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How long does it take to perform a prostate exam?

By , About.com Guide

Updated November 08, 2005

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Question: How long does it take to perform a prostate exam?
Answer: A prostate exam, medically known as a DRE (digital rectal exam) takes about 5 minutes long for a doctor to complete. Remember to take deep breaths and perhaps keeping the mind on something else can make the procedure less uncomfortable. For more information about how the prostate exam is done and what to expect, please read our Digital Rectal Exam profile.

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