Annual Physical Exam

why not? Don't see a problem.

 

you got circumcised when you were nine?

jesus christ! [/mr. slave]

do a lot of people get it done when they're older (after they're infants)?

 

How so? I would understand that it takes a woman to really understand woman problems, but I don't think dudes have that many "hard to understand" problems

 

Your doctor should be someone you trust and are comfortable around.
I think this allows for the best communication.
If you feel more comfortable with a specific gender of doctor...go with that.

 

Ridiculous. Any board certified urologist (male or female) should be able to provide the level minimum level of care. Same goes for Ob-gyn.

I know several male ob-gyns and female urologists and they're all eminently qualified.

 

The digital rectal prostate exam (aka getting your butt fingered) is recommended yearly for men ages 50 and up, unless you have a 1st degree relative (parent, sibling, child) who has had prostate cancer. In this case, the recommended age is at least 45, and preventive care is really pushing for these tests to be done earlier and earlier.

The danger age for testicular cancer is like 15-35, but you should still have the yearly exam.

And they cram two finger up your butt to check your prostate. Women usually have smaller fingers than men. So, there's that.

 

I'm assuming the blood test you're referring to is the prostate specific antigen, which is only produced by the prostate, and will be elevated with prostate cancer....so, what do you mean it's not as accurate?

This is horrifying. No one should ever use the phrase "I remember" in reference to getting circumcised. I'd never speak to my parents again if I had that memory.

::shudders::

 

I don't have prostate cancer in the family, but there are occurences of enlarged prostates and concern that it could lead to cancer.

I'm not a doctor so I can't go into specifics on the blood test accuracy. I've read that a few places, and I've had a doctor tell me that they still recommend the digital exam. Still the blood test is likely pretty indicative of problems, and if people are that freaked out about having a digital exam, they are better off getting the blood test than skipping it all together.

I know it's Clutch Fans, so I expect some juvenile responses. I just hope that people that are over the age of 40 are talking to their doctor about this issue. All 10 of you females on the board are excused, but then again you've had to do gyno checkups since you were a teenager.

 

WTF!

 

Gotcha. You're right: the PSA blood test is a test for prostate cancer, and not for other prostate problems like BPH/enlargement of the prostate. Now that I read your post again it's clear.

 

As a medical student and a guy who's done presentations on PSA testing efficacy before, I can state that PSA is not as accurate as a DRE. It's been proven several times in studies. There is a much higher false positive and false negative rate of PSA than DRE. Increased PSA can occur in anything from prostate infection, BHP, or even recent ejaculation.

To address an earlier point, PSA is not one hundred percent indicative of prostate cancer and is not even exclusive to men. Women have been found to have PSA in glandular secretions.

 

I kinda want something better than minimum. It's like a honda mechanic that drives a toyota. He might know every part on a honda backwards and forwards, but if he doesn't drive one, he doesn't truly know the capabilities, idiosyncrasies, tricks , etc of dealing with a honda every day. Just my opinion though.

 

OH MY GOD! That's hilarious, because the exact same thing happened to me two months ago. I had to have a sonogram to make sure I didn't have a blood clot in my leg, and the sonographer was somewhat hot (in a MILFy, naughty teacher kinda way). For some reason, the General stood at attention when she started the exam. There was no way she could have missed it, but she just did her thing (though I thought I saw the hint of a smile when she turned away).