Cycling and PSA Levels [The Easy Guide]

We get it, you are nervous about your PSA test, and the prostate is already a touchy subject in general. How are you going to know how long should I stop cycling before a PSA?

How are you going to know what is a good level for cyclists? Does it change on average? Is it higher than most?

When you are deciding on how you are going to change your habits before a PSA test, it is important to know the facts about the connection between cycling and a PSA.

You will learn about the test in this post, and how cycling effects the prostate specific antigen test. You will learn why cycling affects the PSA test and you will learn how long you should stop cycling (and other similar activities) to have a normalized and accurate PSA test.

After reading this publication, you should have all you need to know about the connection to cycling and the PSA test, plus some other facts that may help you leave your problems behind.

Cycling and PSA Levels

You do not have to stop cycling completely if you are worried about your chances of developing a form of prostate cancer. Overall, cycling leads to a decreased chance of prostate cancer developing in the body and cycling is great for the heart.

Cycling does cause people to sit more often, which means that part of the body can become inflamed, however there are other major benefits to cycling which mitigates that – such as the sustained and continuous blood-flow to and around the prostate following the ride.

Cycling will increase your PSA levels temporarily, so it is important to know exactly how to counteract this effect by making a small change to your lifestyle before a test.

Why does Cycling effect PSA levels?

Cycling effects different levels in the body like testosterone and PSA levels because the inflammation in the prostate causes the organ to produce more prostate specific antigens in the blood.

Other types of activities that will do this are sexual activity and ejaculation, and even sitting on the couch for too long enjoying a favorite TV show.

In short, anything that causes the blood to sit and pack into the one space of the body without much circulation will cause your PSA levels to rise in the short term artificially.

Note: If you have ever experienced hemmorrhoids and wondered if cycling effected it, read our full guide here.

How long should I stop cycling before a PSA?

If you are getting a PSA, then you should stop cycling at least 1-2 days before hand. There are more doctors that give a more conservative approach and recommend 2-3 days to be safer.

What is important is to communicate this to your doctor that you are a cyclist, and when was the last time that you went on a large ride over 20 miles where you may have found your prostate compressed for a long time.

As long as you talk with your doctor and they understand your lifestyle, then you and your doctor will be able to make the correct decision of what your PSA levels would mean, while making the best plan for how long you should take of from cycling for the most accurate test.

Conclusion

If you are wondering how long should I stop cycling before a PSA, the correct answer is at least 1-2 days. It is a temporary effect when the prostate specific antigen is found in the blood and will cause the body to read a touch differently to other tests.

Always communicate with your doctor different eating habits and athletic habits from the average person. As a cyclist, your resting heart rate may be a step lower than others and it may be important to voice that so that your doctor has a better understanding of how to work with you.