What a raised PSA means
PSA can rise for several reasons: an enlarged prostate (very common with age), a urine infection or prostatitis, recent ejaculation or vigorous exercise, as well as prostate cancer. So a high PSA needs interpretation, not alarm.
Because of this, a raised result usually leads to further assessment — repeating the test, an examination, and often an MRI scan and specialist review — rather than an immediate diagnosis.
Why testing is a personal decision
PSA testing can find cancers early, but it can also find slow-growing cancers that would never have caused harm, leading to anxiety and further tests. For this reason, whether to have a PSA test is a personal decision to discuss with your doctor, weighing the benefits and downsides.
Common questions
Does a normal PSA rule out prostate cancer?
No — some prostate cancers occur with a normal PSA, and many raised PSAs are not cancer. That is why it is interpreted alongside examination, scans and specialist assessment.
Related tools
These calculators are designed for healthcare professionals.