Prostatitis and PSA

 

PSA is present in small quantities in the serum of men with healthy prostates but is often elevated in the presence of the prostate cancer or other prostate disorders. PSA is not a unique indicator of prostate cancer, but may also detect prostatitis or benign prostatic hyperplasia. So what a high level PSA means if it is not a prostate cancer?

 

Even without any prostate problems, the PSA level of a man can go up gradually as his age. A urologist in Chicago area whose name is John Milner, MD says: "At age 40, a PSA of 2.5 is the normal limit, by age 60, the limit is up to 4.5; by age 70, a PSA could be considered normal." So it may be normal for a man who finds his PSA level is higher than that of last year.

 

Anything that traumatically interferes with the surrounding positions of the prostate gland can make PSA go up. One of the most common causes of significantly high PSA from this type of trauma is the placing of a catheter into the bladder. Another cause is a prostate or bladder exam that involves passing a scope or taking a biopsy. Since it takes about two to three days for PSA to go down by half, a man should wait two to three weeks after this type of trauma to do a PSA test.

 

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an enlargement of the prostate gland, but it’s not prostate cancer. BPH means more cells, so that means more cells making PSA, BPH is the most common prostate problem in men over age 50. It may not need to be treated unless it’s causing frequent or difficult urination. A primary care doctor may be able to tell the difference between BPH and prostate cancer by doing a digital rectal exam, but commonly this will require evaluation by a urologist and further testing, such as a biopsy or imaging studies.

 

Any infection near the prostate gland, including a urinary tract infection, can irritate and inflame prostate cells and cause PSA to go up. If a man has been diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, he must be sure to wait until after the infection has cleared up before he gets a PSA test. In men, most urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria and respond well to antibiotics. Having BPH increases the risk for a urinary tract infection.

 

5. Ejaculation Is a Potential Cause of Mildly Elevated PSA 

"Ejaculation can cause a mild elevation of your PSA level, and so can having a digital rectal exam," says Milner. "These types of PSA elevations are usually not enough to make a significant difference unless your PSA is borderline. PSA should return to normal in two to three days." To avoid this type of elevation, doctors will usually draw blood for a person's PSA level before doing a rectal exam. Ask your doctor if you should avoid ejaculation for a few days before a PSA test.

 

Patients with prostatitis may have a higher PSA levels than healthy men, but it doesn't mean the patients are having prostate cancer, prostatitis caused by bacteria can be treated by antibiotics thoroughly in three or six weeks, nonbacterial prostatitis are harder to be cured and may last a long time, suffferers with nonbacterial prostatitis must know that antibiotics cannot solve their prostate problems, it is a better choice for them to choose Diuretic and Anti-inflammatory Pill as therapy, this medicine is totally natural and health, it will not produce any side effect to patients and is able to cure nonbacterial prostatitis without secondary inflammation.

 

Though a higher PSA level doesn't mean a prostate cancer absolutely, people must think highly of it, and make sure take a detailed examination in time.