What has bicycling to do with Erectile Dysfunction?

Though Bicycling has become a popular activity for relaxation, exercise, and weight loss and required for biking has strong cardiovascular benefits and has also been shown to reduce the risk of diabetes and hypertension, as for the Scythians who identified horseback riding as a possible cause of male impotence, the relationship between bicycle riding and ED has become a matter of concern.

Lots of case reports have been published of bicyclists with erectile difficulties. Small observational studies have also showed a relatively high prevalence of ED among best bicyclists, who often report penile numbness and changes in sensation after cycling.

Recently, there has been growing interest in the role of bicycling in the development of ED, particularly in young, otherwise healthy men who lack the typical risk factors, such as hypertension, elevated lipids, and cigarette smoking.

While sitting, humans bear their weight on the ischial tuberosities, also known as 'sit bones'. The ischial tuberosities have no organs attached to them and also no nerves or arteries. They are surrounded by the fat and muscle of the buttocks. This area is very well vascularized and allows humans to sit comfortably and safely for hours.

Unfortunately most bicyclists bear their body weight on a bicycle seat that is not wide enough to support the ischial tuberosities. As a result, they wind up straddling the bike and in effect, sitting on the internal part of their genitals. And this causes Erectile Dysfunction.