As every year, the Tour de France attracts thousands of spectators lined up on the roadside to cheer on their sports idols. The pedalers are well-trained, in top shape and powerful. Who would think, looking at these full-blooded athletes, that they might have erectile dysfunction? Hardly anyone. Nevertheless, for a long time researchers assumed that health problems could occur after longer cycling races, especially sexual dysfunction. What is behind this assumption?
Older studies suspected connection
Corresponding figures were provided by a study of 260 amateur cyclists conducted in Norway in 1997: after a distance of 540 kilometers, 22 percent of the race participants reported a feeling of numbness in their genitals. Thirteen percent of the male participants reported severely impaired erectile function after the race. For most, the erectile dysfunction subsided within the first week, but for some cyclists it lasted longer than a month, and in rare cases up to eight months.
Erectile dysfunction and numbness in the genital area were also reported by most of the participants in a 1998 study by the Boston research group led by Irwin Goldstein. The amateurs studied, members of a local cycling club, spent six to 11 hours a week on their bikes, covering distances of between 120 and 220 kilometers.
Suspected causes of impotence due to cycling
Damage to the nerves and arteries in the penis, triggered by the pressure exerted by the saddle on this region of the body, has been cited as a possible cause of impotence due to prolonged cycling. Due to the unusual sitting position while cycling, which is usually taken for hours, considerable pressure is exerted on the blood vessels and nerves, causing a lack of supply to the penile tissue and consequently erectile dysfunction was suspected.
Recent studies give the all-clear
More recent studies with larger numbers of participants do not confirm the previous assumptions of science. Thus, both in the context of a comprehensive study of the University College London with over 5,000 subjects conducted from 2012 to 2013, as well as a study of the University of California from the year 2018 with approximately 4,000 subjects, no correlations between cycling and impotence or erectile dysfunction could be determined.
Both studies examined men who cycled occasionally as well as those who practiced the sport intensively.
Tips for low-impact cycling
Although current science does not suggest a causal relationship between cycling and erectile dysfunction, a few tips can help ensure the best possible blood flow to the penis while cycling:
- Saddle: the appropriate saddle should be well padded and have a sufficient width (note the position of the seat bumps).
- Position of the saddle: This should be aligned straight and not point upwards.
- Rest breaks: Especially on long bike rides, recovery periods are important.
- Sitting position: The legs should not be fully extended, even if the pedals are in the lowest position.
- Change position: straighten up every now and then and ride a little bit standing up to relieve the pressure on your penis.
