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Erectile Dysfunction from Cycling

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erectile dysfunction from cyclingCycling is a great way to stay healthy and very good for cardiovascular health Not only that, it can be a most enjoyable sport, as you can cycle any where around the world.
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Indeed, it is a favourite, international sport with a great following, like the Tour de France.
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As with any sport, there are, of course, dangers and health consequences from engaging in cycling. Here, most people would immediately think about head injuries, falls and being hit by a vehicle being the obvious ones.

However, there is a rare triad of health problems that is rarely discussed, much less known about: erectile dysfunction (or impotence), pain in the pelvic region, and penile numbness.

This is how the trio are linked. The prudendal arteries that supply blood to the penis are located beneath the pubic bone. Sitting for lengthy periods of time on a narrow, hard surface – the bicycle saddle – compresses these blood vessels, thereby hampering smooth blood flow, and in the process, reducing oxygen supply to the nerves and injuring them.

The first symptom of nerve injury is sporadic tingling, which in itself is not particularly bothersome. In the early stages, this injury is usually always reversible. However, this symptom is also usually always ignored.

In some men, continued pressure on the arteries lead to more severe nerve damage. The damage can be erectile dysfunction (or impotence), numbness, pain in the pelvic and penile region. Once the damage reaches this point, it is difficult to reverse the nerve damage.

The Journal of Andrology (2002): 91% of bicycle police officers who spent an average of 5 hours per day on a bicycle reported experiencing intermittent numbness in the groin/penile area.  The same men also experienced fewer night-time erections (an additional symptom of nerve damage) compared to non-cyclists. Men who spent more time on the bicycle saddle were those at greater risk.

What is the percentage of men who actually progress to erectile dysfunction as a result of bicycle riding? The results of other experiments were conflicting: The Journal of Urology (2004) conducted an internet survey of 688 cyclists and reported a 17% incidence of erectile dysfunction. This figure, however, is not higher than that of the general population. Other studies  report that 3 hours or more of bicycle riding per week constitutes  risk factor to men, predisposing them to erectile dysfunction.

 

Is there anything that can be done to prevent erectile dysfunction resulting from prolonged time spent on a bicycle saddle? Ergonomic changes can reduce the pressure point beneath the pubic bone, reducing blood vessel compression. These include:

  1. A full professional assessment of the bicycle and its saddle fit, making sure that the pressure points be on the sit bones ischial tuberosities) and NOT on the pubic bone.
  2. Ensuring that the bicycle saddle is parallel to the ground. OR, even better, is to tilt the seat slightly downwards, and never upwards.
  3. Use proper professional padded cycling shorts.
  4. Decrease or limit time spent crouching over the racing bars. The more the position is forward flexed, the more is the compression of the blood vessels
  5. Use a saddle that is wider and with more padding.
  6. Use a blunt, or noseless, saddle. This type of saddle decreases significantly the point of contact pressure on the prudendal arteries. An experiment reported using a noseless saddle diminished perineal tingling from 78% down to 18%

 

Many men will cycle for years and experience no erectile dysfunction. However, the old adage still holds: one ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure. Men who cycle frequently should be aware of pudental artery compression leading to erectile dysfunction, and take due preventive measures.

They should be aware of the symptoms and NOT ignore them: numbness or tingling in their penis and / or perineum, even if this is not persistent. They should be aware that this is their body’s warning sign of nerve damage, and that in some men could very quickly progress to erectile dysfunction and other more serious issues.

Should tingling persist after a cycling session, it is advisable to pay a visit to your urologist to check. For those men who continue cycling regularly, using ergonomic solutions mentioned above may help to allay erectile dysfunction, and other more serious, and sometimes, irreversible problems.

 

Harry Cox

 

Erectile dysfunction from Cycling

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cycling Tour de FranceXCycling is a great way to stay healthy and very good for cardiovascular health Not only that, it can be a most enjoyable sport, as you can cycle any where around the world. Indeed, it is a favorite, international sport with a great following, like the Tour de France.

As with any sport, there are, of course, dangers and health consequences from engaging in cycling. Here, most people would immediately think about head injuries, falls and being hit by a vehicle being the obvious ones.

However, there is a rare triad of health problems that is rarely discussed, much less known about: erectile dysfunction (or impotence), pain in the pelvic region, and penile numbness.

This is how the trio are linked. The prudendal arteries that supply blood to the penis are located beneath the pubic bone. Sitting for lengthy periods of time on a narrow, hard surface – the bicycle saddle – compresses these blood vessels, thereby hampering smooth blood flow, and in the process, reducing oxygen supply to the nerves and injuring them.

Loving Black Couple Holding HandsThe first symptom of nerve injury is sporadic tingling, which in itself is not particularly bothersome. In the early stages, this injury is usually always reversible. However, this symptom is also usually always ignored.

In some men, continued pressure on the arteries lead to more severe nerve damage. The damage can be erectile dysfunction (or impotence), numbness, pain in the pelvic and penile region. Once the damage reaches this point, it is difficult to reverse the nerve damage.

