Even though cycling represents one of the greatest pleasures of your life, exist many questions about… If this practice affects to other of the greatest pleasures, for that, in today’s ride we are going to talk about cycling and erectile dysfunction.
In past talks, we discussed if is true or not that bike affects your prostate. And is not weird that arise these other questions about sexuality, for example, is it true that cycling reduces your performance in sex? In some way cycling affects masculine erections?
If you want to know the answer, join us and adjust your seat to be comfortable. Let’s go.
Cycling and erectile dysfunction, how are related?
Even though we all know it, it is valid that we first define what an erection is and what erectile dysfunction is.
The erection is the process, that through a sexual stimulus of any type, brain send signs to the penis nerves to produce the dilation of blood vessels and fill with blood the corpora cavernosa, causing the increase of size and rigidity of it.
The erectile dysfunction, is the inability to maintain an erection during the previous process. It should be noted that doesn’t exist a specific cause, due different processes can influence in this, from physical to psychological limitations.
Cycling can cause me erectile dysfunction?
Nowadays, cycling and erectile dysfunction are a sensitive issue, besides, is controversial. This results from some studies comment the possibility that cycling can cause problems to have an erection. But, in contrast, other and most of them, indicate that cycling doesn’t cause the erectile dysfunction
What is real, is that practice cycling excessively can cause injuries in your knees, back, hands, glutes, neck, shoulders and perineum. The last one is the zone between anus and testicles or vagina. In fact, is more than anything to this part of the body that relates with the possibility of having erections when cycling, above all, due is the part that suffers the most because of bike saddle.
Research performed by the International Journal Sports of Medicine, indicates that the bike saddle causes a slow blood flow in this body zone. This causes that genitals numb. Likewise, due the constant movement of the bike and the bumps, causes microscopic injuries in the perineum zone.
And yet, this study with others, as one by the International Neurology Journal, conclude that cycling can’t associate significantly to erectile dysfunction.
Then, it causes or not problems to have an erection?
Even though cycling comprises that muscles and nerves close to the penis suffer certain microscopic injuries, for now, we can’t say that cycling and erectile dysfunction are related. In all case, the first can be the cause of the second.
If considering that another study by the Journal of Urology, included that a great number of 5488 young people that practiced cycling, swimming and running, showed interesting data.
The analysis showed that it doesn’t matter which sport they practiced, significant differences weren’t found to the incidence of erectile dysfunction or urinary system. In other words, the practice of these activities isn’t a synonym of sexual dysfunction. On the other hand, while is practiced any sport activity, is more probable to have a healthy sexual life.
On the other hand, if cyclists presented greater levels urethral stricture, there’s nothing to worry about, due specialists indicated that the compression was slight and doesn’t favor the appearance of sexual problems.
Recommendations about cycling and erectile dysfunction
The studies don’t prove that cycling causes sexual problems, as erectile dysfunction isn’t an event related with cycling. There are many recommendations you must follow, and, of course for precautionary measures.
When cycling, try to cover a 20% of your total route without seating on the bike saddle for some instances. Every 10 minutes stand up a few seconds on pedals. This avoids the prolonged pressure, the numbing of testicles and appearance of sores.
Using an ergonomic seat with a support for back, reduce the pressure on perineum and improves the oxygenation of the penis. You can also use an anti-pro-static seat. If you have a normal bike saddle, the recommendation is adjust it the height to be at the same level or under the handlebar. This also help to genitals don’t numb.
Anyway, if you present symptoms of erectile dysfunction, visit to the specialist as soon as possible to find a solution. As we mentioned, this situation can be caused by different causes, from physical ones to psychological ones.
