The cycling it is a fun sport that is loved by everyone, young and old. It can be a low-impact activity if you want to ride a bike at a slow or moderate pace, or it can become intense if you accept a challenge from your cycling partner. It also comes with various health benefits such as increased cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, flexibility, strengthened bones, and decreased body fat levels.
Being sedentary is related to erectile dysfunction (DE), so cycling as a form of activity could reduce this risk. At the same time, however, riding a bike could also put your erections at risk.
What happens in erectile dysfunction
The erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence, is the inability to achieve and maintain an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. Having erection problems is sometimes not necessarily a cause for concern. However, if erectile dysfunction is an ongoing problem, it can increase your stress, affect your confidence, and lead to relationship problems. It can also negatively affect your sex drive.
Cycling and DE
Cycling can cause erectile dysfunction, since sitting on the saddle could crush your private parts, which means that the pressure is falling on the nerves of your parts. This can cause erectile dysfunction as it is not conducive to fertility health.
During cycling, the seat puts constant pressure on the perineum, the area between the genitals and the anus. This pressure can damage nerves and temporarily slow blood flow. This can cause tingling or numbness in the penis and can eventually lead to erectile dysfunction as well.
What the research says about cycling and ED
An investigation of the Wrocław Medical University in Poland, suggests that male cyclists should regularly stand up when cycling to prevent erectile dysfunction.
Research suggests standing up every ten minutes. In addition to private parts crushed by the saddle, the study explains that genital numbness can also be caused by poor riding technique or the wrong type of bike.
Riding a bike damages nerves in the male sexual organ
According to a Harvard Health Special Report, riding a bike can damage the nerves and compress the arteries in the penis, which can lead to erection problems. The study found that the risk was higher among men who biked for more than three hours a week.
Measures to take to avoid ED
This information is not to discourage men from riding a bike and there are certain steps they can take to ensure they continue to ride a bike safely without developing erection problems.
- Getting up regularly to get some movement and fresh air can help relieve pressure in the genital area.
- Make sure the saddle is wide and well padded to absorb the shock of riding and reduce pressure down there. You can also add a gel-filled seat cover to improve comfort.
- A study in European Urology found that narrow bicycle seats reduced oxygen to the penis by 82.4% and narrow V-shaped seats at the tip of the saddle reduced oxygen delivery by 72.4%.
- The height of the handlebar can also help prevent any risks. A study in TheJournal of Urology found that if your handlebar height is parallel to or higher than your saddle height, then it may increase your risk of erectile dysfunction compared to handlebars at a lower than saddle height.