Bike nut

Research On Bicycle Saddles And Sexual Health Comes Of Age
August 23, 2005 - Steven Schrader, a prominent researcher in sexual and reproductive health, philosophized in a guest editorial of the September issue of The Journal of Sexual Medicine that it is time to move on - the current scientific focus on the relationship between bicycle riding and sexual health has now shifted. Whereas past research emphasized whether or not a causal relationship existed between bicycle riding on a saddle (cause) and erectile dysfunction (disease), Dr. Schrader now states that the next step of contemporary research on the subject should focus on intervention.

Dr. Schrader is a supervisory research biologist at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The statements in the editorial represent his professional opinion and do not necessarily reflect any policy statements by NIOSH.

Dr. Schrader was asked to review three new articles on the topic published in the current issue of The Journal of Sexual Medicine entitled, "Bicycle Riding and Erectile Dysfunction: An Increase in Interest (and Concern)" by Huang et al, "Only the Nose Knows: Penile Hemodynamic Study of the Perineum - Saddle Interface in Men with Erectile Dysfunction Utilizing Bicycle Saddles and Seats with and without Nose Extensions" by Munarriz et al, and "Development of a New Geometric Bicycle Saddle for the Maintenance of Genital-Perineal Vascular Perfusion" by Breda et al.

These three peer-reviewed articles research the pathophysiology of the erectile dysfunction (ED) associated with bicycling. They together report that the high pressures in the perineum while straddling a saddle compress and temporarily occlude penile blood flow. They also hypothesized that the lining vessels of the compressed arteries become damaged, thus leading to potential permanent artery blockage.

However, not all men who ride bicycles will develop erectile dysfunction. One past study suggested that sexual health consequences adversely affect 5% of riders (based on survey data that would therefore include 1,000,000 riding men with ED).

"One would not expect that every bicyclist would suffer from ED any more than one would expect every smoker would get lung cancer," says Schrader. "The next steps are quite clear. Effective strategies based on sound ergonometrics and urogenital physiologic principles and testing are needed to reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction from bicycle riding." Schrader further concluded that "the health benefits from having unrestricted vascular flow to and from the penis are self-evident."

Dr. Schrader's ground-breaking research in 2002 reported on the hazards of bicycle riding in police officers. This past innovative research concluded that nighttime erections were of poorer quality in biking police officers compared to non-biking police officers. Furthermore, nighttime erection quality decreased as seat pressure increased and as the average number of hours in the saddle a day increased.

To better appreciate the scope of the problem, a 2002 National Survey of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Attitudes and Behaviors was sponsored by the US Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Bureau of Transportation Statistics, in part to gauge bicycle use. According to the survey, approximately 57 million people, 27.3% of the population age 16 or older, rode a bicycle at least once during the summer of 2002 (www.bicyclinginfo.org/​survey2002.htm).

martin_j001

And once again we have one scientist out of thousands who seem to think there is a link between being on a bike and erectile dysfunction. I'm sure the one time some men rode a bike in the summer of 2002 will be the cause of their ED 20 years from now. This is ridiculous. 5% of riders experiencing ED is, if anything, lower than the percentage of all men experiencing ED--an interesting point that is obviously left out of biased and ridiculous studies.... This is a load of crap.

TheKillerPenguin

I guess Bob doesn't ride a bicycle to work.

martin_j001

^^lol!!!!!

sandy_pangle

Does that mean I don't have to worry about copping a "WOODY" while I'm riding behind a cute lady? Maybe someone should do a study on the ratio of men who ride and keep theirselves fit to LardA$$ Couch Potatos that have Erectile Disfunction. Moderators...... Please lock this thread before I strip naked, grab a hatchet and go make some ignorant doctors "disfuntional!!!!!

auk

Judging from the vast number of men that suffer from ED versus the small pop. that actually ride more than around the block, I think the research is a bit questionable.

ImprezaDrvr

I'm sick of hearing some guy come out with a "peer reviewed" study that is based on hypothesis.

classic1

Some of these scientists can't see the wood for the trees. It would be stiff luck to get this problem riding a bike. I mean, how hard is it to find a percentage of the population with this problem? Sure a few chubbies might have problems, but not all cyclists. What is this guys *****fides anyway?

