Should I Stop Cycling Before a PSA Test?

by Richard Ellin, MD, FACP

Question: My experience and I believe research shows that you should avoid cycling for several days before a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test. I mentioned it to a buddy yesterday and he was surprised. Older readers may appreciate a reminder and explanation. – Bill

Dr. Richard Ellin Responds: Perineal (the area between the scrotum and rectum) stimulation such as vigorous cycling has been shown to elevate PSA. Therefore it does seem reasonable to discontinue cycling prior to PSA testing. The kicker is that the exact number of days is up for speculation.”

John Marsh adds: To me, somewhere between 3-5 days seems reasonable, but I have no data on which to base this…. guess.

Richard Ellin, MD, FACP, is a board-certified specialist in Internal Medicine who practices in Alpharetta, Georgia. He received his medical degree and completed residency at Emory University, and has been in practice with Kaiser Permanente for 26 years. He is also an avid cyclist.