PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is an enzyme produced by tissue in the prostate gland.

The prostate gland is one of the male sex glands. It is shaped like a small dumbbell, is about the size of a walnut, and surrounds the neck of the bladder and the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder through the penis). The prostate makes the fluid that liquefies the semen and carries the sperm.

The level of PSA can be affected by:

a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate
cancer of the prostate and
infections

For these reasons, watching the change in PSA levels over time is helpful. If an increase of more than 20% occurs in one year, cancer is more likely, even if the value is not that high.

Many experts recommend that men 50 years of age and over receive counseling about the possible benefits of PSA testing. Men should be informed that:

the risk of prostate cancer increases with age and
over half of men over 60 will develop prostate cancer

A yearly PSA test is recommended for men over age 50.

For more information, call the American Foundation for Urologic Disease at (800) 242-2383 or visit their website at www.afud.org.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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