Erectile Dysfunction Caused By Cycling?

By Author: Steven Johnson
Total Articles: 494
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When it comes to discussing the causes behind erectile dysfunction, most men probably know that the lack of physical activity and excessive weight are two factors that seriously increase their chances of becoming impotent. There's are a lot of articles written on the topic that all provide pretty much the same suggestions for preventing ED - being more physically active and trying to get rid of the excessive weight. In general, this is achieved through exercising and it really doesn't matter what form of exercise you choose - working out, running, swimming, yoga - as long as your heart works fast enough to burn fat and strengthen the muscles. However, not all suggestions warn you about a particular physical activity that actually can cause erectile dysfunction if performed in a wrong way - cycling.

Cycling is an excellent form of physical activity and recreation in general. It keeps the body in tone and tends to strengthen nearly all of the muscle in the body, especially the legs and the back. Cycling offers you an additional degree of freedom as you can travel wherever you want, even off-road without any emissions. But ...
... with all the pros of cycling, there is one downside that can be crucial for men - it is known to raise the risk of developing ED even in those who don't have any physical or psychological factors causing this condition to occur. However, don't rush throwing your bicycle away without learning why that is so and what can be done about it!

First of all, let's look at the way cycling may affect the erectile function. As you probably know the condition of the blood vessels in the penile and surrounding area is crucial for having good and durable erections. The danger of cycling is that by excessively performing it, men are quite prone to damaging the tissues and blood vessels in the perineum (the portion between scrotum and anus). This results from the typical posture during cycling and saddle shape of most bicycles. And you have probably experienced the discomfort in that area if you have ever tried to cycle for a long time.

What can be done about it? Fortunately, you don't have to think about using Viagra if you love cycling as there are helpful tips on how to minimize the pressure on the perineum while performing this activity. First of all, you will have to review your posture while cycling. Most men tend to sit with their backs straight and perpendicular to the ground. This puts a lot of pressure on the perineum and can damage the sensitive tissue in that area. So the best way to avoid it is to lean a bit forward while cycling and put more pressure on your legs. You have probably seen professional cyclists doing so. And while it certainly improves their aerodynamics and increases sped, it certainly helps avoid any problems in bed as well.

The saddle also plays an important role. If you don't want to compromise cycling for the fear of needing Viagra in the future, take a closer look on the detail you actually seat on. It shouldn't be too soft or too rigid, it should follow your body naturally without putting too much pressure on your perineum. If your current saddle doesn't provide comfort during cycling it's recommended that you change it. And make sure to take some rest while cycling in order to let the tissues recover from pressure. Make a stop every 20-30 minutes and walk straight for a couple of minutes in order to restore blood circulation in the area. This way you'll be able to enjoy cycling without risking depending on Viagra in bed.