need advise PSA or DRE?

I am in my mid forties and due for a physical exam. I have been seeing my doctor for 5 yrs. now for hypertetion and chorlesterol. This is the first physical I have ever had . I am very nervous about a prostate exam and would pefer a PSA
test. I have had one of those and my score was 0.24. I am scared of pain and embarisment of the DRE and would pefer to monitor thru PSA. Does anybody think I can convince my dr. of this without just being a real butt about it?
I am really nervous about this and I am afraid me and my dr, are going to have an arguement about this! please help.

[SixStringer]

The doc does these exams all the time,  You are not alone.  It's just something we all go through to keep up our health monitoring.  Get the PSA checked, but the DRE is also necessary, as they are not the same, as you know, and both need to be checked.  Is the doctor male or female?  It doesn't matter.  As long as you've been seeing this doc for over 5 years, you especially shouldn't have to worry, and he's just glad that you're finally having a physical.  When you hit 50, you can then have your colonoscopy, but do this now.

[rpinney]

The information is worth it. I'm 53 and was diagnosed with an enlarged prostrate in 2002.
Monitoring the PSA is a great way to track the prostate but can't determine bumps and irregularities or further enlargement. It only takes about 2 minutes and isn't as bad as the thinking about it before.  Tell the doctor how you feel.
I just posted a question about PSA and testosterone rising. Read if you are interested.