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sex & psa What is this ?

 
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me
New User


Joined: 02 Feb 2005
Posts: 3
PostPosted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 3:28 pm    Post subject: sex & psa Reply with quote
My psa #s have been all over the place ranging from 1.8 to 4.1
I have no symptons of prostate cancer and had a biopsy 4 years which came back negative. During my annual checkup during the DRE portion
the doc said my prostate was larger on one side and my psa number doubled over last year. I've been more sexually active lately and am wondering if the enlargement is due to increased sexual activity.
Is it true that increased testosterone is like putting gas on an open fire when it comes to prostate cancer...i.e. the numbers go up.
Does this mean in order to keep the numbers down and reduce the prostate I should cut back on sex? I'm 58, 145, and in excellent health, low cholesterol numbers, no family history etc., but these psa numbers and enlargement have me freaked out. any ideas?
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mycroft
Regular


Joined: 12 Oct 2004
Posts: 15
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 2005 8:39 pm    Post subject: Re: sex & psa Reply with quote
[quote="me"]My psa #s have been all over the place ranging from 1.8 to 4.1
>I have no symptons of prostate cancer and had a biopsy 4 years which >came back negative. During my annual checkup during the DRE portion
>the doc said my prostate was larger on one side and my psa number >doubled over last year.

PSA doubling time of just a year is cause for concern.

I suspect that there is a nodule on one side of the prostate, which would be what the medic refers to.

Another biopsy is in order.

>I've been more sexually active lately and am wondering if the >enlargement is due to increased sexual activity.

Unlikely to the point of impossible, IMO.

>Is it true that increased testosterone is like putting gas on an open fire >when it comes to prostate cancer...i.e. the numbers go up.

What numbers? It is true that testosterone tends to encourage the growth of PCa cells.

>Does this mean in order to keep the numbers down and reduce the >prostate I should cut back on sex?

I don't believe that sexual activity has anything to do with PCa.

I'm 58, 145, and in excellent health, low cholesterol numbers, no family history etc., but these psa numbers and enlargement have me freaked out. any ideas?[/quote]

Yes. Have another biopsy.

Regards,

Steve J
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me
New User


Joined: 02 Feb 2005
Posts: 3
PostPosted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 5:19 pm    Post subject: Re: sex & psa Reply with quote
thanks for your reply....
did the biopsy
oh happy day
benign
NO CANCER
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sherylloper
New User


Joined: 10 Feb 2005
Posts: 1
PostPosted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 5:44 pm    Post subject: PSA and sex Reply with quote
Just a FYI - Urologist told us... No sex the night before as it "can" lower the psa results....
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mycroft
Regular


Joined: 12 Oct 2004
Posts: 15
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
PostPosted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 5:54 pm    Post subject: Sex & PSA Reply with quote
[quote="me"]thanks for your reply....
did the biopsy
oh happy day
benign
NO CANCER[/quote]

Good for you!

Just keep on having PSA and DRE tests each year.

Regards,

Steve J
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mycroft
Regular


Joined: 12 Oct 2004
Posts: 15
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
PostPosted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 6:01 pm    Post subject: Re: PSA and sex Reply with quote
[quote="sherylloper"]Just a FYI - Urologist told us... No sex the night before as it "can" lower the psa results....[/quote]

Um, that would be *increase* the PSA score. If the uro really said "lower", he's dangerously ignorant.

To be on the safe side, I'd recommend 48 hours. C'mon, you can do it Wink

And avoid anything else that could stress the prostate. This includes a DRE, biopsy, even, some say, bike riding.
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me
New User


Joined: 02 Feb 2005
Posts: 3
PostPosted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 8:28 pm    Post subject: Re: sex & psa Reply with quote
Huh?
NO SEX the night before "can" raise PSA #s?
But abstaining 48 hours "can" lower #s?
Dazed and confused?
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mycroft
Regular


Joined: 12 Oct 2004
Posts: 15
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
PostPosted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 8:43 pm    Post subject: sex & PSA Reply with quote
[quote="me"]Huh?
NO SEX the night before "can" raise PSA #s?
But abstaining 48 hours "can" lower #s?
Dazed and confused?[/quote]

Nope.

Just saying that it's best to avoid any activity that stresses the prostate -- including slap & tickle -- for 48 hours prior to the blood draw.

Any such stress will temporarily *increase* the PSA score.

Now, quit trying to weasel out; you *can* do it if you try Wink

Regards,

Steve J
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hhmv73a
Experienced user


Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 95
PostPosted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 9:25 pm    Post subject: sex and psa Reply with quote
sex the night before the psa test can increase the psa reading. usually urologists will ask patients not to have sexual relationship the night before the test.
sex will not have long term effect on prostate cancer, actually, it may reduce the chance according to a recent study.

Jay

Dr. Jay Lu
Diplomate, American Board of Radiology (Radiation Oncology)
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George Abbott
New User


Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 1
Location: holyoke, MA
PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 7:28 pm    Post subject: Re: sex and psa Reply with quote
[quote="hhmv73a"]sex the night before the psa test can increase the psa reading. usually urologists will ask patients not to have sexual relationship the night before the test.
sex will not have long term effect on prostate cancer, actually, it may reduce the chance according to a recent study.

Would you kindly provide the citation for that study. Thx.
_________________
George
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