Home Urology Cycling Has Little Effect on Men’s Sexual or Urinary Functions

Cycling Has Little Effect on Men’s Sexual or Urinary Functions

No worse sexual or urinary function, but incidence of urethral stricture higher than swimmers/runners

TUESDAY, Jan. 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Compared with swimmers/runners, cyclists have no worse sexual or urinary functions, according to a study published in the February issue of The Journal of Urology.

Mohannad A. Awad, M.D., from the University of California-San Francisco, and colleagues queried cyclists and a comparison group of swimmers and runners using validated questionnaires including the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM), International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS), and National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI). Data were obtained for 3,932 survey respondents.

The researchers found that, compared with low- and high-intensity cyclists, swimmers/runners had a lower mean SHIM score (19.5 versus 19.9 and 20.7; P = 0.02 and P < 0.001, respectively). There were no significant differences in I-PSS or NIH-CPSI scores or in history of urinary tract infection. Compared with swimmers/runners, cyclists had statistically higher odds of urethral stricture (odds ratio, 2.5; P = 0.042). The odds of genital numbness were reduced with standing more than 20 percent of the time while cycling (odds ratio, 0.4; P = 0.006). The odds of genital numbness and saddle sores were reduced with adjusting the handlebar higher (odds ratio, 0.8; P = 0.005) or even with the saddle (odds ratio, 0.6; P < 0.001).

“Cyclists had no worse sexual or urinary functions than swimmers or runners but cyclists were more prone to urethral stricture,” the authors write.

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