Snellville Clinic & Surgery Center
1557 Janmar RdSnellville, GA 30078
Snellville & Conyers, GA
Your PSA came back high. Now what?
A high PSA on a blood test can make for a long wait until you get answers. It is not a cancer diagnosis. It’s a reason to take a closer look, and our urologists in Snellville and Conyers will walk you through each step.
What might you notice?
Usually nothing. Most men learn about a high PSA from routine bloodwork, not from symptoms. Prostate cancer often causes no symptoms early on, which is the reason the test exists.
- A portal message or call saying your PSA is above the usual range
- A number that has climbed since your last test
- A referral from your primary care doctor to see a urologist
- Sometimes, urinary changes from an enlarged prostate, which can also raise PSA
What can a high PSA mean?
PSA, prostate-specific antigen, is a protein the prostate makes. Several things can push it up:
- An enlarged prostate (BPH), which makes more PSA as it grows
- Infection or inflammation of the prostate
- A recent illness, such as a bad cold or stomach bug, for a while
- Prostate cancer
That’s why a single number is never the whole story. Your age, your earlier results, your exam and your family history all shape what it means for you.
Should I just repeat the test?
Often, a repeat PSA is the first step, especially after an illness or an infection. If the number stays up or keeps rising, we talk about the next steps together, rather than jumping straight to a biopsy.
When should I see a urologist?
Book a visit when your PSA is flagged as high, when it has risen noticeably from your last test, or when your doctor suggests it. Call us promptly if a high PSA comes with trouble urinating, bone pain or blood in your urine or semen.
What happens at your visit?
Your first visit is a conversation, not a procedure.
- We review your PSA history and any results you bring.
- We ask about urinary symptoms, recent illness, medicines and family history.
- An exam and a urine test help look for infection or an enlarged prostate.
- Together we choose a plan: a repeat PSA, imaging, or a prostate biopsy if the overall picture points that way.
Which questions are worth asking?
It helps to come with a short list. Men often ask us:
- Has my PSA changed since my last test, and by how much?
- Could an infection, a recent illness or an enlarged prostate explain it?
- Do I need a repeat test, imaging or a biopsy, and why that one?
- If a biopsy is needed, where is it done and when will I hear?
- Which symptoms should make me call sooner?
What is a prostate biopsy like here?
If a biopsy is recommended, Advanced Urology uses high-resolution micro-ultrasound, typically about 15 minutes under anesthesia at our Snellville surgery center. Results usually take several days, and one of our urologists goes over them with you. If cancer is found, you’ll have time to talk through the options on our prostate cancer page.
Where can I be seen?
Both offices see men with a raised PSA. Call (678) 344-8900 to choose a day and place.
Snellville, GA 30078
Conyers Clinic
1366 Wellbrook Circle Suite BConyers, GA 30012
Who will I see?
Urologists who see men for PSA questions: meet the whole team.
Jitesh Patel, MDUrologist · Snellville 
A. Dev Mally, MDUrologist · Snellville 
Marc Greenstein, DOUrologist · Conyers
Is there a video on this?
A short explainer from the official Advanced Urology channel.
What do people ask us?
Is a high PSA the same as having cancer?
No. An enlarged prostate, infection, inflammation or a recent illness can all raise PSA. It means a closer look: a repeat test, a urine test and sometimes an MRI.
What number counts as high?
Levels under 4 ng/mL are often called normal, but what is normal depends on your age and past results. A fast rise from your own baseline matters as much as the number itself, so bring older results.
Can an infection raise PSA?
Yes. A prostate or urine infection can push PSA up for several weeks. Treating the infection and repeating the test afterward often brings the number back down.
Will I need a biopsy right away?
Not usually. Many men start with a repeat test, a urine test or a prostate MRI. A micro-ultrasound biopsy under anesthesia is advised when the trend or imaging points toward cancer.
Can I have my visits in Conyers?
Yes. Consultations and results visits can be at our Conyers clinic on Wellbrook Circle. If you need a biopsy, it is done under anesthesia at our Snellville surgery center.
What should I bring?
Copies of every PSA result you have, especially older ones, since the trend matters. Also bring your medicine list, insurance card and any prostate MRI report.
Where can I read more?
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Decisions about tests are made with your urologist, who will explain the pros and cons.
Have a PSA result to go over?
Bring it to a visit in Conyers or Snellville and we’ll go through it together.