Trigger1

I was told by a friend that a medical journal published a study linking biking and prostate cancer. He did not know the name of the journal. I searched the web and could only find a study outlinning penis blood supply and biking. Nothing about the prostate. I'm not a paranoid type and firmly feel the benifits will outweigh/cancel any risks, like say crashing and breaking a leg, or an increas in cancer risk from very very slim to slim. I would still like to look at the study. Anyone else heard of this?

roadbuzz

Haven't heard of the study, but have asked my family physician the same question. Cycling/saddle pressure has no adverse effects on the prostate.

FWIW, numbness (of any kind, penile, hands, whatever) is a separate issue, and shouldn't be ignored.

Hawkphoto

Didn't know there was a word for that... Penile Numbness!

I get that occasionally on very long and steep climbs, Is it bad? How bad? The feeling comes back in a minute after I get off the bike...

bentbaggerlen

The numbness thing was all over the news not too long ago, A doctor Gold said "Men should not ride bikes bleh,bleh,bleh" I think it helped Dr. Gold to sell a lot of books. 20/20 even did a report on it.

Numbness should be telling you something, change your bike set up. The old joke is... Doctor, it hurts when I do this. Then don't do this! Says the Doctor. If something hurts, find out why and fix it.

As for the Prostate cansur, I would like to read that report, and know how they came about there findings. Any one have a link for that report?

Trigger1

I'll check back with my friend and see if he remembers the name of the journal. I haven't found it on my own. I ain't stopping my rides.

DnvrFox

I had a friend who had a friend who knew of a study. Right. These are called rumors.

Firstly, my doc tells me that EVERY MALE who does not die first of other causes will eventually get cancer of the prostate, which is a rather slow cancer. My step-dad has it and he is 93. It is only when it becomes non-slow-moving that they typically treat it. So, I guess you could find a correlation between just about every human function and prostate cancer. I.e., people who eat bananas get prostate cancer; people who drive cars get prostate cancer; people who ride bikes get prostate cancer. EVERYONE (male) gets prostate cancer.

Secondly, the very best way to keep your prostate healthy is to use the prostate. It was designed for a funtion, and using it for that function keeps it in good shape.

I would be really interested to see this study.

Spire

About 1-2 weeks ago, the main local newspaper here in Montreal had an article on the front page that spoke of the study (at least I assume that it is the same one). It said that younger men have a higher chance of ED if they ride a bike and older men have a lower chance (imagine that!). They said it basically stemmed from genetal numbness (which I have never experienced). They did go onto to say that the cadiovascular benefits to overall healt far outweighed these possible side effects (they must have been women ).

roadbuzz

Can't say how bad. As you probably realize, the numbness is caused by either compressed nerves or reduced circulation. Reduced circulation is bad for obvious reasons. But I don't think that's the cause of PN. (Think about how your arm feels after "being asleep" as the feeling starts to come back. You'd notice, might even like! But I digress.) Compressed nerves can become permanently damaged nerves.

MichaelW

From what I can gather, the test for protate cancer involves looking for raised levels Prostate Specific Antigens, which are a marker for cancer. Most reports say that raised levels are also caused by having sex and cycling. There is no causal relationshop proved between cycling and prostate cancer, a subtlety to fine for headline writers to bother with.

Even the elevated PSA is disputed in some studies
https://www.bikexchange.com/sp98f2.htm

Ill keep a skeptical but open mind, but its not worth losing sleep over.

OtheloTheMoor

I am 57 (1/23/45), and was diagnosed with prostate cancer in summer of 2001; beginning with a psa (prostate specific antigen) test result of 6.2 (detected as result of annual checkup; a test result greater than 4 is reason for alarm)) and subsequent positive biopsy.

There are basically three remedies: (1) wait and see (only if your life expectancy is ten yrs. or less); (2) radical surgery (usually results in impotency/incontinence problems; but recommended if psa is dramatically elevated) which may or may not be accompanied by radiation and hormone treatments; (3) radioactive seed implants (effective when psa is relatively low), sometimes coupled with radiation and hormone treatments. A cornerstone of the treatment regimen is whether there is metastisis (spread to other tissues/organs), whch may indicate a melding of any number of the recommended treatment protocols.

Luckily, I qualified for seed implants (relatively low psa, no metastisis); was advised after one month to resume my normal schedule and to regain level of fitness. I'm presently , and was pre-surgery 6'1", 170-180; but ballooned to 205 lbs. during hormone therapy (suppresses testosterone production, a bane to libido and possibly marital relations), despite active workout and cycling schedule. Am now very fit with no incontinence/impotence issues. Btw, yearly psa tests are strongly adviesd if one is over 50 yo; and if Afro-American (me), over 40.

There is, and always has been, "MUCH" controversy on this issue (some urologists suggest that no treatment is warranted); but the jury is still out. Meanwhile...

I personally, and my oncologist and urologist agree, attribute no negatives to my cycling; although I do use a "Terry Liberator Lite" saddle on my hybrid; and, have never experienced numbness (I attribute incidencies of numbness to riding style; i.e., too much time in a seated position). Be active on the saddle!!! Move around!!! Just plain common sense.

David

Aerow

I heard that there was no concrete evidence, but just to be a little pro-active, I stand up a lot just to get the feeling back when things start to feel a little too comfortable.

OtheloTheMoor

P.S. Did a century (NYC; 116 mis. total) last summer and had no numbness or other adverse effects, except for a mild bonking effect that I attribute to pressing and not being totallly aware/attendant to hydration/nutrition for the last 25 mis. or so

Aerow

Has anyone tried the Pearl Izumi PRT shorts? Do they really help?

greywolf

same but only after pushing a strong head wind for an hour or more, it goes if i take my weight of the saddle for a moment.

Greg

DnvrFox, do you know of a training program?

bicyclerubber

There was a study carried out by some Italians

Reference to it is made on this webpage about SMP4Bike saddles

I ride SMP4Bike saddles and I find them very comfortable - the No More Squashing line is as good a way of describing them as any.

Worth a look imo

Carbonfiberboy 

Just to emphasize what others have said - yes, it's bad. Any penile numbness is bad. It's cumulative damage that can and does result in ED. If you don't want to change your saddle, stand every 5-10 minutes, by the clock. Changing the saddle is a more certain course of action.

Numbness has nothing to do with prostate health that I know of, other than that sex and prostate health do seem to be linked, so there is that.

C_Heath

my unit goes to sleep if I dont get out of the saddle some. Its all good.

Word.

alanf

PSA tests are controversial. One doctor told me it was a waste of time and potentially dangerous due to false reports.

Urinate more often, like whenever you get the urge, go to the can. Don't wait till you are finished doing what you are doing or the pain is so bad you are dying. Urinate before bed, after getting up, before a meal, an hour after the meal. Drink a bit more water.

Most men have various stages of the problem.

I am not sure if it makes any difference with the prostate, but I bought a very expensive pair of biking shorts with a nice soft pad inside and then immediately after went on a 160 mile ride with my daughter. It was the first time ever doing more than a mile or five. Unbelievable awesome comfort. I added a fleece seat cover to my seat and wow it's nice.

Prior to that a 5 mile ride to work would leave me numb.

alanf

I also noticed last night when I went for a short ride that I have my seat very slightly pointed to the right. This puts the front of the seat to the right of my.... jewels. A lot more comfortable, but I don't do huge trips very often and certainly not like some people on this site. I suspect that on a huge ride it might cause other issues, but it sure is comfortable on the scrawny excuses for a seat you buy nowadays.