Transrectal Ultrasound Prostate Exam

Trusted Expertise in Prostate Scan and Prostate Cancer Screening

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) offers the latest in prostate ultrasound procedures. Transrectal ultrasound allows the radiologist to closely examine the prostate gland for abnormalities.

In some cases, the radiologist may perform multiple biopsies of the prostate gland to examine for any evidence of prostate cancer or inflammation. Doctors can also use transrectal ultrasound of the prostate to help determine the cause of male fertility challenges.

Preparing for Your Transrectal Ultrasound

You will take a Fleet enema about four hours before the exam. You can buy this preparation with instructions from your local pharmacy.   

You may be undergoing a biopsy during the ultrasound. If so, your doctor will also prescribe antibiotics for you to take (usually Cipro). You should take one tablet at each of these times: 

• The night before the biopsy 
• The morning of the biopsy 
• The evening of the biopsy 
• The morning on the day after the biopsy 

Cipro is expensive — approximately $2 to 3 a tablet — but is currently the best antibiotic for this procedure.

What to Expect During a Transrectal Ultrasound

A prostate exam with or without the biopsy will take about 15 to 25 minutes. After changing into a hospital gown, a member of your testing team will escort you into the ultrasound exam room. You will lie on a table on your left side with your knees bent. A radiologist will carefully insert an ultrasound transducer into your rectum. The transducer is about the size of a finger.

The radiologist will then take pictures and measurements of the prostate. If they are also performing a biopsy, the urologist or the radiologist will then take six to eight biopsies. They will insert a small needle very rapidly into the prostate gland. They will send the tissue to the pathology department for preparation.

Pain During Transrectal Ultrasound

You may experience mild pain but not very much and not as much as most people think. The prostate is not very sensitive to needle sticks. The vast majority of people tolerate the procedure very well. Typically, the anxiety you experience before the biopsy is considerably worse than the biopsy itself.

After the Exam

You may experience some minor discomfort after a biopsy. You may notice some mucous or a small amount of bleeding from your rectum for up to 48 hours. Blood in the semen is also common. These are not cause for concern if the amounts are small.

Getting Your Results

The results of the prostate ultrasound will be available to your doctor on the day following your exam. Biopsy results are generally ready five to seven days after the procedure. If your urologist has not given you the results within one week, we suggest you call their office and ask for the results.