Touchy Issue

Regular moderate exercise generally improves body functions. However, some men have reported penile impairment and short term impotence after cycling due to reduced blood supply and nerve compression in the area of the perineum, the area between the scrotum and the anus. Men should take care to ride a properly fitted bicycle with a comfortable saddle. Position the seat to minimize pressure on the perineum. Pointing the bike seat downward a little or buying a wider seat with better support for the pelvic bones may help prevent the problem. Narrow seats are said to put the most pressure on the perineum.

A study conducted in 2004 and involving 463 cyclists event revealed that an increased risk of erectile dysfunction may come from; riding a mountain bike, not a road bike or having the handlebars higher or parallel the saddle instead of lower than the saddle. If the cycling causes numbness or tingling in the organ, men should take a break and adjust their riding position.