The Journal of Andrology (2002): 91% of bicycle police officers who spent an average of 5 hours per day on a bicycle reported experiencing intermittent numbness in the groin/penile area.  The same men also experienced fewer night-time erections (an additional symptom of nerve damage) compared to non-cyclists. Men who spent more time on the bicycle saddle were those at greater risk.

What is the percentage of men who actually progress to erectile dysfunction as a result of bicycle riding? The results of other experiments were conflicting: The Journal of Urology (2004) conducted an internet survey of 688 cyclists and reported a 17% incidence of erectile dysfunction. This figure, however, is not higher than that of the general population. Other studies  report that 3 hours or more of bicycle riding per week constitutes  risk factor to men, predisposing them to erectile dysfunction.

 

Is there anything that can be done to prevent erectile dysfunction resulting from prolonged time spent on a bicycle saddle? Ergonomic changes can reduce the pressure point beneath the pubic bone, reducing blood vessel compression. These include:

  1. A full professional assessment of the bicycle and its saddle fit, making sure that the pressure points be on the sit bones ischial tuberosities) and NOT on the pubic bone.
  2. Ensuring that the bicycle saddle is parallel to the ground. OR, even better, is to tilt the seat slightly downwards, and never upwards.
  3. Use proper professional padded cycling shorts.
  4. Decrease or limit time spent crouching over the racing bars. The more the position is forward flexed, the more is the compression of the blood vessels
  5. Use a saddle that is wider and with more padding.
  6. Use a blunt, or noseless, saddle. This type of saddle decreases significantly the point of contact pressure on the pruedental arteries. An experiment reported using a noseless saddle diminished perineal tingling from 78% down to 18%

 

Many men will cycle for years and experience no erectile dysfunction. However, the old adage still holds: one ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure. Men who cycle frequently should be aware of prudendall artery compression leading to erectile dysfunction, and take due preventive measures.

They should be aware of the symptoms and NOT ignore them: numbness or tingling in their penis and / or perineum, even if this is not persistent. They should be aware that this is their body’s warning sign of nerve damage, and that in some men could very quickly progress to erectile dysfunction and other more serious issues.

Should tingling persist after a cycling session, it is advisable to pay a visit to your urologist to check. For those men who continue cycling regularly, using ergonomic solutions mentioned above may help to allay erectile dysfunction, and other more serious, and sometimes, irreversible problems.

 

Harry Cox

 

Andropause / Male menopause: is this A Myth or Reality?

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Loving Elderly Couple in Swimming PoolWe all know that all women from their 50s suffer from Menopause, a normal phase in a woman’s life that is littered with hot flushes, irritability, night sweats, reduced libido, dry skin and lots more.

However, none of us (or very few of us) have heard of any such phenomenon in a man. If they suffer from it, we’ve not heard it, or they’ve done well to keep it hidden!

 

Does A Man really suffer from Male Menopause or Andropause?

The answer is “Yes”, an unequivocal “Yes” with a capital Y. have you heard or seen your father, husband, uncle, brother, male friend complaining of depression, reduced libido in their 50s, night sweats, sleep disturbances and more? These are simply signs and symptoms of the male ageing process called Andropause or Viropause

What is Andropause or Viropause?
These are simply a syndrome associated with male ageing, with a lack of, or absence of, testosterone. Therefore, one often uses the acronym ADAM for Andropause, This stands for Androgen Decline in Aging Men. It’s a sad fact, but hormonal levels in men start dropping by the time they are 40 and this progressive decline continues. By age 50, one half of all men are afflicted by a noticeable decrease in testosterone levels. This decrease in this vital male hormone leads to a variety of very uncomfortable ailments.

This is not very common universal knowledge in the west, but men do go through a mid-life change, very like their women counterparts: they experience complex hormonal rhythms which affect their sexuality, mood and temperament.

Often, this pivotal phase also coincides with major life changes that take their expression in the form of career change, divorce, or just a major re-ordering of their lives. In a nutshell, andropause is a dimension of a man’s life that is psychological, interpersonal, social and spiritual.

But, do all men experience Andropause?
Research shows that around one out of 10 men aged 40 to 60 suffers from low testosterone. This number increases with age: among men aged 60 and above, the statistic is one in 5 men. However, some men sail through this transition without too much of a crisis – they simply sail from the first phase of their life into the second, seemingly to not to suffer too much from the Andropause symptoms.

For some men, the male menopause seems just a natural part of life without too much discomfort. However, andropause is often triggered by depression, illness, obesity and dementia – all common occurrences that appear with age as the body ages and one grows older.

Certain illnesses that make the heart and lungs susceptible also seem to affect testosterone production. Men who suffer from auto-immune diseases or who have cancer appear to have a higher susceptibility to low levels of testosterone.

This said, acute andropause is relatively uncommon when compared to acute menopause in women. This is due to the fact that testicular decline in men is a gradual process in most men.

What are the causes of the symptoms of Andropause?

