�Men wHO take up cycling in an exploit to stay put fit, do their bit for the environment or
avoid spiralling motoring costs, could be harming their health if they don't choose the
right cycle. That's the stark warning from adviser urological surgeon Mr Vinod
Nargund from St Bartholomew's and Homerton Hospitals, London, in the urogenital medicine
journal BJU International.
He says that the problems to look out for include genital indifference, erection
problems and soreness and skin irritations in the inguen area.
Men wHO cycle a lot tin also experience changes to their spermatozoon function, because
of the excessive heat generated in the pelvic area. No general connectedness between cycling
and male infertility has been conventional, but it is unruffled recognised as a possible side
effect and has been noted in a number of male cyclists.
Regular cyclists besides run a higher risk of exposure of testicular damage and impaired testicular
function.
Mountain bikers run a particular risk, says Mr Nargund, as studies have shown that
they exhibit higher levels of scrotal abnormalities than on-road cyclists.
"The cycle saddle is in organize contact with the perineum and its underlying
structures" he explains. "It makes contact scarce behind the scrotum where the nervousness
and blood vessels enrol the back up of the scrotum and penis.
"This area is sensitive, with hairsbreadth follicles and sweat and sebaceous glands, which ar
all good breeding reason for infection.
"Abrasions, chafing, damaged hair follicles and bruising are among the nearly
traumatic cycling injuries. Sweating in this area can also causal agency soreness and skin
problems."
He points out that more than 60 per cent of male cyclists who let taken role in
research studies suffer reported genital numbness.
"Numbness is common because the pressure of the saddle can buoy impair the blood
append to this area and put pressure on the nerves in the member" says Mr Nargund.
"This can also sham the man's ability to get an erection.
"There is a greater incidence of numbness and erectile problems in manpower who cycle
regularly and over yearner training distances. That is why it is of import to breathe
intermittently during prolonged and vigorous cycling."
Choosing the right bike is essential, stresses Mr Nargund. "The male cyclist should know his bicycle well and a proper accommodate is particularly important for high-performance cycling" he says. "The level of pedal resistance is also very important, because riding a bike victimisation too much resistance is a major cause of health problems in the groin area.
"Cyclists can also help to ease saddle-related injuries or skin irritations by adjusting
the bicycle seat height and fore and aft position.
"Padding in the saddle and shorts are also important if cyclists want to avoid saddlerelated
problems."
Mr Nargund's scuttlebutt piece has been published online on the BJU International
website in advance of its tough copy publication later this year.
"Health issues of cycling in men."
Nargund V H.
BJU International. Published online in advance of print publication (July 2008).
Established in 1929, BJU International is published 23 times a class by Wiley-Blackwell
and edited by Professor John Fitzpatrick from Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and
University College Dublin, Ireland. It provides its international readership with invaluable
practical information on all aspects of urogenital medicine, including original and investigative articles
and illustrated oR. http://www.bjui.org
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