It is painless and non-invasive.
Your doctor may recommend a transrectal ultrasound for any of following:
- Abnormalities detected during a digital rectal exam;
- An abnormal PSA (prostate-specific antigen) value;
- To guide the physician in a prostate biopsy;
- To diagnose benign prostatic hyperplasia;
- For some cases of male infertility;
- Urinary symptoms such as frequent urges to urinate, small urinary stream, pain during urination, difficulty urinating, etc.
Transrectal prostate ultrasound procedure
You lay on your left side with your knees bent over your chest during the examination. The doctor puts a protective cover and lubricant on the ultrasound probe (transducer) and inserts it into the rectum through the anus. You may feel fullness in the rectum or pressure similar to a bowel movement.
Once the probe is in place, images of the prostate and surrounding organs begin to appear on the screen. The ultrasound report is sent to your doctor following the exam.
