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I Have My Annual Physical Next Tuesday. 66 Year Old
Question: i have my annual physical next tuesday. 66 year old male in good health. how ling before tuesday should i abstain fromsexual avtivity with my wife?
Brief Answer:
No need to abstain from sexual activity unless there's a PSA with the digital rectal exam.
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using 'Ask A Doctor' service.
There should not be any need to abstain from sexual activity with your wife before your physical. The only test that it could affect would be the PSA to screen for prostate cancer. Whether to screen for prostate cancer at all is not clear in all men, so it is something you should discuss with your doctor, and it should also be discussed whether you should get just a PSA or a PSA with a digital rectal exam.
If you do get a PSA, sexual activity in the 3-4 days prior can cause a small elevation, but it normally is not enough to significantly affect the results, so we normally do not require patients to abstain from sexual activity beforehand.
I hope that helps and answers your question.
Please let me know if you have any other questions and I would be glad to discuss it further with you.
No need to abstain from sexual activity unless there's a PSA with the digital rectal exam.
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using 'Ask A Doctor' service.
There should not be any need to abstain from sexual activity with your wife before your physical. The only test that it could affect would be the PSA to screen for prostate cancer. Whether to screen for prostate cancer at all is not clear in all men, so it is something you should discuss with your doctor, and it should also be discussed whether you should get just a PSA or a PSA with a digital rectal exam.
If you do get a PSA, sexual activity in the 3-4 days prior can cause a small elevation, but it normally is not enough to significantly affect the results, so we normally do not require patients to abstain from sexual activity beforehand.
I hope that helps and answers your question.
Please let me know if you have any other questions and I would be glad to discuss it further with you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Dr. Branch,
Thank you for your prompt response and I do have one follow-up.
I am getting a PSA next Tuesday at noon as part of my annual lab work. Mine has remained at 2.0 the last two times every other year. I have BPH for which I take Hyrtin 10mg/day. I’m in good health.
Which is better, 3 or 4 days to abstain? We are olderbut still an amorous couple? Will I likely influence my PSA if we have relations tonight before bed so I’d be 3.5 days abstaining pre blood work? Otherwise it would be twoaddiyonal days ago for a total of six prior?
Thank you very much!
Thank you for your prompt response and I do have one follow-up.
I am getting a PSA next Tuesday at noon as part of my annual lab work. Mine has remained at 2.0 the last two times every other year. I have BPH for which I take Hyrtin 10mg/day. I’m in good health.
Which is better, 3 or 4 days to abstain? We are olderbut still an amorous couple? Will I likely influence my PSA if we have relations tonight before bed so I’d be 3.5 days abstaining pre blood work? Otherwise it would be twoaddiyonal days ago for a total of six prior?
Thank you very much!
Brief Answer:
You're welcome
Detailed Answer:
You're very welcome. Like I said, sexual activity would only be expected to minimally affect the PSA, but if you wanted to be very careful, abstaining from sex 3 days before taking the PSA would be sufficient.
Please let me know if you have any other questions, I'd be glad to help any way I can.
You're welcome
Detailed Answer:
You're very welcome. Like I said, sexual activity would only be expected to minimally affect the PSA, but if you wanted to be very careful, abstaining from sex 3 days before taking the PSA would be sufficient.
Please let me know if you have any other questions, I'd be glad to help any way I can.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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