PSA and prostate health: A deep dive

Function's 160+ lab tests include PSA—Total, Free, and % Free—in the Annual Test. Your Clinician Notes flag results outside the reference range and explain factors that might be contributing to it. The Annual MRI scans for signs of prostate cancer, prostate enlargement, prostate inflammation, and other potential conditions.

What a PSA result measures

A PSA test measures the concentration of Prostate Specific Antigen in your blood. PSA is prostate-specific, not cancer-specific. An elevated PSA level may point to conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, or prostate enlargement) or prostatitis (inflammation or infection). While an elevated level might also signal cancer risk, this is not always the case. In some cases, cancer can be present even when a PSA level appears within the typical reference range. That's why context and clinical interpretation matter.

What can influence your PSA

PSA levels generally rise with age, and other variables shape individual results.

Age

The following thresholds are commonly cited as reference points, though they aren't universal definitions of "normal" and don't diagnose or rule out any condition on their own:

• 40–49 years: ≤2.5 ng/mL
• 50–59 years: ≤3.5 ng/mL
• 60–69 years: ≤4.5 ng/mL
• 70–79 years: ≤6.5 ng/mL

Body weight

Men with a higher body mass index (BMI) tend to have somewhat lower PSA levels, possibly due to dilution across a larger blood volume. However, this association isn't established enough yet to support routine BMI-based adjustments.

Medications

Common medications may influence PSA levels. Statins (such as atorvastatin) have been associated with slightly lower PSA levels in some men. Finasteride—used for conditions such as BPH and male pattern hair loss—works by reducing dihydrotestosterone (DHT) production, a hormone involved in prostate growth, and can lower PSA as a result. Let your doctor know about everything you're taking.

Ejaculation

PSA can rise temporarily after ejaculation and return to baseline within 24–48 hours. Consider abstaining for at least 48 hours before a PSA test.

Infection or inflammation

Prostatitis or a urinary tract infection can increase PSA levels and may persist for several weeks after the infection clears. In these situations, your doctor may suggest waiting some time before testing or re-testing PSA.

Who should test, and how often

The American Cancer Society recommends that men at average risk should discuss prostate cancer screening with their doctor starting at age 50. That conversation should start earlier—around 40–45—if you're Black or have a first-degree relative (father or brother) diagnosed at an early age.

PSA in context

Beyond any single reading, access to more comprehensive data and tracking PSA over time can help you establish a baseline. This is why Function helps you test it every year. Function includes PSA—Total, Free, and % Free—in the Annual Test, and Clinician Notes flag out-of-range results with insights from a licensed clinician.

To learn even more about your prostate health, you may think about an Annual MRI, which can look for signs of prostate cancer, prostate enlargement, prostate inflammation, and hundreds of other conditions. Labs look at signals in your blood. MRI shows what's happening in your body. Together, you get your baseline that you can over time.