PedalingFool

I'm not 50 years old yet so I wasn't sure where to post this... my apologies if this isn't posted in the correct forum.

I'm wondering if any cyclists here, under 50, are having the same issues.

I've been averaging around 3-5,000 miles per year for the past 5 years or so. I always had frequent urination issues since I was a teenager but over the past year or so it's been getting really bad.

I did a PSA test and the results came back with a 34.1 PSA level. I understand that cycling may elevate PSA levels but that much? Now it was one of those home testing kits that you draw your own blood and send in to get the results. So maybe those aren't too reliable or accurate.

I have a doctor appointment on Wednesday Jan 8th. I won't be deviating from any of my cycling routines until this day and the doctor tells me otherwise.

48 years old (49 in March)

bpcyclist

See who the urology people are in your area who cycle. That is the person to talk to. Maybe run it by people you trust in your local cycling groups. You don't have to tell them why you are asking. I am not a urologist and am no PSA expert, so I just don't know. But the one thing to always keep in mind for all of us about PSAs is that they remain pretty controversial in terms of just what we ought to be doing with the results of the test.

jpescatore

A PSA of 34 is enormously high - definitely get a real test done.

I'm 62, I have a family history of prostate cancer so I've been doing the urologist testing regularly as the level has been creeping up over time. When it got near 10, the recommendation was to have a biopsy - came up clean. For the next test, I avoided biking and sex for a week before, and the level went down. Forgot to do so for next one and level went back up.

My urologist says there is no scientific data that shows any correlation between biking and temporarily elevated PSA levels, however.

shelbyfv

Good to hear!

sweeks

Not to be too graphic, but a few years ago, I noticed blood in my semen. I can tell you I went to a urologist pronto! He told me it was nothing to worry about, as the prostate is a mass of fragile blood vessels (his words) and prone to injury. He said blood in the urine is much more worrisome, as it can indicate bladder cancer or other serious conditions.
I changed the saddle (it was an OEM saddle on a Dahon folder) and the problem never came back. Oddly, my PSAs have always been low. I'll be 70 in August, FWIW.

EDIT: Back in the day, I was a med-tech and I did blood chemistry tests. Before the PSA ("Prostate-Specific Antigen") there was a test called "Prostatic Acid Phosphatase". One of the known causes of a false elevation was a recent "digital exam". It is not clear to me why this should not affect the PSA test, but apparently it doesn't. And, last time I had a physical exam, my doc said they're not doing the digital exam anymore because there were too many "false positives" that resulted in needless biopsies. Maybe he just didn't want to stick his finger... well, you know!

Koyote

PedalingFool : You did the smart thing by making a doctor's appt. At 48, you should have an annual physical which includes full blood work - which includes a PSA.

Your physician will almost certainly do a digital exam of your prostrate. If you've never experienced that before, you're in for a real treat.

jon c. 

I had a digital exam a year or two back and had blood drawn half an hour later. My PSA was elevated but when I advised my GP that I had just had the digital, he dismissed the high result as he said it was a function of the exam. And it was back to normal on the next set of texts.

AlmostTrick

I didn't know PSA levels could go that high. Get another test for sure and let us know how it goes.

My last test came up 4.25 and the uro center wanted to do a biopsy. After lots of reading on the controversial subject (and the risk/reward statistics) I said nope. I'm 59.

TakingMyTime

I didn't know it could even go that high. Back when I used to get my level checked I would have fainted if my doctor told me it was that high

Kabuki12

I am 65 years young and have been riding most of my life . My psa is super low, I can’t remember the exact number but my Dr. said it is a baseline and the important thing is any upward trend in the number needs to be addressed by a specialist. He knows I am a cyclist and also my other small issues. I think things like health issues should be primary importance in life, always talk to your Doc if anything concerns you. Better to be safe. Joe

Crapwonk

Best practice is to refrain from sex for 48 hours before PSA testing and to do the blood draw before the digital rectal exam. Both of those can increase PSA. However, 38 is off the charts. There is a different, more accurate prostate-related blood test that is needed if you have a high PSA test. As a general note, you can schedule your blood draws for a physical a week before the actual physical and then have the results in hand to discuss with your physician at the physical. Much more useful than getting a sheet of numbers after the physical.

I had a PSA above 10 a couple of years ago, had the second prostate-related test, and then had a biopsy. The biopsy was not fun, but mostly due to the unknown nature of the test itself and the fear of a cancer diagnosis. The biopsy itself is virtually painless and quite fast. Don't let that fear hold you back if you need a prostate biopsy. Turns out I had a prostate infection that took several months of antibiotics to recover from.

BikeMaster119

Normally I do not think the problem is from the bicycle, you may have a prostate problem, the urination from there comes, health and pedaling increase.

BarryVee

Doc got excited when mine jumped from a normal of <1 to 11. Doc ordered me off the bike a couple weeks and PSA retested at 6. Lowered my seat nose slightly and returned to riding. Follow up test and subsequent tests are back to normal.

IMO any abnormal test result should be investigated. And our Doctor should be informed how much we ride.

Rajflyboy

Damn

I guess I need to become a priest.

308jerry

Please.... Don't go there.......

Rajflyboy

I didn’t realize carrying out biology raised psa levels

OldTryGuy

I am a GLEASON 10 PCa Prostate Cancer surviving 69yo bicycle rider AND YES, BICYCLING CAN RAISE THE PSA along with infection, sex, lifting weights, stress, DRE plus----

PSA numbers can be triple digit and higher. A high number does not prove the existence of PCa but it is a warning sign that something is up. I would run, not walk from a Dr. who says bicycling right before a blood test is not a problem.

A TRUS biopsy, the most prevalent biopsy performed, samples very little of the prostate and as such is not very reliable. A 3TmpMRI is not invasive and can reveal PCa that a TRUS can easily miss. The newer Micro-Ultrasound Technology --- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31309290 --- could very well be the new Gold Standard.