Primary Care
Experience comprehensive and compassionate primary care and family medicine services at Main Line Health, delivering advanced care for your overall well-being.
Digital Rectal Examination (DRE)
DRE allows your doctor to feel for unusual masses
A digital rectal examination (DRE) is when a doctor uses a gloved, lubricated finger gently inserted into the lower portion of the rectum to feel for unusual growths or masses. A DRE is sometimes done during a routine pelvic exam for women or as part of a prostate cancer screening for men.
What to expect during a digital rectal exam
The exam only takes a few minutes. Your doctor will talk to you before the exam, telling you what to expect as the exam begins. You may also be advised to breathe in as the finger is inserted, and try to relax. Getting a DRE may be slightly uncomfortable but it is not painful.
Why digital rectal exams are done and what the results mean
In addition to checking for a swollen prostate, which in some cases may indicate a tumor, DREs are performed to check for any number of conditions, such as:
- Uterine fibroids
- Hemorrhoids
- Growths or tumors (possibly indicating cancer)
A doctor may also do a DRE to check for blood in your stool and suspected bleeding in your digestive tract.
A DRE alone is not always enough to diagnose a condition. If your doctor does find something suspicious, additional tests such as ultrasound, barium enema or colonoscopy may be ordered, depending on your doctor’s analysis of the findings of the DRE.
Podiatry
See how Main Line Health’s dedicated team of podiatrists provide expert care, ensuring comprehensive treatment for your foot and ankle conditions.
LGBTQ+ Inclusive Care
Receive inclusive LGBTQ+ medical care at Main Line Health in a compassionate and welcoming space at locations in the Philadelphia region.
Stroke and Neurointervention
Main Line Health is one of few community health systems offering state-of-the-art neurointervention care. Through our collaboration with the Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience, our Neurointervention Program is an accredited thrombectomy-capable stoke center.
General Surgery
General surgeons are doctors who are board certified as specialists in many different types of surgery. At Main Line Health, our general surgeons are an important part of your care team.
Anesthesiology
Main Line Health’s anesthesiologists play a critical role in your total care before, during and after surgery.
Lung and Thoracic
Main Line Health experts use the latest technology to diagnose and treat all types of conditions affecting the chest, lungs and esophagus.
Inpatient and Outpatient Rehabilitation
Learn how Main Line Health can change the lives of you and your loved ones through physical and cognitive rehab for several conditions and injuries.