Other Reasons for an Elevated PSA Test In addition to urinary tract infection and prostatitis, there are other reasons that can cause a high PSA level. These include: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) – Benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as BPH, is enlargement of the prostate caused by aging.
Full Answer
There are several causes of elevated PSA aside from prostrate cancer. The PSA blood test is a screening tool used in the detection of prostate cancer. Sometimes, test results will indicate an elevation in PSA blood levels.
In Men Over 50: BPH May Be the Cause of High PSA. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an enlargement of the prostate gland, but it’s not prostate cancer. "BPH means more cells, so that means more cells making PSA," explains Dr. Castle.
"Any infection near the prostate gland, including a urinary tract infection, can irritate and inflame prostate cells and cause PSA to go up," says Milner. If you’ve been diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, be sure to wait until after the infection has cleared up before you get a PSA test.
Topic Guide For men in their 40s and 50s a PSA greater than 2.5 ng/ml is considered too high and for men in their 60s a PSA greater than 4.0 ng/ml is considered too high. Generally, the higher a man’s PSA level, the greater his risk of having prostate cancer.
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.
A recent prostate exam can cause false positives on a PSA test. Likewise, this can occur after inserting a urinary catheter or scope into the urethra. For the most accurate results, a person should wait a few weeks after a medical procedure before undergoing PSA testing.
Besides prostate cancer, potential causes for an elevated PSA include: Infection: Prostatitis, urinary tract infection (UTI), and other infections involving the genitourinary tract can cause PSA elevations.
Before having a PSA test, men should not have ejaculated during the previous 48 hours. Semen released during sexual activity can cause PSA levels to rise temporarily, which may affect the test results. For the same reason, before having a PSA test men should not have: exercised vigorously in the previous 48 hours.
One hospital-based study found that higher anxiety increased PSA screening rates in men, particularly for those with a family history of PCa seeking reassurance from a normal test result.
001, P < . 001; respectively). Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 infection in men diagnosed with BPH causes significant increases in PSA levels during the active period of the disease.
Elevated PSA levels can indicate the presence of cancer, but high PSA levels can also be a result of non-cancerous conditions like benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or an infection. PSA levels also rise naturally as you age. Elevated PSA levels do not necessarily mean that you have prostate cancer.
After an initial test result of elevated PSA levels, a urologist will want to perform another PSA test and other tests to diagnose the issue. 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.
What can skew a PSA test?Medications. Certain medications can cause a man's PSA level to drop, including medications used to treat common concerns for aging men. ... DRE. Digital rectal exams (DRE) are exams used to manually feel the prostate. ... Ejaculation. ... Infection. ... Acute urinary retention.Prostate biopsy.
The bottom line here is that alcohol, caffeine and smoking do not cause false-positive elevations of PSA levels.
Physical activity releases prostate-specific antigen (PSA) from the prostate into the blood and increases serum PSA concentrations.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels are routinely surveilled after oncologic intervention in patients with prostate cancer. Occasionally, PSA levels are elevated because of factors unrelated to disease recurrence, such as herbal supplement use.
"The PSA test is a good screening tool for prostate cancer, but it is not very specific," says Erik P. Castle, MD, a urologist and researcher at th...
"Anything that traumatically interferes with the architecture around the prostate gland can make PSA go up," says Dr. Milner. "One of the most comm...
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an enlargement of the prostate gland, but it’s not prostate cancer. "BPH means more cells, so that means more...
"Any infection near the prostate gland, including a urinary tract infection, can irritate and inflame prostate cells and cause PSA to go up," says...
"Ejaculation can cause a mild elevation of your PSA level, and so can having a digital rectal exam," says Milner. "These types of PSA elevations ar...
There have been occasional studies that link prolonged bike riding to an increase in PSA levels, but others haven’t found this connection. "You wou...
The scientists found that men who had higher testosterone levels also had higher PSA levels. "We also found that the odds of having a clinically elevated PSA were greater among men with higher testosterone levels.
Although the scientists do not know exactly how inflammation raises PSA, they think that the inflammation disrupts the PSA-producing cells in the prostate and also makes the blood vessels within the prostate more permeable, causing PSA to leak into the bloodstream.
PSA is a serine protease that floats freely or is bound to different proteins in the blood. The ratio of free to bound PSA seems to differ in men who have elevated PSA due to either benign or malignant disease.
Prostate specific antigen (PSA) has a long history as a blood-screening test for prostate cancer. But because of its limitations and relative low sensitivity, there has been a move to find better screening markers for prostate cancer.
The PSA blood test is a screening tool used in the detection of prostate cancer. Sometimes, test results will indicate an elevation in PSA blood levels. Fortunately, this does not definitively mean a cancer diagnosis. Known causes of elevated PSA can range from simple activities such as cycling prior to the blood test, to an inflammation of the prostate. In fact, a number of benign (non-cancerous) medical issues can affect PSA numbers.
Before having a PSA blood test, discuss your current medical condition and medications with your provider. In the event that PSA blood testing shows an elevation, the physician will have this additional information to help determine further testing.
Non-bacterial prostatitis is harder to treat. Urinary Tract Infection : UTIs can cause elevated PSA. Any infection near the prostate gland can cause the prostate gland to be inflamed and cause PSA levels to rise. Like prostatitis, a urinary tract infection can be treated with antibiotics. Medications.
For this reason, high levels of parathyroid hormone may escalate PSA levels. 7. Prostate Injury. An injury to the groin, caused by a fall, impact, or accident, may spike PSA levels temporarily. Let your doctor know if you suspect an injury may have affected your PSA levels. 8.
Keep reading to learn more about why your PSA levels may be high. 1. Age. PSA levels may increase as you get older. This normal rise may be caused by the growth of benign, prostatic tissue. Some men also experience an enlarging of their prostate as they age, which may also elevate PSA levels. 2.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by prostate gland cells. Elevated levels may indicate prostate cancer, but PSA levels can also be affected by other things, such as enlarged prostate, a urinary tract infection, or recent ejaculation.
A common condition in men under 50, prostatitis is often the result of a bacterial infection. It causes swelling, inflammation, and irritation of the prostate gland. Symptoms are similar to those of a UTI, and may include: 1 lower back or abdominal pain 2 pain or discomfort when urinating 3 difficulty urinating
Parathyroid hormone is naturally occurring hormone produced by the body to regulate calcium levels in the blood. It may also promote prostate cancer cell growth, even in men who do not have prostate cancer. For this reason, high levels of parathyroid hormone may escalate PSA levels.
4. Prostatitis ( prostate inflammation) A common condition in men under 50, prostatitis is often the result of a bacterial infection. It causes swelling, inflammation, and irritation of the prostate gland. Symptoms are similar to those of a UTI, and may include: lower back or abdominal pain.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) BPH, also known as enlarged prostate, is common in older men. BPH can raise PSA levels and affect the bladder and urinary tract. Men with BPH may have difficulty urinating. If left untreated, it may also interfere with kidney function.
A normal PSA level is less than 3-4 ng/mL. Higher PSA levels mean the risk of prostate cancer is increased. Here’s how your PSA relates to cancer risk:
There are other factors that can affect the PSA level besides prostate cancer. The following conditions can lead to increased PSA levels:
There are also some conditions that can lower the PSA level, which could potentially lead to a normal PSA level reading even though cancer is present. Keep these in mind when getting your PSA level checked:
Prostate cancer isn’t the only condition that can affect your PSA level. Because of this, it can be difficult to interpret your test results. Or decide whether you need more testing. Work with your healthcare provider so you can decide what’s best for you.