I have a very high estrogen of 132 pg/ml (max for men is 42 pg/ml) and I'm a die hard stationary cyclist. There was one study at UCLA https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/ar...en-levels.html that found serious cyclists have very high estrogen in their blood. It is hard to believe and no explanation has been discoverd, but I'm afraid to cycle anymore because I wonder if it has been causing my very high estrogen. Has any other male here with high estrogen here read about that UCLA finding before and wondered the same?
I wanted to give up cycling for a month and try treadmilling instead and check the estrogen levels at the end of it, but I'm finding it very difficult because my body is cycling-fit and not running-fit so my joints and muscles get sore first before I reach the peak aerobic limits of my heart and lungs.

Clearly, we should stop cycling because we might all turn into girls !!!

Helpful response: what does your doctor say?

What is your testosterone level? If the T level is OK does the high E level matter?

Make the best of the situation and see if you can get into Team Estrogen?

I've never heard of such a thing happening because of riding too much. I think it's more likely to be some unsuspected dietary factor or maybe getting something mixed up with your wife's menopause pills.

Too much BPA in your water bottles? You may have a medical problem unrelated to your cycling.(From the OB/GYN nurse looking over my shoulder)

Paraben in chamois cream! I knew there was a reason I didn't use the stuff...Knock off the tofu too.

It's interesting how the study cites this possible problem only among cyclists and not triathletes, who do have considerable time on a bike, but they're also heavily involved in other activities.

Personally I'm skeptical, but in a sense it doesn't really matter to me, other than being a modest academic curiosity. And that's because I believe it's bad for the body to participate too much in one activity, not because of a concern a some chemical imbalance, rather muscular imbalance.

You say you spend a lot of time on a stationary bike, but how much time? I ride a bike on the roads every day between 20-30 miles per day and I have no problems with testosterone levels. However, I also do other things such as run, hike, lift weights, play frisbee.... But like I said, I don't believe that has anything to do with my chemical well-being.

There is no silver bullet to health; simply riding a bike, whether stationary or the real McCoy may lead to short term health, but in the long term it will break the body down. The problem with this approach is that you're exercising one particular batch of muscles and connective tissues in one manner, but other batches of muscles and connective tissue is not being equally exercised, which leads to an imbalance.

You say you can't run far enough, because of pain, that means you need to build up your body, it doesn't mean that you should STOP those activities. Contrary to popular belief, running is not bad for you. Incorrect running, yes, but when correctly done running is very good for the body. True health is not just a cardio issue, it also involves the skeletal system. Look at all the old people with joint problems, that's a big reason I exercise, to preclude many of those health issues, in addition to cardio health.

I'm guessing your "T" problem predated your current choice of exercise.

Well that explains where my Big Boobs came from. I just wish it would have targeted my head and given me hair instead!

Fun fact: the other 4 of this troll's posts are about cycling-related impotency and knee pain caused by "real" bikes.

And the base line levels that were taken before ever cycling are...?

give me a break , it ain't science

isn't the Daily Mail a tabloid, just no page 3 girls like the Sun?

now if quoting the Lancet, a medical journal, that is different.

You eat too much mass-produced chicken

I wouldn't mind growing a nice pair!

Glad someone is paying attention.
Seems to be an infrequent troll.

"I'm a die hard stationary cyclist"

wait, whuuut? WTF does that even mean?

There can't be an infrequent troll. Yes I did make posts about fear of impotence from riding narrow saddled bikes, and knee pain from riding real cycle. I took actions - I switched to recumbent bike and stayed with it ever since, and raised the saddle height of the real cycle (which I use only for short distance travel and not for exercise purpose), and didn't bother coming back all these years because I don't have all the time in the world to be a keyboard jockey.

It don't matter what their levels before cycling were, nor is it possible because they must have been cycling since their teenage. Comparison with recreational cyclists or non-cyclists is quite a valid comparison. Not only the dailymail but many other websites are quoting the UCLA study independently. Google for it.

I have normal total T of around 600 ng/dl but very very low free T of 3 pg/ml. Now Estradiol is 132 measued in the same pg/ml, so obviously the free T will be suppressed by this E2.

Possible, but not sure. I have been cycling since 5 years. However I did have man boobs before that period and surgically removed it (unfortunately lost the hormone records of that time), but the ED problem is a recent development.

I don't respect Endocrine doctors and don't consult them anymore, I just go to the lab and order blood tests myself. Them Endos will call anything within the reference range as normal while reference ranges cover people of all ages and without regards to standard deviations. Now in my case the E2 is many times above the reference range, and they might actually prescribe Arimidex, but I don't need them for that either - I have placed order for Arimidex at the Chemist myself. Before it arrives I wanted to give up cycling for a while and find out if that was the culprit or not.

I only ride stationary cycle, with a endurance setting of 10, so that is more tightness than a real cycle on the road. I do the boring 45 minute workout alternating with 14 minute ultra intense HIIT on alternate days. I agree one should alternate between a choice of cardio exercises (I do moderate weights as well), but only to shock the body and break the plateaue. Other than that I don't see how running is superior to cycling, because even running targets only the calf muscles which are smaller than the thigh muscles that cycling targets and builds. Cycling is far superior to running due to its non-impactness, and it is easier to do cutting edge stuff like HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) on a cycle rather than while running (unless you are as sprint-fit as Bolt)

Can you get a E2 test and update me?

This thread is useless without pictures.

I didn't say running is better than cycling; I don't really get into those discussions about which is better, to me it's a dog chasing his tail-type of discussion. However, the idea that running is bad for you is BS. That's just a marketing idea to get people to buy various types of exercise equipment. I've had knee pain in all the activities I've participated in, but my worse knee pain has been when cycling through the mountains on a loaded bike. Fact is most knee pain has nothing to do with impact, matter of fact, even today when my bad knee gives me problems, I reduce my cycling and run more, and that actually helps.

The fact that you can't run far enough to get a good aerobic workout proves that your body is in need of more running. Don't be afraid of impact that's part of life and our body has evolved to condition itself to deal with gravity. And unless you push your body to deal with it (gravity's effect on the body) it will only break you down with time, just look at all the old people who have problems with gravity.

You don't respect doctors about medical issues and ask on a bike forum for medical advice/opinions?

Since you're writing the presciptions, why would you want to use Arimidex instead of Clomid?

Do some weight lifting to increase testosterone

Also quit eating soy (estrogen source and in many industrial foods) and eat red meat

+1

Are you a vegeterian ?? If you are then stop being a vegeterian and start eating meat and other animal products, also do some resistence training such as lifting weights/bodyweight excercises. Lifting heavy weights stimulates testestorone production.

So they allow just anyone to order aromatase reuptake inhibitors over the counter at the local chemist (pharmacy to those of us in the USA)? I takes a prescription here.

Hmmm... he's also ordering his own blood tests at the local lab. He might have a career in the making as Lance Armstrong.