Cycling And Impotence
'There are two kinds of cyclists: those who are impotent and
those who will be'
That claim was made by Dr Irwin Goldstein, a Boston University
Medical School urologist, who recently released data from two
unpublished studies linking cycling to impotence, more or less
echos the words of Hippocrates. Goldstein warns that anyone who
rides a bike is susceptible to sexual and urinary tract
dysfunction as well as unrecognized blunt trauma. In an
interview with the Seattle Times, he said, "Bicycle riders
violate safe perineal health. I have documented bicycle-riding
impotence in young teens who perform daredevil tricks,
commuters, weekend riders, stationary bikers, avid road racers,
and mountain bikers." Goldstein attributes these injuries not
only to continuous riding stress on the penal area ut also to
falling into a bike seat or bar. The idea that riding too long
in a saddle may cause sexual dysfunction isn't new. But there
are only a few medically documented accounts of impotence due to
cycling (or horse back riding). Yet, an increasing number of
physicians believe the problem is more prevalent and serious
than reported.
Saddle Design: Aside from relatively rare cases of falling
injuries, cycling impotence appears to be caused by the
compression of two nerves between the saddle and the pubic bone.
These nerves lead to the penis and are responsible for
regulating the penal blood flow that allows for an erection.
Signs and Symptoms: