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Prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, is a protein produced in cells of the prostate gland and a PSA test measures the level of PSA in a man’s blood. The PSA test is a standard screening test for prostate cancer because PSA levels are often elevated in men with prostate cancer.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels are checked with a blood test.
Generally, the higher a man’s PSA level, the more likely it is that he has prostate cancer, and a constant rise in a man’s PSA level over time may also be a sign of prostate cancer.
In general:
- For men in their 40s and 50s
- A PSA greater than 2.5 ng/ml is considered too high
- The median PSA for men in this age range is 0.6 to 0.7 ng/ml
- For men in their 60s
- A PSA greater than 4.0 ng/ml is considered too high
- The normal PSA range for men in this age range is between 1.0 and 1.5 ng/ml
- An abnormal rise
- A PSA may also be considered abnormal if it rises a certain amount in one year
Who Needs a PSA Test?
The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends PSA screening for men:
- Age 50 who have an average risk of prostate cancer and are expected to live at least 10 more years
- Age 45 who are at high risk of developing prostate cancer
- This includes African Americans, who have a higher risk of developing more aggressive cancers
- Men who have a first-degree relative (father or brother) who was diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age (younger than age 65)
- Age 40 who are at even higher risk
- Men who have more than one first-degree relative who had prostate cancer at an early age
What Are Symptoms of a High PSA Level?
Prostate problems can cause PSA levels to be too high, which may result in symptoms such as:
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Frequent nighttime urination
- Feeling an urgent need to urinate, but being unable to urinate or only urinating a little
- Dribbling urine
- Leaking urine
- Weak urine stream
- Unusual color or odor to urine
- Blood in urine or semen
- Pain or burning urination
- Painful ejaculation
- Recurrent pain or stiffness in lower back, hips, pelvic or rectal area, or upper thighs
- Chronic pain and discomfort in the penis or scrotum, the area between the scrotum and anus, the abdomen, and lower back
What Causes a PSA Level that Is Too High?
Causes of a PSA level that is too high include:
- Enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH) — common in older men
- Bacterial prostatitis, can be acute (comes on quickly) or chronic (recurring)
- Chronic prostatitis (chronic pelvic pain syndrome)
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Prostate cancer
- Older age
- Recent ejaculation
- Certain urologic procedures
- Prostate biopsy
- Cystoscopy
- Use of male hormones such as testosterone or other medicines that raise testosterone levels
What Is the Treatment for a PSA Level that Is Too High?
Treatment for a PSA level that is too high depends on the prostate problems that caused the PSA levels to rise.
Treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) includes:
- Watchful waiting (active surveillance, including regular checkups) when symptoms are not bothersome
- Lifestyle changes if symptoms are mild
- Limit drinking liquids before bedtime or before going out
- Avoid or limit alcohol or caffeine
- Avoid medications that can affect the bladder, such as certain cold and allergy medicines
- Change the timing of certain medicines, such as diuretics (water pills) or high blood pressure drugs
- Medications to help stop prostate growth or shrink the prostate
- Alpha-blocker medications to relax prostate and bladder muscles to ease symptoms
- Radio waves, microwaves, or lasers which use different kinds of heat to reduce extra prostate tissue to treat urinary problems caused by BPH
- Surgery
Treatment for bacterial prostatitis includes:
- Antibiotics
- Pain medications
- Drink plenty of fluids
Treatment for chronic prostatitis includes:
- Medications
- To reduce pain and inflammation
- Alpha-blockers to relax the muscles in the prostate and part of the bladder
- Lifestyle changes
- Warm baths
- Relaxation exercises
- Physical therapy
- Surgery
Treatment for prostate cancer depends on whether cancer is in part or all of the prostate, if it has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body, and the age and overall health of the patient and may include one or more of the following:
- Watchful waiting (active surveillance)
- Surgery: removal of the whole prostate and some nearby tissue
- Radiation therapy
- Hormone therapy
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https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/prostate-problems
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/prostate-problems
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/prostate-cancer/prostate-cancer-age-specific-screening-guidelines
https://www.cancer.gov/types/prostate/psa-fact-sheet