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July 9, 2008.
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
recognized 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 saddlerelated
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.
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