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Reasons for an Increase in PSA Results

PSA refers to prostate-specific antigen. An elevated PSA level is usually not a good sign. In fact, an elevated PSA result is one of the first signs the doctor may have that a man has prostate cancer. However, PSA results may be high for other reasons.

  1. Cancer

    • An increase in PSA levels often indicates that cancer is present in the prostate. The higher the count, the more likely there is a problem. A PSA, sometimes called the prostate cancer screening test, with results in the hundreds and climbing, may indicate the prostate cancer has spread beyond the prostate itself to the surrounding tissue or even entered the bones and may be spreading throughout the body. The PSA is just the first line that informs the doctor that something may be wrong and more testing needs to be done.

    Age and Size

    • The age of the male having the PSA test matters. All men have small amounts of prostate-specific antigen in their blood. Concern mounts when the PSA test shows an increase in levels. Having the PSA test on a regular basis, especially if a close family member has had prostate cancer, helps the doctor monitor your health and well-being. It also assists the doctor in being able to tell if the increase is due to cancer, age or something else entirely.

      The PSA results of an older male will usually show a higher level than a younger male. Size also matters. Those with larger prostate glands tend to show higher PSA levels than males with smaller prostates. Some prostates enlarge naturally with age, called benign prostatic hyperplasia, when no cancer is present.

    Prostatitis

    • Prostatitis can also cause an increase in PSA results. Prostatitis is a bacterial infection. Prostatitis may develop from a bladder obstruction or prostate biopsies. Those who have recently had catheterization or cystoscopy may show increase in PSA results, which may have caused prostatitis.

    Other Reasons for High PSA Results

    • A urinary tract infection can impact the PSA test, causing the results to show an increase in prostate-specific antigen levels. An inflammation of the prostate gland can also cause an increase in PSA results. Having the PSA test after recently being intimate can cause a result that shows elevated levels of prostate-specific antigen. Even bike riding has been shown to cause elevated levels in a PSA test.

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