{"id":171980,"date":"2019-01-11T12:55:58","date_gmt":"2019-01-11T12:55:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=171980"},"modified":"2019-01-11T12:56:48","modified_gmt":"2019-01-11T12:56:48","slug":"womens-health-cycling-what-are-the-risks-and-what-are-the-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2019\/01\/11\/womens-health-cycling-what-are-the-risks-and-what-are-the-solutions\/","title":{"rendered":"Women\u2019s Health & Cycling: What Are the Risks and What Are the Solutions?"},"content":{"rendered":"

For men and women alike, there is no shortage of health benefits associated with cycling. In addition to reduced risk for heart disease and increased immunity, cycling is a great endurance building sport that is easy on your joints and helps promote positive thinking. That being said, when it comes to a woman\u2019s anatomy, cycling can pose a few problematic risks if not approached carefully. Here we\u2019ve provided a summary of some of the most common issues or concerns and how to address them in a safe and healthy way.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yeast and urinary tract infections<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Although these are problems that most women will have to deal with at some point in their lives, cyclists face increased risk due to the fact that bacteria multiply quickly when you\u2019re sweating a lot inside close-fitting clothing. Yeast and bacteria thrive in moist hot environments and that can allow problems to arise quickly.<\/p>\n

The Solution?<\/em><\/h4>\n

Your best defence is to minimize the chance for bacteria and fungus to multiply in the first place. After a ride, get out of your shorts as soon as possible, shower, and make sure to dry the area thoroughly. Baby wipes or witch hazel and a dry towel are also a good fix if a shower isn\u2019t readily available.<\/p>\n

Eating probiotic-rich foods like yoghurt and kefir can also help make you resistant to these problems. If you think you already have an infection though, act immediately. You can try an over-the-counter cream, but if one application doesn\u2019t work, see your doctor for an antifungal and topical steroid cream for quick relief.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Swelling or saddle sores<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The technical name for swelling is labial hypertrophy, and this is when the labia (either the inner or outer or both) become swollen and enlarged. Pressure causes swelling and once things are out of balance, a vicious cycle can quickly exasperate the problem and cause major discomfort. In addition, \u2018saddle sores,\u2019 the umbrella term that includes infected hair follicles, chafing, and open ulcerations anywhere in your chamois region\u2014all have the potential to be quite painful and even dangerous. Consistent pressure and chafing in the same place will irritate and inflame your skin, leaving it susceptible to infection.<\/p>\n

The Solution?<\/em><\/h4>\n

This really comes down to proper saddle fit for your unique body and alignment. Ironically, for some women, cut-out saddles\u2014designed to prevent these exact problem\u2014can actually make swelling worse. Most accounts seem to indicate that if you have a fleshier vulva, cut-outs may not work for you due to the fact that those tissues sit in the cut-out space, which allows gravity to pull fluid into them as you ride.<\/p>\n

In addition to the right saddle, you want to practice proper lubrication and careful hair removal. Chamois cream is designed to reduce friction between your skin and your shorts and you can find women-specific creams, which are specially formulated to help you maintain a healthy pH balance in that area. Carefully hair removal will also help prevent issues, because sore razor bumps, ingrown hairs, and infected follicles will become even more irritated when cycling. To avoid this, use a sharp razor that provides a close shave and if you\u2019re prone to bumps, apply a light layer of antibiotic ointment after shaving.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Cycling and sex<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As you may know, cycling, like all exercise, improves sex drive\u2014yay! Unfortunately, not all the news is good. Although, from a women\u2019s perspective, there isn\u2019t much research yet available, there have been a couple of studies into the effects of being in the saddle on a woman\u2019s area, and sadly, many report that it causes a lack of sensitivity.<\/p>\n

In one case, up to 62 per cent of competitive women cyclists reported feeling genital numbness, tingling, or pain within the past 30 days in a small study published in the\u00a0Journal of Sexual Medicine. If this is something you experience, don\u2019t ignore it. Not only does numbness make sex less enjoyable, but it also means that you\u2019re compressing your nerves and could do long-term damage.<\/p>\n

The solution?<\/em><\/h4>\n

As with the problems mentioned above, the right saddle is going to go a long way in preventing these issues. Standard knowledge is that, depending on your riding position, you want the majority of your weight to be resting on your ischial tuberosities (the hard bones you feel when you sit down) or the pubic rami (the pelvic bones further forward), and not on your soft tissues. In addition to changing the shape or size of your saddle, this often means shortening your reach, handlebar or saddle height, because being too stretched out places pressure on the soft tissue.<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve got the right saddle, don\u2019t skimp on getting a quality pair of padded cycling shorts. You\u2019ll enjoy your ride more and are less likely to experience desensitisation.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\u00a9 Profimedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cycling with your period<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There\u2019s no doubt that motivation can be lacking at this time of the month, and it\u2019s important to listen to what your body needs and not overdo it. That being said, if you want to ride, having your period shouldn\u2019t stop you and there are a few things you can do to feel more comfortable.<\/p>\n

Most cyclists recommend using tampons or a menstrual cup because these options won\u2019t move around while you\u2019re riding and will reduce chafing as, unlike sanitary towels, there is no extra material to rub against your skin. If it\u2019s cramps that are getting you down, take an ibuprofen at the first sign of your period to ease pain and discomfort. Drinking a small dose of caffeine can also help to kick start the pain relief and give you a boost.<\/p>\n

Also make sure to fuel properly and remember that your body needs more from you at this time of the month, especially if you\u2019re going to be burning major calories on your bike. Not to mention, low blood sugar and racing hormones are not a good mix, so now is not the time to be worried about eating an extra chocolate croissant after your ride. Also, keep in mind that those hormones mentioned above can cause emotions to run high, so don\u2019t be surprised if you experience more tension or anxiety when riding at this time of the month. You\u2019re only human and the feelings will pass, so take it easy and don\u2019t forget to thank yourself for doing something good for your body.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For men and women alike, there is no shortage of health benefits associated with cycling. In addition to reduced risk […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":146257,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[332],"tags":[2592,2593,2590,538,2591],"global-categories":[],"class_list":["post-171980","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-and-training","tag-cycling-and-sex","tag-cycling-with-your-period","tag-swelling-or-saddle-sores","tag-women-cycling","tag-yeast-and-urinary-tract-infections"],"yoast_head":"\nWomen\u2019s Health & Cycling: What Are the Risks and What Are the Solutions? - \u0160koda We Love Cycling<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"For men and women alike, there is no shortage of health benefits associated with cycling. 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