had lung cancer.\n\n\n\n\n\nBut many men don\u2019t know they have prostate cancer until they have complications. That’s why doctors screen apparently healthy patients for prostate conditions.\n\n\n\n\n\nSo, how often should a man get his prostate checked? And what types of prostate exams can detect prostate problems? Keep reading to find out.\n\n\n\n\n

What is a prostate exam?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\nA prostate exam<\/a> is a medical test or maneuver used for prostate-related conditions. These exams are essential as a part of screening for prostate cancer. However, in searching for prostate cancer, doctors commonly find many cases of prostate enlargement.\n\n\n\n\n\nWhen the doctor examines your prostate, they can use different methods. It depends on your signs and symptoms, age, and other factors.\n\n\n\n\n\nSometimes they would only perform a physical exam. In other cases, they will order a blood test or an ultrasound. And if your healthcare provider is actively suspecting prostate cancer, they may recommend a prostate biopsy<\/a>.\n\n\n\n\n
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Types of prostate exams<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\nProstate cancer can be detected early by a blood test called PSA (prostate-specific antigen), a digital rectal exam, or an ultrasound scan. Sometimes your doctor may recommend a prostate biopsy.\n\n\n\n\n\nHere’s the overview of each one (1,2,3):\n\n\n\n\n

PSA test<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nA PSA test<\/a> measures the protein level in the bloodstream produced by cells in the prostate gland. The protein is known as PSA or prostate-specific antigen, and it is only produced by the prostate.\n\n\n\n\n\nThe higher the PSA level, the greater the chance that the cells in the prostate gland are growing. However, doctors can only guess if such growth is due to benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostate cancer.\n\n\n\n\n\nThe PSA screening can detect prostate cancer before it causes any symptoms. It is simple, inexpensive, and effective but isn’t very accurate.\n\n\n\n\n\nThe PSA level may be elevated for many reasons<\/a>, including inflammation, infection, or injury to the prostate. Thus, it may give false positives, and the doctor should perform other tests, such as a digital rectal examination, for confirmation.\n\n\n\n\n

Digital rectal examination (DRE)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nA digital rectal exam<\/a> is a part of the physical exam in a urologist’s office. This prostate exam provides valuable insight into the rectum and a man’s prostate gland to check for any lumps, swelling, or prostate tumors.\n\n\n\n\n\nA digital prostate exam involves inserting two fingers into the rectum to check the prostate. This test is recommended for men with symptoms of prostate disease, a family history of prostate cancer, or a high risk of having these problems.\n\n\n\n\n

Prostate biopsy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nAfter a PSA test and a digital rectal examination are done, doctors will have a suspicion about your prostate health. If your risk of prostate cancer is high, you will be referred to a urologist, for instance, if your PSA level is higher than 5.0 ng\/ml.\n\n\n\n\n\nYour doctor may recommend a prostate biopsy when you have an increased risk or a suspicion of prostate cancer.\n\n\n\n\n\nA prostate biopsy involves taking a sample of tissue from the prostate gland. This sample can then be examined under a microscope to see if cancer cells are present.\n\n\n\n\n\nAlthough a prostate biopsy is one of the most common procedures for detecting prostate cancer, it has many potential side effects, risks, and complications.\n\n\n\n\n\nThis includes bleeding, pain, infection, acute urinary retention, and sexual problems.\n\n\n\n\n

Prostate ultrasound scan<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nIn some cases, your doctor will need extra information about the prostate tissue, but the risk or the suspicion is not worrying enough to warrant a prostate biopsy.\n\n\n\n\n\nThat’s when a prostate ultrasound<\/a> scan is used to obtain more information.\n\n\n\n\n\nThese exams can be performed through the abdomen with a full bladder or a transrectal ultrasound, with a probe inserted in the rectal cavity to reach the prostate. The former is more comfortable and easier to perform, but the latter is much more accurate.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What kind of doctor do you see for a prostate exam?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\nProstate exams are performed by a urologist, an internal medicine doctor, a family doctor, or a general practitioner. They are all qualified to order a prostate screening test, but not all of them will be qualified to treat your condition if they find abnormalities. In such a case, they will refer you to a urologist.\n\n\n\n\n\nUrologists<\/a> specialize in diagnosing and treating problems associated with the urinary system. They also treat diseases of the bladder, kidney, and other parts of the urinary tract.\n\n\n\n\n\nSo, why are they the specialist you want to see for a prostate-related problem? That’s because they also specialize in the male genitals and accessory organs, which are part of the urinary system.\n\n\n\n\n

What do doctors check for in a prostate exam?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn a prostate exam, doctors will routinely check for the PSA level and different physical traits of the prostate gland (1,2,3):\n\n\n\n\n

PSA levels<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nThe prostate gland grows as we age, producing more PSA protein as it continues growing. Thus, PSA levels will naturally increase, even if you don’t have problems with your prostate.\n\n\n\n\n\nBut such an increase warrants attention after a threshold of 5 ng\/ml. The threshold will be lower if you are 40 to 60 years, and there’s a PSA levels chart<\/a> and other elements to consider.\n\n\n\n\n

Physical traits of the prostate gland<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nDoctors will also check different aspects of the prostate through the digital rectal exam.\n\n\n\n\n\nFor example, lumps or growths are noticeable if they are located in the posterior aspect of the prostate.\n\n\n\n\n\nDoctors may also feel a change in the consistency of the prostate. It feels hard and lumpy in case of prostate cancer.\n\n\n\n\n\nA skilled doctor may even detect BPH by simply touching the prostate gland in a digital rectal exam.\n\n\n\n\n

Ultrasound characteristics of the prostate<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nDuring an ultrasound scan, doctors will check how the ultrasound waves go through the prostate. When the prostate has lumps and is harder than usual, the ultrasound shows shadows and images that suggest the presence of prostate cancer.\n\n\n\n\n\nAn ultrasound will also come in handy to measure the gland’s volume, which is a sign of the severity of benign prostatic hyperplasia.\n\n\n\n\n
\"prostate-screening-age\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What happens in a prostate exam?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\nThere are three main routine prostate exams. They are the PSA test, the digital rectal examination, and the ultrasound of the prostate. Each has different features we can discuss:\n\n\n\n\n

PSA test<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nA PSA test feels like any other blood test you have previously taken. It is simply drawing blood from your veins, analyzing the sample, and receiving the results after a few hours or one day, depending on the laboratory.\n\n\n\n\n

Digital rectal exam<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nA digital rectal examination involves inserting two fingers into your rectum. The doctor will glove and lubricate their fingers and ask you to adopt a fetal position on the examination table. The exam shouldn’t take more than two minutes and is usually uncomfortable but not painful.\n\n\n\n\n

Prostate ultrasound<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nA prostate ultrasound can be done through your abdominal cavity or with a transrectal probe. Abdominal ultrasounds are easy to do and will only require that you come to the sonographer’s office with a full bladder.\n\n\n\n\n\nYou will feel the probe on your abdomen for a little while as the doctor measures and examines your prostate. Then you will be asked to empty your urinary bladder and repeat the same measures.\n\n\n\n\n\nA transrectal prostate ultrasound is similar to a digital rectal examination, except that a probe will be inserted in the rectal cavity instead of two fingers. It will also be covered with a plastic wrapping and lubricated with gel.\n\n\n\n\n

How to prepare for a prostate exam<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\nBefore taking a prostate exam, you should know that each one has different recommendations.\n\n\n\n\n\nDepending on the variant, you may need to keep in mind a few things:\n\n\n\n\n