bikentn

Rumors have it that the two go together. I've tried to search this forum, but it said something about bad request.
I have had that once a couple of years ago and thought about just calling the mortuary to come get me. It cleared up after two rounds of abx.
There are tons of opinions and articles out there, but after just sorta perusing through this forum, this appears to be where the real men post about real problems and real solutions.
So....what's the story with it guys?
*again, if there is a thread related to it here, please just link me there and you can close this one. Search didn't work.

10 Wheels

False Rumor...Go ride your bike and have fun.

stapfam

Had prostate Cancer a few years ago. Long talk with the surgeon and he assured me that prostate and cycling are not related. If it were- he would be treating every member of the local cycling club over 50. Prostate problems hit all levels of fitness and all types of sportsmen. He had come across cyclists that had prostate problems but I was the only "Serious" rider he had on his books at the time and he had quite a few that he was dealing with at the time.

However- if you have a prostate problem- then cycling may aggravate it. It never did with me till after the op but anatomical saddles and gritting the teeth through the pain and 10 years later I am still riding.

John_V 

I have never had prostatitis but I am a prostate cancer survivor and my oncologist is just thrilled to death that I am doing all this riding. He is an avid cyclist himself. Since my cancer treatments, my PSA is extremely good and my oncologist is encouraging my riding. I couldn't have surgery to remove the prostate because of another illness, but normally the prostate (if not removed) will remain large after cancer. Mine has actually shrunk. I can't say that it is because of the riding, but the riding certainly is helping. I know that everyone is different, but in any case, you should consult with your doctor if you want a definitive answer.

Ridinmurray

Biking, sex or any exercise can raise PSA for a short time. Many studies have been performed on TDF riders with no link to prostate cancer but some prostatitis. Generally this is light & not noticed by the rider, only by test. Although my surgeon did not go into this, one of his partners did think this may have caused my PSA to spike. Further testing my PSA went back to normal," there's no such thing as normal PSA," only a baseline normal for you. My surgeon noticed my free number was low & biopsy found cancer. If biking caused me to have prostatitis, it may have saved my life.

Nightshade

"Prostatitis" is an infection of the prostrate gland not a physical injury to the gland.

Ridinmurray

I was told inflammation could cause prostatitis & biking can cause inflammation ? But, there was lots of info thrown my way & I may be confused ?

John_V 

Actually, it's an inflammation which can be caused by several different things one of which is an infection. The term "itis" means inflamation not infection.

blt

We've stepped into a murky area. I was first diagnosed with prostatitis a little over 10 years ago, did a lot reading back then, done some since. I think one of the best overall assessments is in the Prostatitis Foundation's website. "There are several methods and themes for treating prostatitis, some of which stand in stark contrast, others of which can be complementary. Because there is no scientific consensus on prostatitis and because some patients continue to suffer despite even the best methods, it is up to you, the patient, to decide what works best for you." Some methods stand in stark contrast, there is no scientific consensus, and some continue to suffer despite even the best methods. Therefore, even if my experience made me better, following what I have done may only make you worse. Who knows? Answer: Nobody.

So here's my experience, and shortly I'll come to the biking aspect. After I was diagnosed, I had two rounds of Cipro, and I felt about 98% better. Was it bacterial? Who knows, it could have been the anti-inflammatory properties and not the anti-biotic properties that helped me. The urologist said I'd probably feel some effects forever, and said, "Ejaculate frequently." I've tried various homeopathic remedies and suggestions from other sufferers, but my sense (and it is only my sense, and I don't know that there is any way to test to confirm my sense) is that there are only two things that correlate with the times my prostate feels at its best. One is frequent ejaculation, the other is frequent cycling.

Yes, frequent cycling seems to make it feel better. Riding when I haven't been riding a lot? Makes it feel a little worse. But frequent riding seems to make it better. Odd, huh?

I hadn't NOT doing much riding at all in the 6 years before I was diagnosed, having young kids made it more difficult for me to get out except for a short, easy spin here or there. The urologist suggested bike riding was something good to avoid when having episodes of prostatitis. I didn't ride much for the next couple of years, thinking it was bad for the prostate. But since it seemed to be doing well, I started riding again, and I noticed that the frequency of riding seemed to improve the prostate.

Why would this be? I don't know. There are those who swear by the 'drainage' or 'massage' method of treatment for prostatitis, others think it worthless. But that method involves putting a lot pressure on the prostate from inside the rectum. Could putting some pressure on from the outside also be helpful? I don't know. Clearly, there are those who believe their condition is aggrevated by riding, so I suspect it doesn't help everyone.

By the way, when I resumed riding, I did use a split seat. Although this presumably puts less pressure on the prostate, there is still clearly pressure. I don't know what impact that has on me, for good or for bad.

Prostatitis is frustrating as all get out, in large part because of what I quoted in the first paragraph. I don't think there is good evidence to show that, once you have suffered with prostatitis, riding will make things better or worse. Do what feels good to you. My only caution is that if you haven't been doing much riding and then you start, you may feel some pain at the outset, but you shouldn't necessarily give up, you could end up like me, having better prostate health with frequent riding. Or, you could end up worse. But if you are not riding now, then you will never know until you try. If you are riding now, I wouldn't worry about it unless and until YOU sense it makes you worse.

John_V 

BLT makes a very good point. Like any other medical condition, there are 10 different "best cures" from 10 different specialist in the field. Just like prostate cancer, there are several different treatments and if you choose one and it works, then it's the best. If you are making a self-diagnosis on what you feel now to what you felt several years ago, don't! Get it checked because it could be something more than prostatitis. Have it checked by a urologist and not your primary care physician. Besides myself (and other survivors that I know), my best friend and my son-in-laws father had prostate cancer that required more than just seeding. All three of us had different treatments and all three of us have had the same result; cancer free. So which is the best? I don't know, but I am glad that they caught it when the cancer was still encapsulated.

If you are passionate about riding and it irritates your prostate, consult a urologist. If the treatment he suggests works, then you are home free. If not, get another opinion, try a different saddle, try different riding shorts that have better padding or try riding shorts if you aren't using them now. If you have an issue with wearing spandex in public, they make riding undergarments with padding that you can wear under regular shorts. Try that! Just don't go much longer without knowing exactly what you are up against.

John E

Choice of saddle and choice of cycling shorts can make a huge difference in (dis)comfort in and around the perinaeum. For me, the worst saddle was a narrow padded Marin -- the most comfortable saddles have been good old tensioned leather. Some of the modern saddles w/ depressions or holes in the center are pretty good, as well.

bigbadwullf

My prostatitis is greatly exacerbated by alcohol consumption. If you drink(even small amounts), try laying off and see if it helps. Also caffeine can be a trigger. Oh, and 'decaffeinated' coffee has caffeine in it.