Bike Seats Not To Blame For Low Sperm Count

Some experts believe prolonged sitting on a bicycle seat could compress the arteries and nerves to the testicles and lower sperm count. But no clear link has been found, says Dr. Boris Klopukh, a urologist in Aventura.

''On a theoretical level there is no association between sperm count and bicycle riding,'' he says.

In 2003, one study did find male mountain bicyclists, who rode more than two hours a day for six days a week, had a lower sperm count than nonbicyclists. But the bicycle seats are not likely to blame. Rigorous exercise alone could have raised scrotal temperature enough to decrease sperm count. Also, mountain bikers often suffer minor scrotal trauma that can decrease sperm production.

In a related topic, bicycle seats could cause erectile dysfunction. Three new studies reported in the Journal of Sexual Medicine suggest pressure on the area of skin between the anus and the scrotum, called the perineum, may affect blood flow to the penis and cause erectile dysfunction in some men. But most riders, even professionals, will not experience any sexual problem.

''The majority of these perineal trauma injuries from bicycle riding are limited and reversible,'' Klopukh says.

Wider seats and ergonomically designed saddles with central cut outs may help reduce perineal pressure. So can tipping the seat a bit forward.
Dr. Sean Kenniff
The Miami Herald