Men who take up cycling in an effort to stay fit, do
their bit for the environment or avoid spiralling motoring costs, could
be harming their health if they don't choose the right bicycle. That's
the stark warning from consultant urological surgeon Mr Vinod Nargund
from St Bartholomew's and Homerton Hospitals, London, in the urology
journal BJU International
He says that the problems to look out for include genital numbness,
erection problems and soreness and skin irritations in the groin area.
Men who cycle a lot can also experience changes to their sperm
function, because of the excessive heat generated in the pelvic area.
No general link between cycling and male infertility has been
established, but it is still recognised as a possible side effect and
has been noted in a number of male cyclists.
Regular cyclists also run a higher risk of testicular damage and impaired testicular function.
Mountain bikers run a particular risk, says Mr Nargund, as studies
have shown that they exhibit higher levels of scrotal abnormalities
than on-road cyclists.
"The bicycle saddle is in direct contact with the perineum and its
underlying structures" he explains. "It makes contact just behind the
scrotum where the nerves and blood vessels enter the back of the
scrotum and penis.
"This area is sensitive, with hair follicles and sweat and sebaceous glands, which are all good breeding grounds for infection.
"Abrasions, chafing, damaged hair follicles and bruising are among
the most traumatic cycling injuries. Sweating in this area can also
cause soreness and skin problems."
He points out that more than 60 per cent of male cyclists who have
taken part in research studies have reported genital numbness.
"Numbness is common because the pressure of the saddle can impair
the blood supply to this area and put pressure on the nerves in the
penis" says Mr Nargund. "This can also affect the man's ability to get
an erection.
"There is a greater incidence of numbness and erectile problems in
men who cycle regularly and over longer training distances. That is why
it is important to rest intermittently during prolonged and vigorous
cycling."
Choosing the right bike is essential, stresses Mr Nargund.
"The male cyclist should know his bicycle well and a proper fit is particularly important for high-performance cycling" he says.
"The level of pedal resistance is also very important, because
riding a bike using too much resistance is a major cause of health
problems in the groin area.
"Cyclists can also help to ease saddle-related injuries or skin
irritations by adjusting the saddle height and fore and aft position.
"Padding in the saddle and shorts are also important if cyclists want to avoid saddle-related problems."
Mr Nargund's comment piece has been published online on the BJU
International website in advance of its hard copy publication later
this year.
Contact: Annette Whibley
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Wiley-Blackwell
Exercise Daily
