I was told by my doctor that prostates don't matter as far as a health THREAT...iv,e been post op for 9 years never had a prostate exam since surgery the doctor claimed they shrink so small it's almost impossible to locate them with a normal exam....true or false?

That is a common result of losing your T generators.  It is probably a good idea to learn how to do the exam yourself.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Prostate-Self-Examination---Digital-Rectal-Exam-at-Home&id=7505985

True for me - the only reason I know it's in there is that the surgeon confirmed he saw it (and that it was tiny).

It's possible to examine the prostate vaginally, however; it's in roughly the same location as the G-spot in cis women (and even serves the same function for us), about 1-2" in on the upper wall of the vagina.

My post op medical care team with my HMO is already going with a blood test for Prostate Cancer Specific Antigen (PSA) at 6 months PO.  I will be getting it once a year from here out, and no manual check ups unless the PSA shows positive.  My Ob/Gyn would do one vaginally in that case.  The fact I am 66 years old and have been on HRT for 4.5 years, and had been small to begin with makes it VERY unlikely that I will have a problem and the blood test would give us plenty of warning. 

My PCP ordered a PSA test after she noticed my Prostate was "slightly" enlarged. I know I should have asked this question to Dr. Brassard 12 years ago, but what use is the Prostate after SRS? Why is it not removed as part of the procedure? Just wondering...

BTW, PSA came back normal, thankfully!

A great day to all, Kim

I say leave well alone if it's not broken. And what has the removal of the prostate got to do with SRS? Why add a potential multitude of further possible complications to SRS?

What use does the prostate have after SRS? It's the analogue of the female Skene's gland. It provides lubrications. It gives me amazing vaginal orgasms. Hell no. No-one's touching that! 

Yes, not only does the prostate turn into our G-spot... but it isn't removed for the same reason they try to avoid doing it in cis men unless the cancer is advanced : because of its precarious location next to the bladder and important nerves, removal risks incontinence and/or severe nerve damage.

I probably had one a LONG time ago (but my anatomy is screwed up so you never know) but nobody has been able to detect one in the last 30 years, even with ultrasound, so if there's one there, it's awfully small. G-spot works good though and sometimes lubrication is abundant, sometimes less so. If there was/is one there, it is minuscule enough to be of no concern 40 years out.

Yes... you still need to have it checked. Manually via digital exam (aka finger up the poop shoot) is the only way, to be sure... and then followed up with other more specific prostate hormone testing. The standard PSA test is worthless to us that have been on hormones for 3 years or more, as the test will not give an accurate result and sometimes cover up potential problems. Always have a manual digital exam. Any doc that has an MD degree should know this in regards to HRT and MTFs, if not find another doc. ASAP.

As for why it's not removed... why add to more invasive of a procedure, more cutting, and more potential issues during healing. That's why. It's not a big space in there to begin with and the less cutting and healing need the better.

JennX : Actually, that's not the only way - post-ops can have it checked vaginally by digital exam instead.

Quote from: Jenna Marie on January 19, 2014, 04:08:32 PM
JennX : Actually, that's not the only way - post-ops can have it checked vaginally by digital exam instead.

What I meant was a manual exam is the only way (unless you don't mind having an MRI once a year). Via either orifice. Relying on a standard PSA test alone, is not only incorrect protocol, it's very dangerous.

JennX : Ah, sorry, your parenthetical there clearly confused me, but I'm easily confused. I totally agree that the PSA test is particularly unhelpful for trans women and that doing it manually is the only way.

(My GP can't find it manually, but I'm not concerned. If ever he *can* feel it, I'll worry...)

Hi Vicky,

Quote from: Vicky on January 05, 2014, 12:04:01 AM
My post op medical care team with my HMO is already going with a blood test for Prostate Cancer Specific Antigen (PSA) at 6 months PO.  I will be getting it once a year from here out, and no manual check ups unless the PSA shows positive.  My Ob/Gyn would do one vaginally in that case.  The fact I am 66 years old and have been on HRT for 4.5 years, and had been small to begin with makes it VERY unlikely that I will have a problem and the blood test would give us plenty of warning.

Sounds like your team may be taking you for a ride. It's a well known fact oestrogen masks the PSA results substantially. To the point it makes the test invalid. Even the PSA3 test which requires a prostate massage (somewhat painful) within 90 minutes of the test, will only at best be 50% accurate. Biopsies are too damn risky for a 20% accuracy, leaving DRE's the only primitive means of assessing the prostate.

Huggs
Catherine

Quote from: Vicky on January 05, 2014, 12:04:01 AMMy post op medical care team with my HMO is already going with a blood test for Prostate Cancer Specific Antigen (PSA) at 6 months PO.

My GP was really unsure what, if anything, needed to be done so she ordered a PSA test for me a few years ago. BOY DID THAT CAUSE A FUROR IN THE LAB! LOL! (I am 40 years post-op.)

The nurse seated me in the blood-letting room and took my lab requisition into the back to prepare the vials for the tests and I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between two lab techs.

"Look at this, it must be a mistake. I think I should call the doctor."

"Why don't you ask the patient if there is a reason? Maybe the doctor told her."

"I am not going to ask her THAT!!"

.... then the second tech came into the room, very embarrassed, and asked if I knew what a PSA test was and if there was some reason why the doctor would have ordered it.

I chuckled and explained the situation.

Had a similar situation arise myself, Jane.

As I may have mentioned before I arrive home with Op report in hand indicating an enlarged prostate was observed. Undaunted by the challenge to get to the bottom of the matter, I altered my Endo's blood request to include a PSA.

Speaking with my Endo several days later he said, you know they knocked back the PSA request don't you. They kept the serum, just in case here was a mistake. Apparently it made him look like a ripe turkey. Fear not, all is still well with us. I gave him a hug on the way out. He's such a sweetie   

Huggs
Catherine

Quote from: Catherine Sarah on January 25, 2014, 06:12:32 AM
Hi Vicky,
Sounds like your team may be taking you for a ride. It's a well known fact oestrogen masks the PSA results substantially. To the point it makes the test invalid. Even the PSA3 test which requires a prostate massage (somewhat painful) within 90 minutes of the test, will only at best be 50% accurate. Biopsies are too damn risky for a 20% accuracy, leaving DRE's the only primitive means of assessing the prostate.

Huggs
Catherine

I will be alert Catherine, but this is one of the largest and best HMO's (Kaiser Permanente) and they remind me and check me for loose engine bolts it seems.  I even had a mini run on my SRS prep seven weeks before by having had a colonoscopy where I got the same yucky stuff to clean me out that Dr. Bowers had me use, hers had a lemonade flavor packet to it though!!  I am 66 years old and and there is no history of prostate cancer in the family.  I saw the test result on my "online history" and it has a notation that it is a compensated result.  See my doctors if any problem!!  Thanks for the concern.