UTIs and cycling- any connection?

[Saxa82]

Hi all,

Haven't posted in a while- too busy cycling I guess, among other things. Now I have more time to think since I am on vacation from teaching. Been cycling all year- even in our cold NY winter!! Of course, I like warm weather cycling a bit better.

Now I seem to be having a problem I have not encountered before. I have had 3 UTIs (urinary tract infections) this year. I have been cycling for years, but these past 12 months I've logged the most miles ever, about 1500. I'm wondering if any of the cycling gals here have had UTIs as a result of, or at least as a contributing factor from, cycling.

Just FYI, I do everything I'm supposed to do- drink lots, urinate before/after sex, etc. but I still get the infections. I have only had two UTIs in my whole life before now, so this is unusual for me. Of course, it might also have to do with my age-I'm also 45 and experiencing some peri-menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, irregular cycles, dryness down under, etc. I am not on any hormones, nor do I use a diaphragm (that caused my other infections and got thrown away real quick!). Generally, I do not use Chammy butter as I feel like I am sliding off the seat if I do, but once in a while I might if I'm going on a long ride. My saddle could probably use improvement- my bike's a year old and has a WSD saddle (a Gary Fisher Tassajara), but I found it too hard, so I put a gel cover on it. I wonder in hindsight if that was not a good idea. I am MUCH more comfortable on it, but I wonder if a cut-out saddle would be better. Anyone have luck with them?

Well, if anyone has any suggestions, ideas, experience with this awful problem, I'd appreciate it.

Saxa82

[emily_in_nc]

Yes, I would recommend a saddle with a cut-out. I have ridden many thousands of miles on one with nary a UTI, and I used to get them with some regularity. The gel saddle covers are murder on my girly bits; I am surprised anyone can tolerate them! But I know we are all built differently.

You might want to try a Terry Butterfly - they are plenty cushy but have a cutout. Of course there are a zillion other good saddles with cutouts - check out the "Favorite Saddles" area for a myriad of other ideas.

Good luck - UTIs are no fun at all! I haven't had one for a good 10 years, but that is something you never forget. Ow-weeeeeeee! :eek:

Emily

[e1b2]

My bets are on the gel cover. I started spiinning last winter, bought a gel cover as recommended (don't know why, I have 5K on my bike.) I had 3 UTIs in Jan-April. Argh. Not one since.

Good luck and boy, do I feel for you!

[Triskeliongirl]

I'll never forget going to my urologist with a uti, and mentioning that I thought it might be cycling related, and he wrote 'Terry Liberator' on a prescription pad and it worked wonders. That was a long time ago, and I have since graduated to a butterfly, but yes, a saddle with a cut-out can help. You mentioned being peri-menopausal. I am too, and use an vaginal estrogen cream that also helps a lot. I know it makes a difference for my cycling, cuz once I didn't bother to carry it on a tour, and I was really sore until I got back to my base where I stored it. Also, be sure to use a chamois cream (I like chamois butter) since your tissues get thinner an dryer as you age.

[Grog]

Random suggestions...

I am sure you know this, but the first thing I think about is clean shorts, always, every time, no cheating, ever. Make sure they're cleaned with some very gentle detergent and dried thoroughly, in the sun if possible. Take them off immediately at the end of every ride, wear a loose skirt and if you can go commando it's even better. Do not simmer in your sweaty shorts. But I am sure you know this. (I just repeat it for the likes of my dear partners, who didn't.)

Instead of chamois butt'r I use zinc oxyde cream, the same thing as diaper rash cream. Not as slippery I think, and prevents both chafing and infection of previously chafed areas. Can be applied liberally on all external surfaces (so not inside your vagina, but otherwise anywhere you can think of :eek:...)

Drink cranberry juice instead of your usual sports drink! I really hate cranberry juice but the two times in my life (thanks goodness) I have felt a UTI coming (after knowing what it felt like from one full-blown event) I drank about a liter of that concoction and it effectively killed all the bacteria I had in there.

In the meantime if you have them often and they are painful (aren't they always?) you can ask your doctor to write you a prescription in advance for antibiotics. Some doctors here (Canada) will do it after you've had repeated UTI and know how to recognize them.

Can anyone explain to me how a cut-out saddle would help with this problem? I might be a bit slow but I don't see the link... :confused:

Good luck!

[hibiscus09]

When I took spinning classes at the gym, several women kept getting UTIs. We all brought our own gel covers for the bike seats, so perhaps they are the culprit.

