Erectile dysfunction, or a male impotence, is a type of sexual dysfunction defined by men’s inability to develop or maintain the erection of the penis. Therefore, the men’s ability to sexually perform is dramatically reduced, if not completely impossible, when they are affected by this common problem. Penile erection is a physiological reaction in which penis becomes enlarged and hardens due to the blood flow in tubular vesicles. The erection of a penis is a complex mechanism that involves many psychological, neural, vascular and endocrine factors.
A lot of different causes are associated with the development of this type of dysfunction and in the recent years, doctors are associating erectile dysfunction also with bicycling. According to some studies, the number of hours on a bike is directly related to the erectile dysfunction.
Biking and men
Many medical experts are warning that severe side effects of bicycle riding can outweigh benefits of bicycling for men. Bicycling is a great physical activity that improves cardiovascular fitness, burns calories and, as any other type of physical activity, boosts overall health and wellbeing.
However, riding a bike actually means spending a lot of hours on a bicycle saddle. The real trouble with this is that a saddle puts a lot of pressure on the artery and vital nerves at the root of the penis. A male cyclist actually places a great percentage of his weight on the perineum area. Perineum is region area between the anus and the scrotum in males, through which the nerves and arteries pass on their way to the penis. As a result, men can experience numbness in the affected area, pain, and even erectile dysfunction.
Signs of trouble and how to prevent them
Men cyclists should be concerned if they feel any kind of unusual numbness or tingling in the perineum region. These are actually the first signs of changes that may eventually lead to complete erectile dysfunction. This can happen to anyone and at any point in life. Even the very young men can lose their ability to achieve a full erection, and the individuals who cycle more than three hours a week are at the greatest risk. The good news is that erectile dysfunction from cycling is usually temporary and reversible, but it can also be prevented.
Male cyclists are advised to choose proper-fitting bicycle, to wear protective clothes, to sit upright when they ride and even to change a riding style or an angle of a saddle. The traditional men’s saddle should be replaced with a "no-nose" seat that equally distributes their weight.
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