Cycling and prostate problems
 

Ok, I know this has been beat to death but please hear me out. I have been reading a lot about cycling and prostate infections and problems etc....seems like a popular topic with older cyclists. How big of an issue is this in all reality? Is this something that only harcore riders usually have trouble with, or even the guy that goes for an occasional 10 or 20 mile ride should also worry about?

I love cycling and never want to give it up but im not going to lie, this is something that worries me enough that I question whether or not if I should even continue biking and maybe just take up walking as my excersise? Im not a hardcore cyclist but I really enjoy riding when I can and I have three really nice Hybrid bikes that I'd like to enjoy without worrying about this issue. My rides are usually 10-15 miles at a time and id say I average about 40 miles a week total. There may be weeks that I ride 100 miles but on the average I ride 30-40 miles a week. I would however like to get in a nice 40-50 mile day occasionally also when time permits.

Am I being a worry wart or overly concerned about this? Ive never had any problems yet but im 51 now and this is something that concerns me. I just dont know if this is something that happens alot to older men, or something that rarely happens, or something that the guys who ride road bikes 50-100 miles at a time and several hundred miles a week or several thousand miles a year should be worrying about? I would just like to hear your guys thoughts on this. Thank you in advance.

I've ridden with 20-30 guys who are mostly in the 45+ range and most riding 200+ mi/wk. I've never heard of anyone having a problem with prostate infection. Someone had cancer but that happens to most men. I think it's relatively rare.

Thank you for your reply. Its very encouraging and the kind of answer I was hoping for. I know that I worry too much but its just how I am and I cant help it. Thanks again!

My first thought is, look on credible medical sites like the Mayo Clinic or Web MD to get an idea if there is any connection in reality. Or just read up on what the prostate and its diseases are all about.

Older men are certainly more susceptible to prostate cancer and prostate enlargement, those are well known.

If you have a urologist, send him a question. Find out if it's even a real thing, then see if you should worry about it. If you have symptoms down there that worry you go and get it checked out.

I dont have any problems what so ever down there. I am concerned about cycling causing prostate problems in older men and if this is a big problem or not. I know that most of us here are not doctors, but im sure that there may be guys that belong to bike clubs that know alot of people who ride that are older or have alot of older friends that ride who may have a good opinion on how big of a concern this is. Im not looking for scientific evidence or anything like that, just opinions from the older guys on here that know alot about cycling.

I'm not an old guy yet, but I have been suffering a long bout of prostatitis that has been lingering for about 2 years now. When it all started I had only been riding bikes for about 3 months, so naturally that's what I pinned it on. I read everything I could find but nothing has been proven to link bike riding as a primary source of prostate issues. My urologist basically said if I can tolerate riding then keep on, if not stop. I only had to sit out completely for a few months, otherwise I just take it easy if things start hurting again.

It's like that joke where the doctor says, "does that hurt? Then don't do that."

Cycling doesn't cause prostate problems; but if you already have them, cycling can exacerbate them. If you don't have problems, don't worry about it.

Cycling can contribute to urinary tract infections. Frequent washing and line (UV) drying of your cycling shorts are your best defense.

My doc said that the massaging of a bicycle seat can be good. He wasn't concerned at all. He did always give me thorough exams but he told me another time (when he was prescribing my blood tests) that he really didn't like his patients dying on him.

Ben

I'm 70, ride a lot, and no problems. You want a saddle that doesn't make your equipment go numb. Then no problems for most folks.

Cycling is only a form of ************ against a saddle.

Never hear of that being a problem?

If you are really concerned about this issue, I would suggest that you find a saddle that does not allow for pressure on the perimeum. You may have to spend some money on one, but it is worth it if it relieves your anxiety about this issue. Depending on where you live, there are many LBSs that allow you to try different saddles until you find one that you like. What I wouldn't use are saddles that are overly padded with gel. Gel disperses when you sit on it and takes the course of least resistance, usually toward the nose of the saddle and the area that you are mostly concerned about.

Don't worry about it. I have some mild prostrate issues and see a urologist once a year. I saw him about a month back and had the following conversation:

Me: "..you know..I've never mentioned it, but I ride bike quite a bit and have for nearly 40 years. Does that have any impact on my prostrate or cause any issues?"

Doc: "..really..I cycle a lot too. Do you ever have any issues after a long ride? Any blood in the urine?"

Me: "..ahh..no..I've never had any issues.."

Doc: "Then ride and don't worry about it"

Me: "OK"

So I'm sticking with that. (never heard of any male UTI issues associated with cycling..women..that's different..there any many sources for women's uti issues..)

I agree. I know of many guys in my community with prostate problems and none of them are cyclists.
Just get on your bike and ride.

Lost a rider friend to Prostate Cancer.He was in his 50's.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/h...nShot001-2.jpg

Most men my age, 77, usually have some symptoms of prostate problems, some mild to some really serious.

I know it is harping, but there can be no doubt that riding a recumbent bike or trike cant help it but alleviate pressure on the prostate area.

I have been riding bents for ten years, and just had my yearly physical. My PSA test came back low.

Its not harping and you are correct 100 percent. I was just wondering If people think that riding a bike "significantly increases" a persons chances of having prostate problems or not. My personal belief is that for a casual rider that the answer is no, but for a hardcore rider that puts a ton of miles on a bike I'd say there could be some risk there for sure.

Based on?

No being argumentative..I've just never heard of any relationship between the two. Given the (tens of) millions of men-miles over the last hundred years, and two huge and perfect control-populations (those that bike and those that don't), one would think if there was an issue it would have surfaced by now. Though anything is possible..

A few years back I read a paper by a research professor out of Chapel Hill..he said there are two kinds of men. Those that die of prostrate cancer and those that live long lives and die with it, but from other causes.

I have not done any research on it. I'm 63, riding lots for about 14 years. No issues at all. My doc has been very pleased with everything associated with the prostate, including PSA Levels. I think it is helpful to have a good fit and the right saddle though to keep issues to a minimum. I'm a believer of using saddles with the cutouts. Just my two cents.

IMHO, for this kind of thing, you have to look at it with a rigorous eye.

Anecdotes and "common sense" are all nice, but the only way to know if there is a relationship (let alone a causal one) between cycling and prostate issues is to accumulate information from a large data sample, try to eliminate special cases, and determine whether the statistics justify the conclusion that there is any relationship.

Then, you have to determine if the relationship is correlative or causal.

So IMHO the only real value in asking the question here is to ask if anyone else has discovered a study suggesting a relationship (especially a causal relationship) between cycling and prostate issues.

To my knowledge, there is none. If there are any, I'd love to read them!

But anecdotes are fun, so here is mine. I get yearly PSA and digital exams, and all is normal. My neighbor up the street is the same age, doesn't cycle, and has had several biopsies of suspicious lesions. That doesn't mean squat, of course.

If your bars are lower than your saddle... Selle Anatomica

https://selleanatomica.com/products/x-series

Same... B17

Higher than the saddle, B72.