Can Cycling Increase Your Psa?

PSA is an acronym for prostate specific antigen. It is a blood test performed on men to help determine if the prostate gland is functioning normally. PSA is a liquid protein produced in the ductal cells in the prostate which can sometimes enter the blood stream. Activities such as cycling can further elevate your PSA if it was above normal prior to cycling. Elevated PSA levels also signify the possible presence of other health conditions.

Considerations

It is common to draw PSA blood tests on men to help screen for prostate cancer. If your PSA is elevated it does not necessarily indicate cancer but more likely BPH, or benign prostatic hypertrophy, which is an enlargement of the prostate gland. If you have symptoms such as fever, lower abdominal or flank pain along with an elevated PSA, it could be a sign of prostatitis or a lower urinary tract infection; these conditions can be treated with antibiotics and other medications. Once you recover, your PSA will likely go down again. If you have non-infective BPH, your PSA may remain elevated.

1997 Clinical Report

One study, published in the 1997 "Archives of Family Medicine," reviewed 20 male cyclists who ranged in age from 27 to 54 years. The cyclists underwent a medical examination prior to study participation to be sure that none had elevated PSA values or prostate enlargement. Their PSA levels were tested prior to and following a four-and-a-half-hour ride. There were no significant differences in PSA levels, but many of the men did complain of numbness in the perineal area.

Urological Sciences Research Foundation Findings

In 1996, a study was published in the "Journal of Urology" regarding the effect of cycling on PSA levels; 260 men were involved in a four-day, 250-mile bicycle race. Their PSA levels were measured pre and post event. Four men of the study group had elevated PSA levels prior to the race. Following the race, these four men's PSA levels were elevated by 1.65 ng./ml, which was significantly higher than the men with normal PSA levels prior to the race. For the normal men, PSA levels rose slightly by 0.044 ng./ml. The study concluded that there is no significant increase in PSA in men with normal readings following cycling. For men with elevated PSA levels prior to the race, there was a correlation that required additional study.

German Report

Researchers, in conjunction with the Institut fur Sport, tested 21 men, 61.5 years and older who had BPH and already elevated PSA levels. PSA tests were performed before and after cycling. As published in the German medical journal "Der Urologe," the results indicated the men had a 25 percent increase in their PSA levels. Elevations returned to their basic levels usually within 48 hours after cycling, but for some it took more than one week. This finding is important to keep in mind if you intend to have a PSA blood test performed. The researchers suggest that you avoid cycling for several days prior to retesting if you had an elevated PSA of greater than 4ng./ml