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December 26, 2005
Can long distance cycling make you impotent?
There are studies that link long-distance cycling to impotency. The key phrase is long distance. Most of the research studied men who cycled for several hours every day. Fortunately, there is no evidence of any risk if you cycle for short duration.
When a man sits on a bicycle seat, his groin supports the entire weight of his body. This puts intense pressure in the area near the genitals, which contains the nerves and arteries that transmit feeling and blood to the genitals. Prolonged pressure can cause genital numbness and even temporary impotency.
You can build reserve capacity in your heart, lungs, and muscles in as little as ten minutes a day. There is no need to sit on a bicycle seat for an extended amount of time. Limit your cycling to less than three hours a week.
If you like cycling and are still concerned, vary your activities. Cycle a few times a week and do other forms of exercise you like during the rest of the week. Also, check with bicycle companies that recently marketed new seats designed specifically to take pressure off the genitals.
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Posted by james at December 26, 2005 11:16 AM