Raised PSA result worry.

[seppuku]

Just had back my latest 'Medichecks' blood test result, panicing due to the PSA result, and looking for any advice.

Long story short - i'm 55 years old, on self prescribed trt (ie, diy, no doctor) and have been since Sept 2022.

My previous PSA readings are -

Feb 2024 - 1.42 ug/L (range: 0 - 3.5 ug/L)
Jan 2025 - 2.35 ug/L
Sept 2025 - 2.32 ug/L
July 2026 - 5.07 ug/L

Extra info:

Blood test was Medichecks 'Advanced TRT' test. I inject twice a week, blood was drawn 6hrs before next injection, so a trough reading. Some extra results from that:

Total T - 35.3 nmol/l (1017 ng/dl)
Calc. Free T - 0.79 nmol/l (22.8 ng/dl)
E2 - 243 pmol/l (66.2 pg/ml)

* I had sex 30hrs before blood test

** I have been using 25mg of Proviron on gym workout days (so every 3 days). My last gym (ie, weights) workout before the blood draw was 3 days - i honestly can't remember if i took the proviron that day or missed it because of the blood test. I 'think' i didn't take it that day though (and i'm not even sure how much influence Proviron would have on a PSA test anyhow, other than the fact it's dht based).

So i'm now in a bit of a panic and think i might have prostate cancer. The Medichecks doctors report that comes back with the results basically said "Your PSA is above age adjusted reference range" and to get it retested in 4 weeks, which i'll do. I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice, ie, is my testosterone or E2 too high, and could this have caused the PSA jump, or anything else i might have missed that would put my mind at ease before i get more testing done?

 

[madman]

Just had back my latest 'Medichecks' blood test result, panicing due to the PSA result, and looking for any advice.

Long story short - i'm 55 years old, on self prescribed trt (ie, diy, no doctor) and have been since Sept 2022.

My previous PSA readings are -

Feb 2024 - 1.42 ug/L (range: 0 - 3.5 ug/L)
Jan 2025 - 2.35 ug/L
Sept 2025 - 2.32 ug/L
July 2026 - 5.07 ug/L

Extra info:

Blood test was Medichecks 'Advanced TRT' test. I inject twice a week, blood was drawn 6hrs before next injection, so a trough reading. Some extra results from that:

Total T - 35.3 nmol/l (1017 ng/dl)
Calc. Free T - 0.79 nmol/l (22.8 ng/dl)
E2 - 243 pmol/l (66.2 pg/ml)

* I had sex 30hrs before blood test

** I have been using 25mg of Proviron on gym workout days (so every 3 days). My last gym (ie, weights) workout before the blood draw was 3 days - i honestly can't remember if i took the proviron that day or missed it because of the blood test. I 'think' i didn't take it that day though (and i'm not even sure how much influence Proviron would have on a PSA test anyhow, other than the fact it's dht based).

So i'm now in a bit of a panic and think i might have prostate cancer. The Medichecks doctors report that comes back with the results basically said "Your PSA is above age adjusted reference range" and to get it retested in 4 weeks, which i'll do. I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice, ie, is my testosterone or E2 too high, and could this have caused the PSA jump, or anything else i might have missed that would put my mind at ease before i get more testing done?

That is a significant jump 2.32--->5.07 especially seeing as it was fairly stable for a couple years.

Yes. ejaculating can raise psa temporarily if you do not wait 24-48 hrs.

Most recommend waiting 48 hrs.

Even though you tested 30 hrs post it could still cause a rise but not double.

T therapy can cause a small increase especially during the first year of treatment after which PSA often stabilizes.

Your 6hrs shy true trough cFTV 22.8 ng/dL is high-end but nothing to fret over.

Doubtful the intermittent dose Proviron played any role here.

Yes I would retest in 4 weeks and definitely seek out a urologist assessment if it comes back 4 or higher.

Would not jump to any conclusions here as an elevated PSA can be cause by prostatitis, UTI or BPH.

 

[seppuku]

That is a significant jump 2.32--->5.07 especially seeing as it was fairly stable for a couple years.

Yes. ejaculating can raise psa temporarily if you do not wait 24-48 hrs.

Most recommend waiting 48 hrs.

Even though you tested 30 hrs post it could still cause a rise but not double.

T therapy can cause a small increase especially during the first year of treatment after which PSA often stabilizes.

Your 6hrs shy true trough cFTV 22.8 ng/dL is high-end but nothing to fret over.

Doubtful the intermittent dose Proviron played any role here.

Yes I would retest in 4 weeks and definitely seek out a urologist assessment if it comes back 4 or higher.

Would not jump to any conclusions here as an elevated PSA can be cause by prostatitis, UTI or BPH.

