Can Biking Cause Erectile Dysfunction?

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It can, but not in everyone.

Cyclists started talking about numbness in the genitals around 1890. Following that, ads for saddles that reduce genital numbness and tingling started appearing. People realized cycling was affecting male performance and increasing the risk of erectile dysfunction.  Luckily, saddle design has enjoyed some improvements in recent years.

Cycling can create too much pressure on the perineum, located between the external genitals and the anus. The perineum has the Alcock canal, which contains an artery and a nerve that supply the penis with blood and sensation. When a cyclist sits hard on a narrow bike seat, the blood flow decreases, diminishing the flow pressure for the penis to be able to achieve a full erection.  

 Today’s manufacturers of bike seats have developed saddles addressing some of the pressure issues, however,  people are physiologically diverse and have different bone structure and protective tissue. Cyclists have to do a little homework and find the seats best for them.  

 Three Tips:

• Wear padded bike shorts.
• Use upright handle bars so your posture changes, transferring the pressure of the perineum to the buttocks.
• If you feel numbing and tingling during a ride – stop riding for one to two weeks.  

Some alternative help tips:

• Horny Goat Weed: Increases levels of testosterone and thyroid hormones
• Yohimbe: Helps to dilate small blood vessels – especially in the penis. This herb has received FDA approval as a treatment for impotence. Discovered in South Africa, it has been used for years as an aphrodisiac.
• Ginseng: Increases stamina, helps relax blood vessels in penis, and helps produce an erection. It has been used for years as a male sexual tonic.  

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