A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps:
- General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body weight, height; further:
- Inspection (viewing) of the skin, mucous membranes, abdominal wall, and inguinal region (groin area).
- Examination of the genital area:
- Male (urological examination):
- Inspection and palpation of the genitals (penis and scrotum; assessment of pubes hair (pubic hair), penis (penis length: between 7-10 cm when flaccid; presence of: Indurations (tissue hardening), anomalies, phimosis / foreskin constriction?) and testicular position and size; if necessary, the painfulness compared to the opposite side or where is the punctum maximum of pain).
- Digital rectal examination (DRU): examination of the rectum (rectum) and adjacent organs with the finger by palpation (assessment of the prostate in size, shape and consistency, if necessary, detection of indurations (tissue hardening)).
- Woman (gynecological examination):
- Inspection
- Vulva (external, primary female sexual organs).
- Vagina (vagina)
- Cervix uteri (cervix), or portio (cervix; transition from the cervix (cervix uteri) to the vagina (vagina)), if necessary, taking a Pap smear (for early detection of cervical cancer).
- Palpation (bimanual; palpation with both hands) of the internal genital organs:
- Cervix uteri (cervix).
- Uterus (uterus) [Normal: anteflexed/angled anteriorly, normal size, no tenderness].
- Adnexa (appendages of the uterus, i.e., the ovary (ovary) and uterine tubule (fallopian tube)) [Normal: free]
- Parametria (pelvic connective tissue in front of the cervix to the urinary bladder and on both sides to the lateral pelvic wall) [Normal: free].
- Pelvic walls [Normal: free]
- Douglas space (pocket-like bulge of the peritoneum (abdominal wall) between the rectum (rectum) at the back and the uterus (uterus) at the front) [Normal: clear].
- Inspection
- Male (urological examination):
- Cancer prevention