The PSA test is a simple blood test that measures prostate-specific antigen, a protein made by the prostate gland. It's widely used to screen for prostate problems — but its results need careful interpretation.
What PSA Measures
PSA naturally rises with age as the prostate enlarges. A higher-than-expected level can reflect prostate cancer, but far more often it's due to benign causes such as an enlarged prostate (BPH), infection or inflammation (prostatitis), or even recent ejaculation, cycling, or a digital rectal exam.
Understanding Your Number
- General reference ranges rise with age, so "normal" for a 70-year-old differs from a 45-year-old.
- The free-to-total PSA ratio helps distinguish benign enlargement from cancer.
- A rising trend over time (PSA velocity) can be more telling than a single value.
The Benefits and Limitations
PSA screening can catch prostate cancer early, when it's most treatable. But it isn't perfect: it can be elevated without cancer (false positives) and occasionally normal when cancer is present. That's why an elevated PSA leads to further evaluation — not an immediate diagnosis.
An Elevated PSA Does Not Mean Cancer
This is the most important point. Most men with a mildly raised PSA do not have cancer. Your doctor will consider your age, symptoms, prostate exam, and possibly repeat testing or imaging before any next steps.
When to Talk to Your Doctor
Discuss screening from around age 50 (or earlier with a family history), and follow up promptly on a significantly elevated or rising PSA, or urinary symptoms.
Understand Your PSA Result
Upload your report to Lab Lens for a calm, clear explanation of what your PSA level means.