Guidance

PSA testing: advice for men without symptoms aged 50 and over

This prostate cancer risk management programme (PCRMP) information is to help GPs advise men aged 50 and over who ask about prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing.

Documents

Details

Any man can make an appointment with their GP to discuss having the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test. The test is available to anyone with a prostate, including trans women and non-binary people.

This summary information sheet, available as a printable PDF and in accessible digital format, is for GPs to give to individuals aged 50 and over who do not have symptoms of prostate disease, and who proactively raise the issue of PSA testing.

It sets out the role of the PSA test in testing for prostate cancer. It gives individuals concise, clear and balanced information on the potential benefits and risks of having the test.

The document includes information about:

  • the prostate
  • prostate cancer
  • the PSA test
  • options after the PSA test

Updates to this page

Published 1 January 2009
Last updated 29 March 2022 + show all updates
  1. Information sheet updated with latest evidence on prostate cancer incidence, treatments and mortality.

  2. Updated patient leaflet.

  3. The summary information sheet for asymptomatic men aged 50 and over is being updated as part of the publication of the revised Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme (PCRMP) information in March 2016

  4. First published.

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