MONDAY, May 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- The groin pain and numbness some serious bicyclists experience isn't harmful to their sexual or urinary health, two new studies suggest.
"As cycling gains in popularity, as both a hobby and a professional sport, it is important for the public to know that it has no credible link to urologic disease or sexual dysfunction," said Dr. Kevin McVary, a spokesman for the American Urological Association.
"Men and women can benefit from the cardiovascular exercise of cycling without worrying about negative side effects to their urinary tract or sexual performance," McVary said in an association news release. He is chair of urology at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.
Prolonged pressure to the perineum, or groin area, can be painful and cause loss of feeling in the area. Previous studies have suggested this groin pain could lead to erectile dysfunction in men and also take a toll on women's sexual health, the researchers said.
To investigate this issue, the researchers surveyed 4,000 men involved in sports clubs around the world. Almost two-thirds were cyclists who did not swim or run, and 37 percent were swimmers or runners who never biked.
The men were asked about their physical activity, sexual health and prostate symptoms. The study found that sexual dysfunction and urinary symptoms were no worse for cyclists than runners or swimmers. But, bikers were more likely to have perineal numbness -- regardless of the type of bike seat they used.
The researchers noted, however, that cyclists had higher average sexual health scores than the other athletes. They concluded that cycling's benefit on the heart exceeds any urinary risks associated with the sport.
Meanwhile, a separate study involving nearly 2,700 female athletes found that cycling has no notable effect on women's sexual or urinary health.
Based on questionnaires filled out by the women athletes, the researchers also found the female cyclists had higher scores in sexual function. In addition, urinary symptoms were no different from those of the other female athletes.
However, the study showed the women who rode bikes were at greater risk for urinary tract infections. Those who rode more than three times a week for more than two years were also more likely to develop perineal numbness and sores on their rear end.
The researchers defined high-intensity cycling as biking for longer than two years, more than three times a week and more than 25 miles daily on average.
McVary was to moderate a presentation of the findings Sunday at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association, in Boston. Research results presented at meetings are usually considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides more on biking and health.
