Get tested with Superpower

If you’ve been postponing blood testing for years or feel frustrated by doctor appointments and limited lab panels, you are not alone. Standard healthcare is often reactive, focusing on testing only after symptoms appear or leaving patients in the dark.

Superpower flips that approach. We give you full insight into your body with over 100 biomarkers, personalized action plans, long-term tracking, and answers to your questions, so you can stay ahead of any health issues.

With physician-reviewed results, CLIA-certified labs, and the option for at-home blood draws, Superpower is designed for people who want clarity, convenience, and real accountability - all in one place.

Key benefits of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), Total testing

• Screens for prostate cancer risk in men over 50 or earlier with family history.
• Flags prostate enlargement (BPH) that may cause urinary symptoms or discomfort.
• Tracks treatment response after prostate cancer therapy or surgical intervention.
• Clarifies unexplained urinary issues like weak stream, frequency, or incomplete emptying.
• Guides timing for prostate biopsy when PSA trends upward over time.
• Monitors prostate health in men with elevated baseline PSA levels.
• Best interpreted with digital rectal exam, age, and PSA velocity trends.

What is Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), Total?

A protein made exclusively by the prostate gland

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a protein enzyme produced almost entirely by cells in the prostate gland, a small walnut-shaped organ that sits below the bladder in men. The prostate secretes PSA into seminal fluid, where it plays a role in reproduction. Small amounts of PSA also leak into the bloodstream under normal circumstances.

It liquefies semen to help sperm move freely

PSA's main job is to break down proteins in semen after ejaculation, turning the gel-like fluid into a thinner liquid. This liquefaction allows sperm to swim more easily toward an egg. While PSA is essential for fertility, it's the amount that escapes into blood that makes it useful as a biomarker.

Blood levels reflect prostate tissue activity and integrity

When prostate tissue is disrupted by growth, inflammation, or damage, more PSA leaks into the circulation. Total PSA measures all forms of the protein in blood. It serves as a window into prostate health, signaling when the gland may be enlarged, inflamed, or undergoing abnormal changes.

Why is Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), Total important?

PSA is a protein produced exclusively by prostate tissue, making it a window into prostate gland health and activity. It circulates at low levels in healthy men, but rises when the prostate is inflamed, enlarged, or harboring cancer. Monitoring PSA helps detect prostate disease early, guide treatment decisions, and assess cancer recurrence after therapy.

What normal and low PSA levels tell you

In younger men, PSA typically sits below 1.0 and gradually rises with age as the prostate naturally enlarges. Values under 2.5 in men under 50, or under 4.0 in older men, are generally reassuring. Very low PSA is normal and reflects a small, healthy prostate with minimal cellular turnover or inflammation.

When PSA climbs above baseline

Elevated PSA above age-adjusted norms can signal benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatitis, or prostate cancer. Higher values increase cancer probability, though infection, recent ejaculation, or vigorous exercise can also temporarily raise PSA. Symptoms may include urinary hesitancy, weak stream, nocturia, or pelvic discomfort, depending on the underlying cause.

The bigger picture on prostate surveillance

PSA is not cancer-specific, so context matters: trends over time, prostate size, and clinical findings guide interpretation. Persistently rising PSA warrants further evaluation with imaging or biopsy. Long-term, PSA tracking helps balance early cancer detection against overdiagnosis, preserving quality of life while catching aggressive disease when treatment makes the greatest difference.

What do my Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), Total results mean?

Low PSA values

Low values usually reflect minimal prostate tissue activity or a small prostate gland. PSA is produced exclusively by prostate epithelial cells, so lower levels typically indicate less glandular tissue or reduced cellular activity. This is normal in younger men and generally reassuring from a cancer screening perspective. Women do not produce PSA in measurable amounts.

Optimal PSA values

Being in range suggests normal prostate size and function for age. Many labs define normal as below 4.0 nanograms per milliliter, though this threshold increases with age. Optimal values tend to sit at the lower end of the reference range, particularly in men under 50. Stability over time is more informative than a single measurement, as PSA naturally rises gradually with aging and prostate enlargement.

High PSA values

High values usually reflect increased prostate tissue mass, inflammation, or disruption of normal glandular architecture. Common causes include benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatitis, and prostate cancer. Elevated PSA indicates that prostate cells are either more numerous or releasing more antigen into circulation due to structural changes or barrier breakdown. The degree of elevation and rate of change help distinguish benign from malignant processes.

Factors that influence PSA interpretation

PSA can rise temporarily after prostate manipulation, ejaculation, urinary catheterization, or vigorous exercise. Certain medications that shrink the prostate may lower PSA by roughly half. Age-specific reference ranges improve accuracy, as prostate size naturally increases over decades.