PSA Screening is a clinical diagnostic procedure that measures the concentration of Prostate-Specific Antigen, a protein produced primarily by the cells of the prostate gland, in a man’s blood serum. This screening test is used as a tool to aid in the detection of prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and other prostate-related conditions. While the PSA value itself is not definitive for cancer, its longitudinal monitoring and rate of change are essential components of prostate health surveillance and risk stratification in clinical urology and longevity medicine.
Origin
Prostate-Specific Antigen was first identified in the 1970s and subsequently developed as a blood test for prostate cancer in the 1980s. The term “PSA Screening” arose from the test’s widespread adoption as a method to screen asymptomatic men for early signs of prostate pathology. Its origin in laboratory medicine provided a non-invasive, quantifiable biomarker to monitor a common, age-related male health concern.
Mechanism
The mechanism relies on the fact that PSA, normally secreted into the seminal fluid, leaks into the bloodstream in measurable amounts when the prostate gland’s cellular architecture is disrupted or its tissue volume increases. A blood sample is drawn, and an immunoassay is performed to quantify the total PSA concentration. Elevated or rapidly rising PSA levels, while non-specific, signal a need for further diagnostic investigation, as they reflect a significant alteration in the integrity or volume of the prostate tissue.
Ongoing hormonal optimization requires systematic documentation of labs and symptoms to co-author your evolving biological narrative with your clinician.
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