Korean J Urol.  2011 May;52(5):350-354.

Does Bicycle Riding Impact the Development of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Sexual Dysfunction in Men?

• Kim DG
• Kim DW
• Park JK

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was designed to determine whether men who engaged in recreational bicycle riding are more likely to be affected by lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and sexual dysfunction than are man who exercised by amateur marathon running with less perineal impact.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 22 healthy male amateur bicyclists and 17 healthy male amateur marathoners were enrolled in the study. We evaluated questionnaires including the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA), uroflowmetric values, postvoid residual (PVR) urine volume, and transrectal ultrasound of the prostate in all subjects. We also compared the prevalence of urination disorders (UD) and erectile dysfunction (ED).
RESULTS
There were no significant differences between the two groups in age, body mass index, comorbidities, or exercise habits (p>0.05). Mean total and subscale scores of the IPSS and IIEF and the prevalence of UD (8/22 vs. 4/17, p=0.494) and ED (11/22 vs. 10/17, p=0.748) were not significantly different between the two groups. Also, there were no significant differences between the two groups in uroflowmetric parameters such as peak urinary flow rates, voided urine volume, PVR urine volume, prostate volume, or serum PSA level.
CONCLUSIONS
Bicycle riding seems to have no measurable hazardous effect on voiding function or sexual function in men who cycled recreationally.

Keyword

Bicycling; Erectile dysfunction; Urination disorders

MeSH Terms

Bicycling
Body Mass Index
Comorbidity
Erectile Dysfunction
Humans
Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
Male
Prevalence
Prostate
Prostate-Specific Antigen
Recreation
Running
Urination Disorders
Prostate-Specific Antigen

Reference

1. 1999 Superstudy of Sports Participation. America Sports Data, Inc.

2. Korea Council of Sport for All: registration state of amateur sports club at January, 2010 [Internet]. c1998-2010. cited 2010 Feb 24. Seoul: Korea Council of Sport for All;Available from: http://www.sportal.or.kr.

3. Hillman M. Cycling offers important health benefits and should be encouraged. BMJ. 1997; 315:490. PMID: 9284687.

4. Leibovitch I, Mor Y. The vicious cycling: bicycling related urogenital disorders. Eur Urol. 2005; 47:277–286. PMID: 15716187.

5. Seo HS, Lee NK. Predictors of PSA screening among men over 40 years of age who had ever heard about PSA. Korean J Urol. 2010; 51:391–397. PMID: 20577605.

6. Han MC, Kim JS, Shim BS. Analysis of the risk factors related to progression of chronic prostatitis. Korean J Urol. 2005; 46:1040–1045.

7. Saka T, Sofikerim M, Demirtas A, Kulaksizoglu S, Caniklioglu M, Karacagil M. Rigorous bicycling does not increase serum levels of total and free prostate-specific antigen (PSA), the free/total PSA ratio, gonadotropin levels, or uroflowmetric parameters. Urology. 2009; 74:1325–1330. PMID: 19781750.

8. Orsini N, RashidKhani B, Andersson SO, Karlberg L, Johansson JE, Wolk A. Long-term physical activity and lower urinary tract symptoms in men. J Urol. 2006; 176:2546–2550. PMID: 17085155.

9. Crawford ED 3rd, Mackenzie SH, Safford HR, Capriola M. The effect of bicycle riding on serum prostate specific antigen levels. J Urol. 1996; 156:103–105. PMID: 8648767.

10. Luboldt HJ, Peck KD, Oberpenning F, Schmid HP, Semjonow A. Bicycle riding has no important impact on total and free prostate-specific antigen serum levels in older men. Urology. 2003; 61:1177–1180. PMID: 12809893.

11. Herrmann M, Scharhag J, Sand-Hill M, Kindermann W, Herrmann W. Long-distance mountain biking does not disturb the measurement of total, free or complexed prostate-specific antigen in healthy men. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2004; 42:347–349. PMID: 15080570.

12. Lippi G, Corgnati A, Salvagno G, Schena F, Franchini M, Guidi G. Total and free PSA serum concentrations are not influenced by extensive physical exercise and bicycle riding. Int J Sports Med. 2005; 26:79–81. PMID: 15643540.

13. Sommer F, Schwarzer U, Klotz T, Caspers HP, Haupt G, Engelmann U. Erectile dysfunction in cyclists. Is there any difference in penile blood flow during cycling in an upright versus a reclining position? Eur Urol. 2001; 39:720–723. PMID: 11464064.

14. Andersen KV, Bovim G. Impotence and nerve entrapment in long distance amateur cyclists. Acta Neurol Scand. 1997; 95:233–240. PMID: 9150814.

15. Marceau L, Kleinman K, Goldstein I, McKinlay J. Does bicycling contribute to the risk of erectile dysfunction? Results from the Massachusetts Male Aging Study (MMAS). Int J Impot Res. 2001; 13:298–302. PMID: 11890518.

16. Taylor JA 3rd, Kao TC, Albertsen PC, Shabsigh R. Bicycle riding and its relationship to the development of erectile dysfunction. J Urol. 2004; 172:1028–1031. PMID: 15311030.