Someone help, that last one was terrible. I'm running out of double meanings here.

ericd74

30 years old, riding 100 miles a week, and as functional as ever...I'll post pictures along with those of my bike in coming weeks

turkdc

My guess is most of the ED in our country is caused by poor diets and lack of exercise that lead to obesity, type 2 diabetes and vascular problems including the blood supply to the weiner. I'm sure the people who make bike seats with the strategically placed hole love to see research like this but I tend to think that most research these days is total bullturd.

From a personal perspective I also ride about 100 miles a week and have no problems with my John Thomas, or Juan Tomas as they say in Spanish...

simplyred

HAHAHAHAAHAH
OMG...
Awesome...

USAZorro

Replace the word hypothesized in the article with "assumed" or "pulled out of their butt". Won't change the meaning whatsoever.

pakole

Wait. He said that its only 5% what is the percentage of ED in the men population. Isn't it similar? I do not think that this doctor was saying that cycling causes it, but that the individuals that cycling excites ED, we, being doctors should find a solution. I think this most positive thing I have heard from a Dr. about cycling.

martin_j001

5% of male cyclists experience ED from what this study says. In the US adult male population, I'm sure that more than 5% of men experience ED. Therefore, male cyclists are less likely to experience ED than non-cyclists. Fix ED on the whole, don't worry about ED as it relates to cycling as its not the problem.

zarigia

All right a little fact finding proves that this guy is full of ****:

As of 2000 the census showed that there were 138.1 million men in the USofA.

According to this web site from McKinley Health Center: https://www.mckinley.uiuc.edu/Handout...sfunction.html there are 20-30 million men with ED in this country.

Now do the math. So roughly 14 percent of males in the US have ED.

So if 5% of cyclist have ED then I'd say it has no correlation to the biking and they were problably going to get it anyway.

I call shenanigans on this study, I say that I could choose any random group of people, say runners or volleyball players and get around 5% of there group that has ED.

What a bull**** study.

'nother

I just think it's hilarious that "Bike nut" posted this.

I've had more problems with the other party being willing than with actual ED, where's my study for that

martin_j001

^^LOL!!!!

DocRay

Please don't just make up 'facts'.


The following links are international studies on erectile dysfunction and cycling:


German Study 1999

American Study 2002

American Study 1998

A 2004 Review of the published press

The incidence of erectile dysfunction is 2X higher in cyclists than in control group of swimmers. The incidence of erectile dysfunction in the 49-60 population is 26/1000, or 0.26%

See this paper

However, a stronger correlation between ED can be made to the following: obesity, age, alcohol comsumption, smoking and socioeconomic status.

This was the conclusion for a Massachusetts Aging Study on ED and aging:

An association between bicycling and erectile dysfunction (ED) has been described previously, but
there are limited data examining this association in a random population of men. Such data would
incorporate bicyclists with varied types of riding and other factors. Data from the Massachusetts
Male Aging Study (MMAS) were utilized to examine the association between bicycling and ED.
Logistic regression was used to test for an association, controlling for age, energy expenditure,
smoking, depression and chronic illness. Bicycling less than 3 h per week was not associated with
ED and may be somewhat protective. Bicycling 3 h or more per week may be associated with ED.
Data revealed that there may be a reduced probability of ED in those who ride less than 3 h per
week and ED may be more likely in bikers who ride more than 3 h per week. More populationbased
research is needed to better define this relationship. International Journal of Impotence
Research (2001) 13, 298–302.

DocRay

do you even know what "peer review" means?

martin_j001

^^Actually, I didn't make up anything--I pointed out that the % of all men in the US that experience ED is higher than the % of male cyclists in the US that experience ED. This is also supported by post #15, where the actual numbers are provided.

Panic

I think riding a bike helps, if you know what I'm saying, nudge nudge, wink wink.

'nother

Nah. She just doesn't "go" anymore, nudge nudge, wink wink, know-what-I-mean know-what-I-mean. Something about a headache. All started when I gave her the ring. I have no idea how we ended up with 2 children.

DocRay

Those estimates of 14% are based on doctor prescripted ED drugs, this is not a valid measure. Men get ED drugs prescribed for several reasons. That website makes no reference to that "estimate".

The Journal reference I provided is 26/1000. 0.26% Do you really think human evolution would allow 14% of males to have ED? We'd be gone thousands of years ago.

Panic

My wife has noticed the lighter me (down a few pounds) and the definition in my legs. She likes it.

I'm thinking I'll be shaving my legs come next spring

tribe3

lol. At first it's "don't stop don't stop" then it becomes "don't start don't start!!"