We have no longer been able to ride a bike since we heard rumors that pedaling, which is a safe haven for us to stay healthy and get rid of the stress of life, has negative effects on sexuality, another reality and meaning of life. Although we started every morning in this sunny and dry autumn by saying "today is cycling weather, just like the other 365 days", the fear of impotence took over and we changed the oil of our bike, checked the air pressure of the tires and put it in the warehouse before we could ride. This situation could not continue like this, so we decided to ask an expert about this issue. We asked Burçin Tunç, a urologist and a cycling enthusiast, for her opinions on this subject.
Does cycling cause sexual dysfunction, i.e. impotence? It is a subject that confuses every man who intends to do so. Many studies have been conducted on this subject and very different results have been found. While some researchers have said that cycling may be among the causes of impotence, there are also studies showing that it has no positive or negative effects and even claim that the incidence of impotence is lower in those who ride bicycles. So there is no definitively proven relationship. However, the feeling of loss of sensation and felting in the genital area, which is more common when first starting out or that we all experience after long rides, naturally confuses people.
Is the numbness in the genital area that occurs after riding a bike related to this issue?
While sitting in the saddle, the entire weight of the cyclist rests on the area described as the perineum, which is right between the anus and the ovaries. This area is where the blood vessels and nerves that feed the penis pass. Riding a bicycle for a long time causes increased pressure on this area and crushes the vessels and nerves that feed the penis. The oxygen coming to the male organ, whose vascularity is impaired, decreases, and numbness develops as the nerves are exposed to pressure. Therefore, the causes of numbness, called paresthesia, and erectile dysfunction are the same.
When you explain it like this, it does not make you want to ride a bike.
These vascular and nerve compressions that I mentioned must take a long time to occur. It is necessary to ride the bike while sitting at all times. In an experiment conducted in Germany, subjects were asked to ride an exercise bike for one and a half hours in a laboratory environment. Meanwhile, a device that measured blood flow was placed in the subjects' penises. After a certain period of time, a significant decrease in blood flow to the penis was observed. The subjects were then asked to pedal while standing every 10 minutes, and when the same values were examined again, no change was found in the blood flow to the penis. In other words, pedaling while standing every 10 minutes or taking breaks at regular intervals is actually enough to prevent loss of sensation that may occur.
If we forget or do not pedal while standing and numbness develops, will this cause serious problems?
In a study conducted on competitors participating in the 540 km Norway cycling tour, it was observed that 21% of the cyclists who completed this tour developed numbness in this area, and 13% experienced loss of erection that lasted up to 1 week. But after a while, it was seen that they all returned to their normal lives. We have learned that there is no permanent damage, at least up to 540 km.
What should cyclists who do 3-4 hour bike tours 1-2 times a week pay attention to?
Bicycle As with everything else, choosing the right bike is important. The bike you use should be proportional to your dimensions.
Saddle selection is another important parameter. In developed countries, cycling is encouraged as it is an environmentally friendly means of transportation. There are even bicycle police in the US state of Ohio. In the study conducted on these police officers who work more than 24 hours a week, a significant increase in penile blood flow and sensation levels was observed in those who used noseless saddles compared to those who did not use them. It is reported that saddles with a gap in the middle and saddles without noses reduce the pressure on the root of the penis and therefore may be an option for those who have problems with this issue.
On another issue, protective pads; There are also scientific studies for those who think that the thicker pads they use, the more protection they will provide. In these studies, it seems that your body size is important, not the thickness of the pad. While there is no benefit for a 45-pound person to wear the thickest pads, a 120-pound person Problems arise when a person is made to wear shorts with thin pads. So the important thing is that the material used is suitable...
There are people who say that having the handlebars lower than the saddle changes the body axis and prevents the pressure from reaching the veins of the penis. But these situations are more valid for cyclists who require long-term performance.
From what we talked about, my conclusion is that cycling causes problems in the blood supply to the penis and therefore in erection. What you are describing are just warnings about how precautions can be taken.
Let me underline this to avoid any misunderstanding. When people who cycle regularly and people who do not do sports are compared, erection problems and impotence are more common in those who do not do sports. Cycling has a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases, cholesterol and type II diabetes. These diseases we mentioned are the diseases that most commonly cause loss of erection. Can a person who constantly rides a bicycle be compared with a sedentary, average person's heart strength, body vigor, blood circulation, and many health-related features?
The issues I have been talking about since the beginning of our conversation are the precautions to be taken to minimize the problems that may be encountered while cycling. .
You can take your bikes out of storage and ride them with peace of mind. No stopping, continue cycling and on the road...
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