With age, a man’s body becomes less efficient and his production of hormones declines below normal levels compared to those of a young or younger man. Such hormones include testosterone, the human growth hormone (HGH), and dihydroepiandosterone (DHEA). To complicate matters, estrogen production actually increases in men experiencing andropause.

Signs and Symptoms of Andropause
Apart from testosterone decline, Andropause often manitests the following symptoms:

The Physical Dimension

  •  Reduced endurance during physical activities
  • Weight gain
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Loss of, or thinning of, hair
  • Bone deterioration


The Psychological Dimension

  • Mood Swing
  • Loss of, or reduced ability for, concentration
  • Irritability
  • Depression
  • Fear and Anxiety
  • Indecisiveness
  • Forgetfulness
  • Feelings of loneliness, unattractiveness and being unloved

The Sexual Dimension

  • Decreased erectile function
  • Loss of libido or sex drive
  • A decrease in the strength and duration of an orgasm
  • Decreased interest in sex
  • An increase in fear and anxiety about the loss of sexual potency
  • An increase in fantasies about sex with a new or younger partner
  • An increase in problems and fights in relationships, sex, love and intimacy

How to know if you are suffering from Andropause?
You should visit your doctor and undergo tests for the following: a complete blood count and chemistry profile, free and total testosterone, estradiol (estrogen), progesterone, DHEA, luteinizing hormone and homocysteine. For interpretation purposes, the free testosterone in the serum or blood should be in the mid to high normal range (10.8 nmol/L to 24.6 nmol/L) and the estradiol (estrogen) in the low to normal range (below 32 pg/ml)

How would you cope with the changes brought about with Andropause?
Life continues whether one likes it or not, so the best and easiest way is to cope with Andropause and enjoy life as it comes. At the end of the day, andropause is a phase in a natural life, a transition to another phase. You would best take care of your physical and your psychological needs. Exercise, good nutrition, relaxation, continue your normal activities and just relax. Your philosophy should be: Enjoy Ageing!

Discuss this transitional phase with your doctor, your friends, although research indicates that men are very unlikely to visit their doctor for this. It is often in a man’s psychology to be macho – if they have a problem, they often don’t want to take about it. This is probably because of the male psyche: it does not easily accept a dependent or weak role.

Is there any treatment for the male andropause?

Few men talk about andropause, let alone seek treatment for it. Many men feel out of their comfort zone talking about their symptoms. In the not so long ago past, doctors did not take men’s andropause seriously.

Possible treatments to help men through this transitional period include:
Testosterone replacement Therapy (TRT).  Much like estrogen replacement for women, testosterone replacement aims to raise hormonal levels back to a reasonable and healthy level. An increase in their testosterone levels normally decreases many of the andropause symptoms.Unfortunately, testosterone replacement does not do much to combat erectile dysfunction problems in the menopausal man.

There are also herbs that help to influence and regulate the hormonal cycle and when taken, do help in controlling the male menopausal symptoms.

© Harry Cox
HePowR Tablets for the Smart Man over 40
http://HePowr.com

Pfizer’s Patent on Viagra is being invalidated by the Supreme Court of Canada

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Blue Pills
Canada’s Supreme Court is invalidating Pfizer’s patent on Viagra, the world-famous
little blue pill for Erectile Dysfunction.  Reason: Canadian intellectual property law requires the open disclosure of the active ingredients of the drug, and Pfizer has failed to do that.

The Canadian Pfizer patent for Viagra normally expires in 2014. This decision underscores the major difference of the Canadian and United States courts in the interpretation of patent laws.

Both Canada and the United States have in place a ‘patent bargain’ that requires pharmaceutical companies to disclose the active ingredients/chemical compounds of a drug in enough detail. This requirement is for the benefit of scientists to enable them to use the information to replicate the formulae, learn from these creations, with the ultimate aim of benefiting society.

Loving Gay CoupleThe gift for this exchange is the exclusive rights, in this case, Pfizer, to market the product for a determined period of time.

The Canadian High Court ruled that “…sufficiency of disclosure lies at the very heart of the patent system…” and that “…adequate disclosure in the specification is a precondition for the granting of a patent.”

According to the Canadian Court, Pfizer based in New York, did not live up to that bargain. A lawsuit brought by Israeli-based Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries, led to this ruling. According the justices of the Canadian Supreme Court, Pfizer failed to disclose the active ingredient in the formula, Sildenafil. The other listed ingredients in the patent were ineffective in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

The Canadian Court’s decision is vastly different from the US Courts that do not invalidate patents for the same reason.

In another lawsuit brought about by Teva to invalidate the patent held by Pfizer for Viagra, due to expire in 2019, a US Federal Judge in Virginia upheld the patent. Teva argued that the remedial discovery for erectile dysfunction was not patent-worthy. In addition, Pfizer had with-held that information from the US patent office.

In another case in the same year, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled in a precedent-setting decision that patents may only be declared unenforceable if the undisclosed information affected the patent’s office to grant a patent.

 

Harry Cox