{"id":52863,"date":"2025-04-25T22:09:10","date_gmt":"2025-04-26T02:09:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hancockhealth.org\/mayo-health-library\/psa-test\/"},"modified":"2026-02-04T12:12:39","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T17:12:39","slug":"psa-test","status":"publish","type":"mayo","link":"https:\/\/www.hancockhealth.org\/de\/mayo-health-library\/psa-test\/","title":{"rendered":"PSA-Test"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"container mx-auto   wordpress-block wordpress- core-\">\n<p>The PSA test is a blood test used primarily to screen for prostate cancer.<\/p>\n<p>The test measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. <abbr title=\"Prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> is a protein produced by both cancerous and noncancerous tissue in the prostate, a small gland that sits below the bladder in males.<\/p>\n<p><abbr title=\"Prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> is mostly found in semen, which also is produced in the prostate. Small amounts of <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> ordinarily circulate in the blood.<\/p>\n<p>Der <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> test can detect high levels of <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> that may indicate the presence of prostate cancer. However, many other conditions, such as an enlarged or inflamed prostate, also can increase <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> levels. Therefore, determining what a high <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> score means can be complicated.<\/p>\n<p>There is a lot of conflicting advice about <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> testing. To decide whether to have a <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> test, discuss the issue with your doctor, considering your risk factors and weighing your personal preferences.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Prostate cancer can cause elevated levels of <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr>. However, many noncancerous conditions also can increase the <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> level. The <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> test can detect high levels of <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> in the blood but doesn&#8217;t provide precise diagnostic information about the condition of the prostate.<\/p>\n<p>Der <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> test is only one tool used to screen for early signs of prostate cancer. Another common screening test, usually done in addition to a <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> test, is a digital rectal exam.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Neither the <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> 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. <\/p>\n<p>During a prostate biopsy, samples of prostate tissue are removed for laboratory examination. A diagnosis of cancer is based on the biopsy results.<\/p>\n<h3>Other reasons for PSA tests<\/h3>\n<p>For those who have already been diagnosed with prostate cancer, the <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> test may be used to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Judge the effectiveness of a treatment<\/li>\n<li>Check for recurring cancer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Medical organizations vary in their recommendations about who should &mdash; and who shouldn&#8217;t &mdash; get a <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> screening test. Discussing with your doctor the benefits, limitations and potential risks of the <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> test can help you make an informed decision.<\/p>\n<h3>Benefits of the test<\/h3>\n<p>A <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> test may help detect prostate cancer at an early stage. Cancer is easier to treat and is more likely to be cured if it&#8217;s diagnosed in its early stages.<\/p>\n<p>But to judge the benefit of the test, it&#8217;s important to know if early detection and early treatment will improve treatment outcomes and decrease the number of deaths from prostate cancer.<\/p>\n<p>A key issue is the typical course of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer usually progresses slowly over many years. Therefore, it&#8217;s possible to have prostate cancer that never causes symptoms or becomes a medical problem during your lifetime.<\/p>\n<h3>Limitations of the test<\/h3>\n<p>The limitations of <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> testing include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><abbr title=\"Prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr>-raising factors.<\/strong> Besides cancer, other conditions that can raise <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> levels include an enlarged prostate (also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or <abbr title=\"benign prostatic hyperplasia\">BPH<\/abbr>) and an inflamed or infected prostate (prostatitis). Also, <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> levels normally increase with age.<\/li>\n<li><strong><abbr title=\"Prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr>-lowering factors.<\/strong> Certain drugs used to treat <abbr title=\"benign prostatic hyperplasia\">BPH<\/abbr> or urinary conditions, and large doses of certain chemotherapy medications, may lower <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> levels. Obesity also can lower <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> Ebenen.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Misleading results.<\/strong> The test doesn&#8217;t always provide an accurate result. An elevated <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> level doesn&#8217;t necessarily mean you have cancer. And it&#8217;s possible to have prostate cancer and also have a normal <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> level.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Overdiagnosis.<\/strong> Some prostate cancers detected by <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> tests will never cause symptoms or lead to death. These symptom-free cancers are considered overdiagnoses &mdash; identification of cancer not likely to cause poor health or to present a risk of death.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Potential risks<\/h3>\n<p>The potential risks of the <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> 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:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Biopsy issues.<\/strong> A biopsy is a procedure that carries its own risks, including pain, bleeding and infection.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Psychological effects.<\/strong> False-positive test results &mdash; high <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> levels but no cancer found with biopsy &mdash; can cause anxiety or distress. If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, but it appears to be a slow-growing tumor that doesn&#8217;t result in illness, you may experience significant anxiety just knowing it&#8217;s there.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>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 <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> level.<\/p>\n<p>Results of <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> tests are reported as nanograms of <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> per milliliter of blood (ng\/mL). There&#8217;s no specific cutoff point between a normal and an abnormal <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> level. Your doctor might recommend a prostate biopsy based on results of your <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> test.<\/p>\n<h3>Variations of the PSA test<\/h3>\n<p>Your doctor might use other ways of interpreting <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> results before deciding whether to order a biopsy to test for cancerous tissue. These other methods are intended to improve the accuracy of the <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> test as a screening tool.<\/p>\n<p>Researchers continue to investigate variations of the <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> test to determine whether they provide a measurable benefit.<\/p>\n<p>Variations of the <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> test include: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><abbr title=\"Prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> velocity.<\/strong> <abbr title=\"Prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> velocity is the change in <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> levels over time. A rapid rise in <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> may indicate the presence of cancer or an aggressive form of cancer. However, recent studies have cast doubt on the value of <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> velocity in predicting a finding of prostate cancer from biopsy.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Percentage of free <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr>.<\/strong> <abbr title=\"Prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> circulates in the blood in two forms &mdash; either attached to certain blood proteins or unattached (free). If you have a high <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> level but a low percentage of free <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr>, it may be more likely that you have prostate cancer.<\/li>\n<li><strong><abbr title=\"Prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> density.<\/strong> Prostate cancers can produce more <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> per volume of tissue than benign prostate conditions can. <abbr title=\"Prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> density measurements adjust <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> values for prostate volume. Measuring <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> density generally requires an MRI or transrectal ultrasound.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Talk to your doctor<\/h3>\n<p>Before getting a <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> test, talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks. If you decide that a <abbr title=\"prostate-specific antigen\">PSA<\/abbr> test is right for you, ask your doctor:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>When you will discuss the results<\/li>\n<li>What kinds of recommendations he or she might make if the results are positive<\/li>\n<li>How often you should repeat the test if the results are negative<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Discussing these issues beforehand may make it easier for you to learn the results of your test and make appropriate decisions afterward.<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn about this prostate cancer screening test, including why it&#8217;s done, what to expect, risks and results.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","tags":[1686,1687,1682],"class_list":["post-52863","mayo","type-mayo","status-publish","hentry","tag-anatomical-structure","tag-medical-procedure","tag-person-group-concept","content_type-tests-procedures"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - 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