Can cycling increase testosterone?

This question is about Cycling

Sarah Achleithner

Exhaustive endurance exercise such as cycling has been shown to decrease testosterone levels for up to 72 hours after exercise [

1

]. Cortisol (a glucocorticoid hormone) increases during endurance exercise, while testosterone (an anabolic-androgenic steroid hormone) decreases and this may attenuate muscle-building after an exhaustive endurance session[

1

].

Other research has suggested a link between endurance-trained athletes and low resting testosterone levels [

2

].

Chemical structure of testosterone with a muscular male torso in the background

[1] Anderson, T., Lane, A. R., & Hackney, A. C. (2016). Cortisol and testosterone dynamics following exhaustive endurance exercise. European journal of applied physiology, 116(8), 1503–1509.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3406-y

[2]

Daly, W., Seegers, C. A., Rubin, D. A., Dobridge, J. D., & Hackney, A. C. (2004). Relationship between stress hormones and testosterone with prolonged endurance exercise. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 93(4), 375–380.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-004-1223-1

"}}]}