How to Lower Prostate PSA

The prostate gland is a small gland located on the male urethra, just below the place where the urethra and bladder meet. Its main function seems to be to release fluid during ejaculation to help the sperm survive longer in the vagina. The prostate gland also releases prostate-specific antigens (PSA) into the man's blood to help liquefy semen. All men have prostate-specific antigens in their blood, but healthy men will have low levels of PSA. High levels of PSA indicate an enlarged prostate due to prostate cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia. To reduce your levels of PSA, you must first find out what is causing it and then resolve that health condition.

Instructions

1. See your urologist any time you suspect an enlarged prostate. An enlarged prostate can show up as problems urinating or ejaculation, including pain during either process. General pelvic pain is another sign of a prostate problem. You may also have trouble maintaining a steady stream of urine or notice dribbles of urine after you are done urinating. Frequent urinary infections can also be a sign of a prostate problem.

2. Give a blood sample for your doctor to have analyzed for prostate-specific antigens levels. If the blood analysis comes back with high levels of PSA, your doctor will continue to examine you for signs of prostate problems. He will give you a digital rectal prostate exam to evaluate the size, tenderness and consistency of your prostate exam. Your doctor will also take a urine sample to analyze for signs of bacteria, which can indicate prostatitis. Nearly all men who have high levels of PSA should have a prostate gland biopsy to test for cancer cells.

3. Discuss your treatment options with your urologist once the tests results are in. Treating the underlying condition is the most effective way to reduce PSA levels. Prostatitis can be treated through antibiotic drugs. Benign prostatic hyperplasia, the normal enlargement of a man's prostate gland due to age, cannot be cured, but can be treated with enzyme inhibitors to reduce the size of the prostate gland. Prostate cancer can be treated through hormone therapy or radiation. In some cases, partial or total removal of the prostate gland may be required.

4. Retest your PSA levels to determine if current treatment is working. If the PSA levels are still elevated, treatment should be re-evaluated.

Tips & Warnings

• Men who have had their prostate gland removed should show no PSA in their blood.

References

• WebMD
• National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC)
• The Male Health Center

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish