The prostate sits about 2 inches inside the rectum, toward the front of the body. It’s a small, walnut-sized gland that feels distinctly different from the surrounding tissue, making it identifiable by touch once you know where and how to feel for it.
Where the Prostate Sits
The prostate is positioned directly between the bladder and the base of the penis, wrapping around the urethra (the tube urine passes through). From the outside, you can’t see or feel it. But because it presses against the front wall of the rectum, it’s accessible through the anus with a finger.
A healthy adult prostate weighs about 25 grams and is roughly the size of a walnut. It grows slowly with age, so men over 50 often have a noticeably larger gland than younger men. This doesn’t necessarily mean anything is wrong. It just means the landmark you’re feeling for may be more or less prominent depending on your age.
What You Need Before You Start
Use a water-based lubricant and a latex or nitrile glove. The lining of the rectum is delicate, and dry friction can cause small tears. Generous lubrication makes the process more comfortable and safer. Trim your fingernails short beforehand, even under the glove.
Empty your bowels if you feel the urge, but don’t force it or use an enema. There’s nothing to worry about hygienically. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after, and clean up with warm water and mild soap when you’re done.
Best Positions for Access
Lying on your back with your knees drawn toward your chest is one of the easiest positions to start with. It relaxes the pelvic floor and angles the rectum so your finger naturally curves toward the prostate. You can also try lying on your side with your top knee pulled up, which is the same position doctors typically use during a clinical prostate exam.
Squatting is another option. It shortens the distance to the prostate and opens the anal canal. The key with any position is that your lower body feels relaxed. Tension in the pelvic muscles makes the sphincter tighter and the process less comfortable.
How to Locate It Step by Step
Apply a generous amount of lubricant to your gloved index finger and around the anus. Take a slow breath and gently insert the tip of your finger. Don’t push hard. Let the sphincter relax around your finger, which may take a few seconds. If you feel resistance, pause and breathe.
Slide your finger in about two knuckles deep, roughly 2 inches. Then gently curl your fingertip upward, toward your belly button (toward the front of your body). You’re feeling along the anterior wall of the rectum, which is the side closest to your navel.
The prostate will feel like a rounded, firm bump protruding slightly from the rectal wall. It has a different texture from the soft, smooth tissue around it. The classic comparison is that it feels similar to the fleshy pad at the base of your thumb when you make a tight fist: firm but with some give, rubbery and elastic rather than hard. If it feels like pressing on the tip of your nose, that’s also in the right range.
You may feel a sudden urge to urinate when you press on it. That’s completely normal and actually a good sign that you’ve found the right spot. The prostate surrounds the urethra, so direct pressure on the gland triggers that sensation.
What You Should and Shouldn’t Feel
A healthy prostate feels smooth, symmetrical, and uniformly rubbery. Both sides (called lobes) should feel roughly the same, with a shallow groove running down the middle. The whole gland is typically round or slightly heart-shaped.
If you notice any hard spots, lumps, or areas that feel distinctly different in texture from the rest of the gland, that’s worth mentioning to a doctor. The same goes for significant pain when pressing on it. Mild discomfort or the urge to urinate is expected, but sharp pain is not typical.
Keep in mind that size alone doesn’t tell you much. A prostate that feels large may simply reflect normal age-related growth. What matters more is the texture and consistency. Hard, irregular, or asymmetrical areas are what doctors pay attention to during a clinical exam.
The External Approach
You can also feel for the prostate externally through the perineum, the area of skin between the scrotum and the anus. Press firmly upward with two or three fingertips while lying on your back. You won’t feel the gland as distinctly as you would internally, but you may notice a firm, slightly bulging area deep beneath the skin. This approach is less precise but can give you a general sense of where the gland is located. Pressing here can also produce that same urge-to-urinate feeling, which confirms you’re in the right area.