Thank you @madman , i'll get another test done in a few weeks.

 

[Guided_by_Voices]

In the meantime, it's a good time to re-commit to all the cancer prevention basics, such as
- Curcumin
- IP6/Choline Inositol
- Fasting Insulin below 6
- Many would now consider a preventative round of Mebendazole/Ivermectin per DR Makis' protocol


Also note that bike riding, squats and anything else that can stress the pelvic floor can raise PSA. I had a similar scare a few years ago but it came right back down, however I do/take anti-cancer things no matter what. Also note that if your prostate had started to enlarge, possibly due to the DHT, then that could raise PSA even if you had no symptoms.

 

[seppuku]

In the meantime, it's a good time to re-commit to all the cancer prevention basics, such as
- Curcumin
- IP6/Choline Inositol
- Fasting Insulin below 6
- Many would now consider a preventative round of Mebendazole/Ivermectin per DR Makis' protocol


Also note that bike riding, squats and anything else that can stress the pelvic floor can raise PSA. I had a similar scare a few years ago but it came right back down, however I do/take anti-cancer things no matter what. Also note that if your prostate had started to enlarge, possibly due to the DHT, then that could raise PSA even if you had no symptoms.

Thanks @Guided_by_Voices. I actually thought i should have been pretty much bullet proof due to my supplement regime - i take curcumin, changing formula now and again. I take very high vitamin d3, not specifically for cancer prevention (it completely cleared my psoriasis and calmed my thumb joint pain at 20,000iu / day), but i saw a lecture by a vit d professor (can't remember his name) who said supplemental vit d3 protects the prostate. I also take vitamin k2, magnesium, omega 3, a B complex, 500mg vit C and 10 grams of creatine monohydrate.

I also take DHEA, but have done for many years. I take 12.5mg, under the tongue in the AM, and another 12.5mg in the evening.

I don't take IP6 / choline inositol currently, i'll have to look into those.

I don't know my fasting insulin - i did get an HBA1C test though if that's relevant, which came back in range.

The Dr Makis protocol is something i'll definitely go and look into now, i hadn't heard of that before.

 

[seppuku]

@madman Do you think my e2 level of 66.2 pg/ml could have spiked my PSA? It's been around that level, or at least a similar ratio to my total T, since i started TRT.

 

[Guided_by_Voices]

Thanks @Guided_by_Voices. I actually thought i should have been pretty much bullet proof due to my supplement regime - i take curcumin, changing formula now and again. I take very high vitamin d3, not specifically for cancer prevention (it completely cleared my psoriasis and calmed my thumb joint pain at 20,000iu / day), but i saw a lecture by a vit d professor (can't remember his name) who said supplemental vit d3 protects the prostate. I also take vitamin k2, magnesium, omega 3, a B complex, 500mg vit C and 10 grams of creatine monohydrate.

I also take DHEA, but have done for many years. I take 12.5mg, under the tongue in the AM, and another 12.5mg in the evening.

I don't take IP6 / choline inositol currently, i'll have to look into those.

I don't know my fasting insulin - i did get an HBA1C test though if that's relevant, which came back in range.

The Dr Makis protocol is something i'll definitely go and look into now, i hadn't heard of that before.

It sounds like you're doing a lot of good things. We may need a dedicated cancer prevention thread. Any sign of visceral fat is very pro-cancer and something to address. I know people who also had issues due to an infection near the prostate which anti-biotics and resolving leaky gut addressed. I am now a fan of Ozone in some form to reduce general infection risk.

 

[seppuku]

It sounds like you're doing a lot of good things. We may need a dedicated cancer prevention thread. Any sign of visceral fat is very pro-cancer and something to address. I know people who also had issues due to an infection near the prostate which anti-biotics and resolving leaky gut addressed. I am now a fan of Ozone in some form to reduce general infection risk.

I've just been down the rabbit hole and now i'm worried that my e2 level could be responsible for my increased PSA. It's within what's often mentioned on here as within a good ratio to total testosterone. But i have to wonder if it being over 60 pg/ml is what's caused a spike. Unfortunately, because i don't do my trt through a doctor, i can only rely on research through sites like this, or tell my doctor what i'm doing. But that would just lead to them putting 'steroid abuse' on my record, and no doubt them refusing to assist unless i quit trt immediately.

 

[Guided_by_Voices]

I've just been down the rabbit hole and now i'm worried that my e2 level could be responsible for my increased PSA. It's within what's often mentioned on here as within a good ratio to total testosterone. But i have to wonder if it being over 60 pg/ml is what's caused a spike. Unfortunately, because i don't do my trt through a doctor, i can only rely on research through sites like this, or tell my doctor what i'm doing. But that would just lead to them putting 'steroid abuse' on my record, and no doubt them refusing to assist unless i quit trt immediately.

