Prostate Health

Why Prostate Health Matters

The prostate plays a vital role in male reproductive health. As men age, prostate conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or even prostate cancer become more common. Early detection is key to maintaining long-term health.

What Does This Test Panel Analyze?

This test panel primarily measures prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a key marker for detecting prostate inflammation or potential cancer risk. Elevated PSA levels can indicate benign or more serious conditions that require further evaluation. Regular prostate health screenings are recommended for men over 40, especially those with a family history of prostate conditions. Monitoring PSA levels over time can help with early detection and timely medical intervention.

List of Tests

Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by the prostate gland, a small gland in men that creates fluid for sperm.

This test measures the total amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. PSA is a protein produced by cells in the prostate gland. The test is often used to screen for prostate issues, including prostate cancer, but keep in mind, that higher PSA levels can also be due to less serious conditions like an enlarged prostate, an infection, as well as inflammation or trauma to the prostate, such as following a biopsy or colonoscopy.

Factors Lowering PSA Levels

For men who are thinking about being screened for prostate cancer, it’s important to talk to your doctor about anything you’re taking that might affect your PSA level, as it might affect the accuracy of your test result. Some things that might lower PSA levels (even if a man has prostate cancer) include the following:

5-alpha reductase inhibitors: Certain drugs used to treat BPH or urinary symptoms, such as finasteride (Proscar or Propecia) or dutasteride (Avodart), can lower PSA levels. These drugs can also affect prostate cancer risk. So, tell your doctor if you are taking one of these medicines as they can lower PSA levels. The doctor might need to adjust for this.
Herbal mixtures: Some mixtures sold as dietary supplements might mask a high PSA level. So it’s important to let your doctor know if you are taking any dietary supplements, even ones that are not necessarily meant for prostate health. Saw palmetto (an herb used by some men to treat BPH) does not seem to affect PSA.
Certain medicines: Some research has suggested that long-term use of certain medicines, such as aspirin, statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs), and thiazide diuretics (such as hydrochlorothiazide) might lower PSA levels. More research is needed to confirm these findings.

Elevated PSA Levels

Elevated levels of PSA have been associated with benign and malignant prostatic disorders. Studies indicate that in men 50 years or older measurement of PSA is a useful addition to the digital rectal exam in the early detection of prostate cancer. In addition, PSA decreases to undetectable levels following complete resection of the tumor and may rise again with recurrent disease or persist with residual disease.

Elevated PSA Levels - Causes

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): Non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate.
Prostatitis: Inflammation or infection of the prostate.
Prostate cancer: Elevated PSA can be a sign of prostate cancer, although it is not definitive.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs): Can temporarily increase PSA levels.
Recent ejaculation or prostate stimulation: Sexual activity or certain medical procedures can elevate PSA levels temporarily. This is why some doctors suggest that men abstain from ejaculation for a day or two before testing.
Age: PSA levels can naturally increase with age.
Riding a bicycle: Some studies have suggested that cycling may raise PSA levels for a short time (possibly because the seat puts pressure on the prostate), although not all studies have found this.
Certain urologic procedures: Some in-patient procedures, such as a bladder exam, prostate biopsy, or cystoscopy, can affect the prostate and raise PSA levels for a short time. Some studies have suggested that a digital rectal exam (DRE) might raise PSA levels slightly, although other studies have not found this. As such, if both a PSA test and a DRE are being done during a doctor visit, some doctors advise having the blood drawn for the PSA before having the DRE, just in case.
Certain medicines: Taking male hormones like testosterone (or other medicines that raise testosterone levels) may cause a rise in PSA.
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Elevated PSA Levels - Symptoms

Often asymptomatic, especially in early stages.
Possible urinary symptoms, such as:
Frequent urination, especially at night
Difficulty starting or stopping urine flow
Weak or interrupted urine stream
Pain or burning during urination
Pain or discomfort in the pelvic area
Blood in the urine or semen (in advanced cases)

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Prostate Health

Why Prostate Health Matters

What Does This Test Panel Analyze?

List of Tests

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