How Often Should Men Have a Prostate Screening?

When it comes to men’s health, prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer. The best news is that if caught early, it is completely treatable. A lot of treatment options are available, which are also proven to be successful in combating prostate cancer. 

Even in advanced stages, some of the treatments are highly successful. 

Early detection of prostate cancer is vital, as it offers you more treatment options along with an enhanced opportunity of eliminating cancer. After a particular age, the risk of prostate cancer increased; it also varied on a lot more factors. 

Here in this article, we are going to discuss prostate screening and how often you should undergo a prostate screening. 

We are starting the discussion with the basic information about what prostate screening is and why you need it. 

What is Prostate Screening?

Prostate cancer is a particular screening that should be done by men after they reach a certain age in order to detect undiagnosed prostate cancer in someone who does not have the symptoms. 

It includes two types of tests, one is a PSA test, and the other one is a digital rectal exam. 

In a PSA test, the doctor checks the level of the prostate, a particular antigen in the blood. On the other hand, the digital rectal exam is all about finding if there are any abnormalities with a man’s prostate. 

Why Is Prostate Screening Vital?

For most men, PSA is continuously present in the bloodstream, and a sudden increase in the number might be attributed to causes other than cancer. However, all those men who have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer must undergo regular prostate screening. 

When it comes to the factors of increasing your risk of prostate cancer, family history, age, race, everything matters. In case you are feeling any pain or discomfort while urinating, your doctor might recommend you to undergo a prostate screening. If your prostate health is poor they may recommend the use of prostate health supplements or in more extreme cases prostate surgery. 

Here are some of the symptoms that might indicate that you have developed prostate issues. 

• The inconsistent flow of urine.
• Painful ejaculation.
• Change in frequency of urination.
• Blood in the urine.
• Difficulty in urinating.

How Often Should Men Have A Prostate Screening?

Now, you know the basics about prostate screening and why you need it on a regular basis. As we have mentioned, several factors play a major role when it comes to developing prostate cancer. 

Just the same way, the frequency of a prostate screening depends on your present health condition and age. 

40–49 Years of Age

In case you have any family history of prostate cancer, you must undergo prostate cancer once you reach the age of 40. Along with this, African-American men are more prone to develop prostate cancer. So they must have a doctor’s consultation about how often they should check. 

For prostate screening, the PSA is the gold standard. Often the doctors also might ask you to go for the DRE or digital rectal exam as well. Both of the test results will further tell you how often you should undergo a prostate screening. 

Usually, in case your PSA result is under the level of 2.5, you should do your prostate screening every 2 years. On the other hand, if the result shows a level above that range, your doctor will advise you to go for a yearly prostate screening. 

In case the number is continuously increasing, your doctor might ask you to come back within a month for a follow-up test. It is because an increasing PSA usually refers to the presence of cancer cells. In this case, you might be asked for a biopsy as well. 

50 Years And Above

Men with an average risk of prostate cancer usually start undergoing a PSA exam at the age of 50 years. At this particular age, your provider might recommend a PSA and DRE on a yearly basis. 

Regarding your future PSA tests, your doctor will guide you. It is because as you get older, the frequency might change. 

Get Help

Most of the men are hesitant about getting a prostate screening and even visiting a doctor. Here, you need an experienced urologist who will guide you properly and also provide you with relevant answers to each and every doubt you have in your mind. 

The frequency of the prostate screening mostly depends on the first test result of your PSA. The best urologist knows what needs to be done in every type of scenario.