Men may have more to worry about than simply avoiding traffic for keen bikers must deal with several perils on the roadways.
Scientists advise male cyclists to try stepping on the pedals every ten minutes to prevent issues in the bedroom.
Because there may be a connection between numbness in that region and erectile dysfunction, researchers caution men that it is “essential” that they avoid crushing their private parts on the saddle.
They examined 22 studies on how men can prevent saddle soreness and listed the best remedies, which include utilizing a bicycle seat without the narrower front portion known as a “no-nose” to divert pressure away from the genital region.
In addition to bad riding technique and the inappropriate sort of bike, the review by Wroclaw Medical University in Poland, which was published in the journal Sports Medicine, states that other prevalent causes of genital numbness in male bikers include.
‘There is a suggestion that nerve damage from the pressure of cycling can cause loss of sensation and problems with erections, and cycling is linked to infertility, but much more research is needed,’ said Dr. Ippokratis Sarris, a consultant in reproductive medicine and the director of King’s Fertility.
“Many men deal with discomfort when riding a bike, and there are concerns that this can result in sexual problems,” said Kamil Litwinowicz, the lead author from the Wroclaw Medical University.
Cycling as a form of exercise could lower that risk because there is considerable evidence linking inactivity to erectile dysfunction.
We urge men to consider alternatives such as standing on the pedals or adopting a different saddle rather than giving up cycling.
When age and potentially linked conditions were taken into account, a scientific assessment of six research published last year indicated that men who cycled had a twice as high risk of developing erectile dysfunction.
A bicycle seat can compress nerves and momentarily reduce blood flow, which can lead to genital tingling or numbness and eventually erectile dysfunction.
Although a study indicated that 91% of male bikers experience numbness in these areas, the research on erectile dysfunction is conflicting, with some studies finding no connection to cycling.
The latest review examined evidence regarding how various saddle, bike, short, and handlebar designs affected men’s genitalia.
Researchers discovered that no-nose saddles lessen the area’s pressure.
In one study of bicycle-riding police officers, 82% of them reported having less numbness after receiving no-nose saddles for six months, compared to only 27% before.
The police officers also saw a decrease in erectile dysfunction symptoms, despite the fact that a no-nose saddle can make cycling more unsteady.
The research included data from six studies on males riding bicycles while seated and discovered that both blood flow to and blood pressure within the penis were decreased.
The authors supported the conventional advise for male cyclists to stand up on the pedals every 10 minutes as possibly “effective” and simple to perform because standing was connected to higher blood flow and pressure.
However, they caution that this is merely a guideline and that additional research is required to determine how frequently and for how long men should stand on their pedals.