What Are Normal PSA Levels by Age?
By: Brian Seifman, M.D.
A PSA test is pretty simple. A small amount of blood is drawn from your arm and analyzed to determine how much prostate-specific antigen is in your bloodstream.
A reading between 0 and 4 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) is generally considered to be standard, or typical. But because PSA levels can increase slightly as you age, many men want to know what a normal PSA level is for their age.
The answer is that every man’s PSA level is unique. There is NO normal PSA level by age, and relying on such a number can be dangerous.
Your PSA level doesn’t indicate for sure whether or not you have prostate cancer. You can have a PSA of 20 and not have prostate cancer, or a PSA of 2 and have prostate cancer. What’s important, however, is whether your level has increased since your last PSA test. Even an increase of .75 in one year may indicate an increase in cancerous prostate cells.
That’s why it’s crucial for all men to get their first PSA test as soon as their physician recommends (usually at age 45, but sooner if you have a family history or are African American). This first test will establish a baseline from which all future tests will be measured. Every year thereafter, you should be retested.
Who Gets Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer isn’t an older man’s disease. In 2019, 37% of prostate cancer cases occurred in men between the ages of 45 and 64, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, dedicated to prostate cancer prevention. At the Michigan Institute of Urology (MIU), we urge men to schedule a PSA test if they’re due for one.
Early Detection Can be Lifesaving
Finding cancer early usually means the cancer is easier to treat. Early detection can mean you’ll have more treatment options, a higher survival rate, and a better quality of life following treatment.
If you’re 45 or older and it has been more than a year since you’ve had a PSA test, or you’ve never had a PSA test, request an appointment today. If you’re African American or have a family history of prostate cancer, ask your physician when you should schedule your next PSA test.
Remember, an increase of just 0.75 in one year could indicate prostate cancer.
