What can spike a PSA test?

Besides cancer, other conditions that can raise PSA levels include an enlarged prostate (also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH ) and an inflamed or infected prostate (prostatitis). Also, PSA levels normally increase with age.

mayoclinic.org - PSA test - Mayo Clinic

When should you eat dark chocolate?

You can enjoy dark chocolates as often as you want. However, for a person who wishes to lose weight with these chocolates, dark chocolates should...

Last updated Apr 27, 2021

How can I restore my kidneys?

7 effective natural ways that will keep your kidneys healthy Stay hydrated. The most common reason for the formation of kidney problems is lack of...

Last updated Dec 25, 2018

Promotion

Overview

Prostate gland Open pop-up dialog box Close Prostate gland Prostate gland The prostate gland is located just below the bladder in men and surrounds the top portion of the tube that drains urine from the bladder (urethra). The prostate's primary function is to produce the fluid that nourishes and transports sperm (seminal fluid). The PSA test is a blood test used primarily to screen for prostate cancer. The test measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. PSA is a protein produced by both cancerous and noncancerous tissue in the prostate, a small gland that sits below the bladder in males. PSA is mostly found in semen, which also is produced in the prostate. Small amounts of PSA ordinarily circulate in the blood. The PSA test can detect high levels of PSA that may indicate the presence of prostate cancer. However, many other conditions, such as an enlarged or inflamed prostate, also can increase PSA levels. Therefore, determining what a high PSA score means can be complicated. There is a lot of conflicting advice about PSA testing. To decide whether to have a PSA test, discuss the issue with your doctor, considering your risk factors and weighing your personal preferences.

Why it's done

Prostate cancer is common, and it is a frequent cause of cancer death. Early detection may be an important tool in getting appropriate and timely treatment. Prostate cancer can cause elevated levels of PSA . However, many noncancerous conditions also can increase the PSA level. The PSA test can detect high levels of PSA in the blood but doesn't provide precise diagnostic information about the condition of the prostate. The PSA test is only one tool used to screen for early signs of prostate cancer. Another common screening test, usually done in addition to a PSA test, is a digital rectal exam. In this test, your doctor inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into your rectum to reach the prostate. By feeling or pressing on the prostate, the doctor may be able to judge whether it has abnormal lumps or hard areas. Neither the PSA test nor the digital rectal exam provides enough information for your doctor to diagnose prostate cancer. Abnormal results in these tests may lead your doctor to recommend a prostate biopsy. During a prostate biopsy, samples of prostate tissue are removed for laboratory examination. A diagnosis of cancer is based on the biopsy results.

Other reasons for PSA tests

For those who have already been diagnosed with prostate cancer, the PSA test may be used to:

Judge the effectiveness of a treatment

Check for recurring cancer

There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. From Mayo Clinic to your inbox Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. Email ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Subscribe! Thank you for subscribing! You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry

Risks

How long will it take to get an erection after prostate surgery?

Nearly all men will experience some erectile dysfunction for the first few months after prostate cancer treatment. However, within one year after...

Last updated Apr 6, 2019

Can a high PSA be reduced?

Protecting your prostate health and lowering PSA levels can be as simple as making healthier meal choices. Exercise: Obesity contributes to many...

Last updated Jul 31, 2018

Promotion

Medical organizations vary in their recommendations about who should — and who shouldn't — get a PSA screening test. Discussing with your doctor the benefits, limitations and potential risks of the PSA test can help you make an informed decision.

Benefits of the test

A PSA test may help detect prostate cancer at an early stage. Cancer is easier to treat and is more likely to be cured if it's diagnosed in its early stages. But to judge the benefit of the test, it's important to know if early detection and early treatment will improve treatment outcomes and decrease the number of deaths from prostate cancer. A key issue is the typical course of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer usually progresses slowly over many years. Therefore, it's possible to have prostate cancer that never causes symptoms or becomes a medical problem during your lifetime.

Limitations of the test

The limitations of PSA testing include:

PSA -raising factors. Besides cancer, other conditions that can raise PSA levels include an enlarged prostate (also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH ) and an inflamed or infected prostate (prostatitis). Also, PSA levels normally increase with age. Besides cancer, other conditions that can raise levels include an enlarged prostate (also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or ) and an inflamed or infected prostate (prostatitis). Also, levels normally increase with age. PSA -lowering factors. Certain drugs used to treat BPH or urinary conditions, and large doses of certain chemotherapy medications, may lower PSA levels. Obesity also can lower PSA levels. Certain drugs used to treat or urinary conditions, and large doses of certain chemotherapy medications, may lower levels. Obesity also can lower levels. Misleading results. The test doesn't always provide an accurate result. An elevated PSA level doesn't necessarily mean you have cancer. And it's possible to have prostate cancer and also have a normal PSA level. The test doesn't always provide an accurate result. An elevated level doesn't necessarily mean you have cancer. And it's possible to have prostate cancer and also have a normal level. Overdiagnosis. Some prostate cancers detected by PSA tests will never cause symptoms or lead to death. These symptom-free cancers are considered overdiagnoses — identification of cancer not likely to cause poor health or to present a risk of death.