[Tuckervill]

>>In the meantime if you have them often and they are painful (aren't they always?) <<

No, they're not always. The two times I can remember having them, I was mostly asymptomatic, and surprised when I was told by a doctor that I had a UTI. The last time was in March, when I went for my annual gyno exam. Had no clue. The first time I was in boot camp, but with the conditions there, you have to expect some sort of infection at some point!

So now I walk around wondering if I have a UTI, because I seriously have no recognizable symptoms. Or maybe I've had them often for 25 years (since boot camp) and just consider the mild, vague symptoms my normal state of being??? It's a dilemma--

Karen

[KnottedYet]

Funny, I used to get lots of UTI's. The bike I had during that time had a gel seat cover, too. And I rode that bike a lot.

hmmmmmmm....

[tulip]

There is a difference, isn't there?

Clean shorts, always, is #1. I have found a saddle that works for me, also. My gyn told me to NOT wash with soap so often (I commute by bike and was washing with lots of soap at least twice per day). She said once a day is fine, and use plain water in the 2nd (sometimes 3rd) shower of the day. No more yeast infections.

I've never had a UTI, but have experienced yeast infections.

Best of luck. They are no fun!

[Brandi]

Oh man now I am worried! I am going on a tour soon and I have limited space. So I can only bring two pairs of shorts. There will be no washing machine. I guess I can rinse them in a stream with my shampoo or hand soap. I used to get uti's all the time. But I haven't in a long long time. But I have never ridden as far as I am about too. Any suggestions. Also there is a new cream out, by monistat. http://www.soothingcare.com/soothingcare/index_soothing.htm It is I think a lot like chamois butter and is made for us women. And they are giving away free sample right now too.

[Grog]

Oh man now I am worried! I am going on a tour soon and I have limited space. So I can only bring two pairs of shorts. There will be no washing machine. I guess I can rinse them in a stream with my shampoo or hand soap.

I am going for a week-long tour in a few weeks and taking only three pairs of shorts. Every night I wash the pair I was wearing during the day in the shower. The next day it won't always be totally dried so I have a spare just in case...

Your local camping store should carry biodegradable soap to wash your clothes with that will be MUCH less damageable to the streams than regular soap. I STRONGLY recommend using that, plus it doubles up as a body wash, shampoo, etc....

[mimitabby]

Also there is a new cream out, by monistat. http://www.soothingcare.com/soothingcare/index_soothing.htm It is I think a lot like chamois butter and is made for us women. And they are giving away free sample right now too.

I just ordered my free sample, thanks!

[Triskeliongirl]

I am going for a week-long tour in a few weeks and taking only three pairs of shorts. Every night I wash the pair I was wearing during the day in the shower. The next day it won't always be totally dried so I have a spare just in case...
..

Ditto what Grog says. In addition, I tie a mesh camping bag to my rear rack so anything that didn't dry overnite can dry by day while I ride. I always bring exactly 3 sets of riding clothes too! And of course arm and leg warmers, and a goretex jacket to layer it up or down as needed.

[light_sabe_r]

I've had 7-8 UTIs since February. (I took up cycling two months ago... Haven't noticed a difference in recurrance since)

I'm now on a "long term low dose" antibiotic now and boy that makes a difference. If you have 2 or more in a 6 month term then you're eligible to go on the low dose antibiotic. (in Australia at least)

I HIGHLY reccommend the cranberry Forte (15000 units) tablets if you can get them. In Australia they come from Blackmores and I take 3 a day (reccommended dose is two but it I've got doctor's orders)

http://www.blackmores.com.au/products/products_detail.asp?prod=242

[maillotpois]

I had a history of maybe 1 UTI every 2 - 3 years until about 1 1/2 years ago when I started getting them average of 6 times a year. Very painful and TERRIBLE. This did not really correspond with any cycling increase or change. I am diligent about hydration and the whole peeing before/after sex business, and I take the cranberry tablets - nothing seemed to help.

My doctor recommended removing my almost 10 year old IUD. I know these are different "areas", etc., but she'd read some study about IUDs being linked to UTIs, so I gave it a shot. Not a single UTI for the last 4 months since it has been removed - amazing! I feel liberated!!! (Of course the hormonal BC probably contributed to my pulmonary embolism, but whatever! :p )

[Brandi]

I just ordered my free sample, thanks!
right on!