Male rectal examination for pelvic floor assessment

Reasons for the procedure

A rectal examination is the best way to assess your pelvic floor or sphincter muscles as they are inside your pelvis.

It is carried out initially to assess the strength and holding time of these muscles.

It may be repeated during and at the end of treatment to check for improvement.

What will the examination involve?

The examination will be discussed with you fully before being undertaken and your consent obtained.

You may have a relative or friend with you if you wish. A nurse who has been trained in the procedure will perform the examination.

You will be examined on a treatment couch in a private room. Your privacy and dignity will be maintained at all times.

The nurse will look at the area around your back passage for redness, scarring and muscle movement.

Wearing disposable gloves and using lubricating gel, she will gently insert one finger into your back passage and check for any tenderness.

You will then be asked to tighten your pelvic floor or sphincter muscles, slowly then quickly.

You may be asked to cough and (or) bear down.

When your examination is complete and you are dressed, the nurse will talk to you about her findings and discuss your treatment plan.

What are the benefits of this assessment?

• To achieve an accurate initial assessment of your pelvic floor muscles or sphincter muscles
• To plan and carry out appropriate treatment
• To assess improvement or alter the treatment plan.

Does the procedure cause any discomfort?

Most people do not experience any discomfort.

If you do experience discomfort, or are unhappy at any stage of the examination, inform the nurse and the assessment can be stopped immediately.

Is there an alternative?

An observation only of pelvis floor or sphincter muscle activity.

If for any reason you do not wish to be examined you are free to decline without disclosing your reasons.

If you decline you can still receive treatment. However, it will limit the treatment you can be offered and any improvement may take longer.

The examination may not be advised if:

• you have an infection, for example, thrush or cystitis
• you have painful haemorrhoids (piles) or bleeding from your back passage.