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!

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 ...)

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...

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.