Prostate Problems

[Rodney F]

First post, so go easy on me here. Registered just to get some advice on this, it's a fairly major problem for me right now, and I'd be massively grateful for any advice that helps me sort it out.

In short: cycling has been giving me problems with my prostate to the point where I feel the need to pee constantly. This isn't something more serious, I went to the doctor expecting some kind of infection and he went through all the possibilities, eventually advising me it's probably the bike. I confirmed it by giving up cycling over the Christmas period. It took a while, but eventually I started to feel better and now everything is back to normal.

But I want to get back on the bike. I need to get back on the bike.

Some background: I'm 36. I've been an occasional cyclist for most of my life, last year I caught the bug and ending up doing more cycling than any year since I was a teenager - about 14-20 hours a week from the start of August through the first three weeks of December. I started to have problems after about six weeks, halfway through September.

My bike is a Dahon Espresso from 2004. It's the silver one three pictures down on this page. I can't afford a new bike. Do I need a new saddle? Do I need to change the way the one I've got now is set up? Is it better to have it tilted one way or another? Do I need to change the way I sit on it? That's not something I'd ever thought about until this started happening, now I'm conscious I move about quite a bit so maybe that's not even an issue. Do I need to start wearing rubber pants? Are there any other possibilities I haven't considered that might help me out?

 

[Dan B]

It's a matter of personal size and shape, so blanket recommendations are hard to come by. Many people find that angling the nose down slightly (certainly further down than the one in the picture you link to) helps, and yes, another saddle would be the next option - although which one is a bit suck-it-and-see. If in doubt probably better to go harder than softer, as this will keep the weight on the sit bones instead of pressing the soft bits into the saddle

 

[dellzeqq]

ok. You're doctor's advice may be complete nonsense. Hie the to a genito-urinary clinic, and, if you have any choice about it at all, insist on going to Guys Hospital in London even if it means a train trip. If your GP won't refer you then write to the clinic direct.

 

[dellzeqq]

It's a matter of personal size and shape, so blanket recommendations are hard to come by. Many people find that angling the nose down slightly (certainly further down than the one in the picture you link to) helps, and yes, another saddle would be the next option - although which one is a bit suck-it-and-see. If in doubt probably better to go harder than softer, as this will keep the weight on the sit bones instead of pressing the soft bits into the saddle

are you quite sure about this?

 

[Rodney F]

Okay, thanks. The saddle is currently very soft and not at an angle at all, so I'll change that as soon as possible. I'm 5' 11'' and 163lbs, so pretty much average I guess.

dellzeqq - I was pretty cynical about the doctor's advice myself, but seeing as how the problems cleared up when I stopped cycling I'm pretty confident he's right now. I've had relatives die of prostate cancer, so I'm pretty sensitive about any issues in that area.

 

[chillyuk]

I was advised by the genito-urinary consultant at my hospital to get a prostate friendly saddle. Essentially this is simply a saddle with a groove along it's length thus removing pressure on the perineum and the prostate.

You may find this interesting:
http://www.bikeradar.com/feature/article/qa-getting-back-on-the-saddle-14779/

 

[Red Light]

I would doubt it was a prostate problem. Anything to do with the prostate tends to stop you peeing, not encourages it.

 

[Enigma2008]

I would doubt it was a prostate problem. Anything to do with the prostate tends to stop you peeing, not encourages it.

+1 I've been cycling for nearly 30 years, had prostate trouble 7 years ago that need an operation, never had any issue with saddles and cycling but can see how some saddle set ups might aggravate. Before you spend any money on saddles my recommendation would be to go and get a Retul bike set up, that will make sure you're position is correct, only then would I suggest you seek a more friendly saddle.

 

[dellzeqq]

I would doubt it was a prostate problem. Anything to do with the prostate tends to stop you peeing, not encourages it.

I'm sorry, but not quite. Small amounts, at short intervals is a pointer to prostatitis.

i take Rodney's point, but the consultant chap at Guys told me that my prostatitis had nothing to do with cycling. So I said - what, anything up to 10,000 miles a year, going back over 40 years?' And he said 'no'

 

[chillyuk]

I would doubt it was a prostate problem. Anything to do with the prostate tends to stop you peeing, not encourages it.

Not overnight it doesn't. Up for a pee every hour on the hour almost.

 

[PpPete]

My consultant told me that my prostatitis (which only flares up if I allow myself to get slightly dehydrated over a period of several days - and is utterly unaffected one way or the other by cycling) meant that I was unlikely to get prostate cancer later in life. Seems an odd one. but if true it was worth the - ahem- discomfort of the examination they gave me at the time !

 

[Red Light]

Not overnight it doesn't. Up for a pee every hour on the hour almost.

That's because your prostate is stopping you peeing it all out. So you only partially empty your bladder and an hour later it's full again.

 

[Rodney F]

That's because your prostate is stopping you peeing it all out. So you only partially empty your bladder and an hour later it's full again.

Exactly. The problem wasn't actually needing to pee all the time, it was feeling like I needed to. Then when I went the flow wasn't anywhere near what I'd expect normally.

Thanks for all the suggestions, people. I'm afraid a Retul set-up is out of my price range right now. I'm intrigued by the prostate friendly saddle and may well end up getting one of those. First up I've tried switching over my saddle for a harder one we had lying around the house, and angling it forward a little. Having gone for one short-ish (45 min) ride I think I still have a bit of experimenting to do before I get it right. Possibly what I need isn't just a harder saddle but one that's wider at the back as well? The one I've just fitted is a smidgeon narrower than what I'm used to so might actually be a step in the wrong direction.

 

[sheddy]

I think they can now look for bladder problems using ultrasound. Ask for a 2nd opinion

 

[chillyuk]

I had to pee in a machine that measured the flow and time, then I almost immediately had an ultrasound scan of my bladder which showed it wasn't emptying completely. I take Tamsulosin tablets which do help with the overnight problem but don't do a lot to improve the actual flow.