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Will sex before a ultrasensitive test cause an artificial bump in PSA?

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Posted 5/13/2013 10:56 AM (GMT 0)
Someone asked the question recently about whether or not sexual activity less than 48 hours before a follow up PSA test might cloud the results of the test.

Obviously, after the surgery there is no longer a prostate to aggravate, which would artificially raise PSA levels for a diagnostic test before the surgery, so one would think there is no harm in having sex within a few days of a follow up test.

But.. if there is any credence to the theory about benign prostatic tissue still fused on the bladder neck, or along the nerve bundles after nerve sparing surgery, and that tissue causing PSA levels to register a tiny reading on the ultrasensitive test, might sexual activity in turn aggravate this residual benign tissue and cause an artificial bump in the PSA levels on that test, even after the prostate is gone?
Posted 5/13/2013 11:02 AM (GMT 0)
When in doubt- refrain from sex idea

Even with a prostate in place, having sex before a test only affects it to a very minimal extent.
Posted 5/13/2013 11:14 AM (GMT 0)
Good question. I would guess not but I am unwilling to wait 6 months for the next test to find out. I try to be as consistent as possible. I even eat the same food the day before the test- and take the test before eating breakfast. I also go to the same restaurant after. :-) Really!

J

I saw a paper and referenced it on this site someplace, where a man who had engaged in "aggressive sex" the night before had his PSA jump from ~ 2 to ~6! He was almost diagnosed with PCa because of this. His PSA rose and fell 3 times until they figured out it was due to his amorous activities. The doc wrote a paper on it.
Posted 5/13/2013 11:14 AM (GMT 0)
My view with testing is simply to always try and do the same thing beforehand, and have the test at the same time of day etc.
Yes, it is obviously a serious matter, but why not take the attitude that you should always have sex the day before a test.
That way you get to have sex and there is consistency in any reaction by your body

Win Win

Alf
(edited due to typos. Also to say that things like sex, DREs sitting on saddles etc may make a difference when you have a prostate as they can squash, stimulate the gland etc and make it produce more PSA, but, although I'm no doc, I don't think it can make much difference to your PSA when you do not have a gland. It doesn't seem to me like there is any kind of mechanism that would be able to act on a few isolated cells that may get left in the prostate bed, though perhaps if sex results in a higher testosterone level that could I suppose be relevant.)

Post Edited (English Alf) : 5/13/2013 9:54:43 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/13/2013 11:47 AM (GMT 0)
When I had a prostate gland, having sex the day before, changed the PSA value over 8 points. So yes, having sex with a prostate gland still inside you will change your PSA score considerably, I had to have a re-check.
Even a DRE before blood draw will raise the PSA value.

With no prostate gland, I don't have a clue, but I would think not.
Posted 5/13/2013 1:33 PM (GMT 0)
With out a prostate, no reason to refrain.
Posted 5/13/2013 2:45 PM (GMT 0)
When my psa jumped to 4.6 I had a retest within a couple of months. No one told me to hold off on sex..which I had the night before. The retest was 5.0, so that might have affected the results a little.
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