Mountain Biking Could Impair Men's Fertility
Men who mountain bike run a high risk of injuries to the scrotum that could affect their fertility, results of a study suggest. In a study of 45 male mountain bikers, Austrian researchers found that 96% had scrotal abnormalities. In contrast, such problems were seen in only 16% of 31 men who had never biked. The abnormalities included calcium deposits, cysts and twisted veins, and half of the men had scrotal tenderness or discomfort. Twisted veins in the scrotum are known to impair fertility, study author Dr. Ferdinand Frauscher said in an interview. Taken together, he said, the abnormalities seen in this study suggest that many of the mountain bikers may have fertility problems. To investigate this possibility, Frauscher and his colleagues at University Hospital Innsbruck are now getting sperm counts from the men.
The current findings are published in the October 21st issue of The Lancet. Biking, whether in rough terrain or on paved roads, has been linked to impotence in men. It is believed that pressure from the bike seat can damage blood vessels and nerves. With mountain biking, Frauscher noted, the off-road terrain makes the ``shocks and vibrations'' to the groin that much greater. However, he said, men can take measures to reduce the risk of scrotal injuries. One of the most important measures is to take frequent rests while biking, according to Frauscher.
Source: dailynews.yahoo.com
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