I know nothing about the e2 angle although I remember that Dr. Crisler seemed to think high e2 could be an issue if I interpreted his comment correctly. I have the opposite issue with low e2 so I haven't looked into it but there are some "stealth" AIs like zinc that could bring it down.

 

[Wolverine]

OP: I had the same thing, rise in my PSA to up over 5 (Im on TRT). I had a round of Doxy and it came down and then what really helped was I eliminated dairy. I was eating a big bowl of yogurt every day and also consuming chocolate milk every day, all to boost protein. I have been peeing better etc ever since eliminating dairy. I believe that the dairy was causing an inflammatory response. There are many non-cancerous things that can elevate PSA.

 

[seppuku]

OP: I had the same thing, rise in my PSA to up over 5 (Im on TRT). I had a round of Doxy and it came down and then what really helped was I eliminated dairy. I was eating a big bowl of yogurt every day and also consuming chocolate milk every day, all to boost protein. I have been peeing better etc ever since eliminating dairy. I believe that the dairy was causing an inflammatory response. There are many non-cancerous things that can elevate PSA.

That's very interesting actually because i eat a lot of dairy (greek yogurt every day with a mix of casein and whey protein added). I also suffer quite a bit with inflammation and joint pain. Do you remember how long it took after implementing changes (and taking doxazosin) how long it took for your psa to drop? And did it drop by a lot? I'm just hoping this is something that i can fix before having the nhs tell me i need a biopsy. I've decided to bring my test dosage down, plus give the dhea a miss untill i get another test. I've been taking dhea for many years, but the blood test for trt from medichecks doesn't include that so i'm shooting in the dark with that one (it does include LH and FSH though which baffles me seeing as everyone's level of those drops off).

 

[Guided_by_Voices]

That's very interesting actually because i eat a lot of dairy (greek yogurt every day with a mix of casein and whey protein added). I also suffer quite a bit with inflammation and joint pain. Do you remember how long it took after implementing changes (and taking doxazosin) how long it took for your psa to drop? And did it drop by a lot? I'm just hoping this is something that i can fix before having the nhs tell me i need a biopsy. I've decided to bring my test dosage down, plus give the dhea a miss untill i get another test. I've been taking dhea for many years, but the blood test for trt from medichecks doesn't include that so i'm shooting in the dark with that one (it does include LH and FSH though which baffles me seeing as everyone's level of those drops off).

I think he meant doxycycline. Also, dropping whey protein fixed a lot of my joint paint. It is well-known to provoke inflammation in some people.

 

[seppuku]

I think he meant doxycycline. Also, dropping whey protein fixed a lot of my joint paint. It is well-known to provoke inflammation in some people.

Ah i see, that makes sense. My wife's picking me up an at home uti test kit tomorrow, if that shows any infection i'm sure my doc will prescribe something similar. As to whey, i have two sacks of vegan protein powder i bought a year or so ago. I can take it in a pre workout pro shake, but i'm not keen on the taste so haven't tried it in my greek yogurt. I do think either casein or whey causes me some intestinal distress, nothing too bad, but i could probably do with a change of protein source (that doesn't taste rank)

 

[Wolverine]

That's very interesting actually because i eat a lot of dairy (greek yogurt every day with a mix of casein and whey protein added). I also suffer quite a bit with inflammation and joint pain. Do you remember how long it took after implementing changes (and taking doxazosin) how long it took for your psa to drop? And did it drop by a lot? I'm just hoping this is something that i can fix before having the nhs tell me i need a biopsy. I've decided to bring my test dosage down, plus give the dhea a miss untill i get another test. I've been taking dhea for many years, but the blood test for trt from medichecks doesn't include that so i'm shooting in the dark with that one (it does include LH and FSH though which baffles me seeing as everyone's level of those drops off).

I did mean doxycycline. It was about a month of no dairy when I had my labs and my PSA was lower over 1 point. I believe the longer I'm off dairy the lower my PSA will be. I very rarely took in dairy until about 5 years ago when I wanted to up my protein intake.

 

[madman]

@madman Do you think my e2 level of 66.2 pg/ml could have spiked my PSA? It's been around that level, or at least a similar ratio to my total T, since i started TRT.

No.

If anything seeing as your spike was drastic and happened in a short time frame could be prostatitis/inflammation.

Keep in mind chronic prostatitis or asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis can produce an elevated PSA with few or even no symptoms at all.

No need to lower your dose of T or fret over your estradiol and if anything I would not jump to any conclusions here until you retest in 4 weeks.

Just make sure to wait 48-72 hrs before you go for your test.

Again if it comes back 4 or higher then your next move would be seeking out a urologist for an assessment/further testing.