PSA blood test

A raised PSA means more of the protein is reaching your blood, but it does not mean you have cancer. The most common causes are an enlarged prostate (very common with age), a prostate or urine infection, and recent activities that irritate the gland, such as ejaculation, vigorous exercise or cycling, a recent catheter or a rectal examination.

Because of this, a single raised result is usually repeated, often after a few weeks and after avoiding those triggers, and is considered alongside your symptoms and an examination. If concern remains, the next step is a discussion with a doctor about further assessment, which may include an MRI scan, rather than drawing conclusions from the number alone.

A low PSA is generally reassuring, and it is what most men without a prostate problem will have. There is no lower limit to worry about.

It is worth knowing that some medicines for an enlarged prostate or hair loss (finasteride and dutasteride) roughly halve PSA, so a result can look reassuringly low while you take them. Tell whoever interprets your test if you take one of these, so the figure can be read correctly.