Potential risks

The potential risks of the PSA test are essentially related to the choices you make based on the test results, such as the decision to undergo further testing and treatment for prostate cancer. The risks include: Biopsy issues. A biopsy is a procedure that carries its own risks, including pain, bleeding and infection. A biopsy is a procedure that carries its own risks, including pain, bleeding and infection. Psychological effects. False-positive test results — high PSA levels but no cancer found with biopsy — can cause anxiety or distress. If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, but it appears to be a slow-growing tumor that doesn't result in illness, you may experience significant anxiety just knowing it's there.

What you can expect

A nurse or medical technician will use a needle to draw blood from a vein, most likely in your arm. The blood sample is then analyzed in the lab to measure your PSA level.

Results

Why do I feel weird after taking zinc?

This usually occurs when a person takes an excess of zinc supplements to boost their immune system. Too much zinc intake can cause symptoms that...

Last updated Mar 7, 2018

How do you revive erectile dysfunction?

Here are some steps that might help: If you smoke, quit. If you have trouble quitting, get help. ... Lose excess pounds. Being overweight can cause...

Last updated May 8, 2021

Promotion

Results of PSA tests are reported as nanograms of PSA per milliliter of blood (ng/mL). There's no specific cutoff point between a normal and an abnormal PSA level. Your doctor might recommend a prostate biopsy based on results of your PSA test.

Variations of the PSA test

Your doctor might use other ways of interpreting PSA results before deciding whether to order a biopsy to test for cancerous tissue. These other methods are intended to improve the accuracy of the PSA test as a screening tool. Researchers continue to investigate variations of the PSA test to determine whether they provide a measurable benefit.

Variations of the PSA test include:

PSA velocity. PSA velocity is the change in PSA levels over time. A rapid rise in PSA may indicate the presence of cancer or an aggressive form of cancer. However, recent studies have cast doubt on the value of PSA velocity in predicting a finding of prostate cancer from biopsy. velocity is the change in levels over time. A rapid rise in may indicate the presence of cancer or an aggressive form of cancer. However, recent studies have cast doubt on the value of velocity in predicting a finding of prostate cancer from biopsy. Percentage of free PSA . PSA circulates in the blood in two forms — either attached to certain blood proteins or unattached (free). If you have a high PSA level but a low percentage of free PSA , it may be more likely that you have prostate cancer. circulates in the blood in two forms — either attached to certain blood proteins or unattached (free). If you have a high level but a low percentage of free , it may be more likely that you have prostate cancer. PSA density. Prostate cancers can produce more PSA per volume of tissue than benign prostate conditions can. PSA density measurements adjust PSA values for prostate volume. Measuring PSA density generally requires an MRI or transrectal ultrasound.

Talk to your doctor

Before getting a PSA test, talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks. If you decide that a PSA test is right for you, ask your doctor:

When you will discuss the results

What kinds of recommendations he or she might make if the results are positive

How often you should repeat the test if the results are negative

Discussing these issues beforehand may make it easier for you to learn the results of your test and make appropriate decisions afterward.

Clinical trials

Explore Mayo Clinic studies of tests and procedures to help prevent, detect, treat or manage conditions.

mayoclinic.org - PSA test - Mayo Clinic

Is Apple good to eat at night?

Overall, no solid research supports or rejects the idea of eating an apple before bed to promote good sleep. It doesn't appear that apples promote...

Last updated Nov 9, 2019

Is Yogurt good for testosterone?

Boost Sexual Health According to a research review published in the journal "PLoS ONE" in 2014, male mice fed a yogurt diet have developed larger...

Last updated Mar 18, 2020

Promotion

What is the quickest thing to lower blood pressure?

The fastest ways to safely lower blood pressure include: Practicing breathing exercises that slow your heart rate and promote relaxation. Lying...

Last updated Nov 13, 2018

Promotion

Does Cialis relax the prostate?

In ED, Cialis works by increasing the levels of a chemical called cyclic guanosine monophosphate, or cGMP. This chemical increases blood flow to...

Last updated Sep 6, 2020