Does enlarged prostate compress the rectum?
Disease description:
Recently, my neighborhood has been conducting a medical knowledge outreach program. Since I happened to be free that day, I went to learn more about it. I heard about the condition known as enlarged prostate and am wondering: can an enlarged prostate press against the rectum?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Li Mingchuan
An enlarged prostate may compress the rectum. Clinically, the prostate is adjacent to the rectum; when the prostate increases in size, it may protrude into the rectal space, causing a mild sensation of rectal compression. Prostate examination is typically performed via digital rectal examination—inserting a finger into the anus to palpate the prostate. If a patient has conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, the digital rectal exam may reveal that the prostate is protruding into the rectal lumen, causing compression.
