Urology Robotic Surgery at The Mount Kisco Medical Group --> Improving the Quality of Life --> 914-242-1520 : What Can Affect The PSA Reading?

What is the Prostate? • Overview • Risk Factors • Symptoms Caused By An Abnormal Prostate •
Early Detection • Diagnosis • What Can Affect The PSA Reading? •
Negative Biopsy / Need For Re-Biopsy • When The Biopsy Detects Prostate Cancer • Treatment Options • Surveillance After Treatment • Prevention • Sources For Additional Reading

What Can Affect The PSA Reading?

Certain medications and herbal supplements may alter PSA levels. Finasteride and Dutaseride, 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors used to treat non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate, will reduce PSA readings by about 50%.

This does not mean that the chance of having prostate cancer is necessarily reduced, although recent studies suggest that such medications may reduce the risk of prostate cancer by approximately 25%!

A man taking either medication simply doubles his PSA reading to obtain the "true" PSA value.

Saw palmetto is one of the more popular herbal supplements which may affect the PSA slightly.

Since many supplements may contain a variety of plant derivatives with unknown effects on PSA production by the prostate, the physician should be alerted to their use.

Men should ideally abstain from ejaculating for 48 hours prior to having a PSA test since this may raise the PSA.

A recent urinary tract infection may cause a false elevation of the PSA. Exercise does not affect the PSA.