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What Does High PSA Levels Really Mean?

PSA, or prostate-specific antigen, is a protein produced by the prostate gland. It is present in some amount in the bodies of all men, but elevated levels can be a sign of prostate cancer.

  1. Meaning

    • If you are tested and told that you have high PSA levels, you may be at risk for prostate cancer. Because prostate cancer is a serious disease and is best caught early, your doctor may want to go ahead with further tests, even if there is a chance that you are in perfect health.

    Test Problems

    • Someone with naturally low PSA may have cancer and still fall within the normal range, while someone with naturally high PSA may be considered at risk when they are actually completely healthy. As a result, the test is prone to false negatives and positives.

    Prostate Cancer Test

    • Despite its problems, the easiest way to find prostate cancer early is still to look for elevated levels of PSA in the patient's blood.

    Normal Levels

    • Because different men have different normal PSA levels and everyone's PSA levels increase as they age, it is hard to say what is really normal. PSA levels of about 50 are probably cause for alarm.

    Function

    • PSA is produced by the prostate gland for the ejaculate. It liquifies the semen, allowing the sperm to swim freely.

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