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northeastern Ohio | The county I live in has a free psa test in November of every year, so that is when I have been getting mine done. My numbers have been climbing every year for the past couple years. Two years ago, it was 3. Then a year ago it was 4. And this past November it was 5.
My doctor was slightly concerned when I had my yearly physical in December. But he mentioned that I might not have "prepared" for the test properly. It was during harvest and I was sitting in the combine and bouncing across the fields for hours, plus climbing bins to check corn and also driving semi. He suggested that I get another blood test in January after I had an easier week with less physical excursion. I did a new test and it came back 1.34! Way lower!
Here is a list of things that can cause elevated PSA and what to avoid before your psa test:
A urine infection – You may have a test for a urine infection as this can raise your PSA level. If you have an infection, you’ll be given treatment for it. You’ll need to wait until the infection has gone – around six weeks – before you have a PSA test.
Vigorous exercise – Activities that raise your heart rate like cycling may raise your PSA level for a few days. So it's a good idea to avoid vigorous exercise for 48 hours before the blood test.
Ejaculation – You should avoid any sexual activity that leads to ejaculation in the 48 hours before a PSA blood test.
Anal sex and prostate stimulation – Receiving anal sex, or having your prostate stimulated during sex, might raise your PSA level for a while. You should avoid this for a week before a PSA test.
Prostate biopsy – If you’ve had a biopsy in the six weeks before a PSA test, this could raise your PSA level.
Medicines – Let your GP or practice nurse know if you’re taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, as some might affect your PSA level. For example, some medicines used to treat an enlarged prostate, known as 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors such as finasteride (Proscar®) or dutasteride (Avodart®), can reduce your PSA level and give a false test result.
Other tests or surgery – If you've had any tests or surgery on your bladder or prostate, you may need to wait up to six weeks before having a PSA test.
Urinary catheters – If you have a catheter to drain urine from your bladder, you may need to wait up to six weeks after it has been put in before having a PSA test. | |
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Ivermectrin
