Cycler's Impotence: The Seat Of The Solution

INTRODUCTION
Bike riding is great exercise, providing a work-out for both heart and muscles. Yet a growing body of research finds many male bicyclists are paying too high a price. Now as Dr. Dean Edell reports, one doctor may have found an answer to their problems.

DEAN EDELL, M.D.
“Whether you use one for recreation or transportation, most people don’t think of a bicycle as a potential health hazard. And no, we’re not talking about traffic accidents, but problems than can affect men in their most vulnerable areas.

“Studies show men who ride five or more hours a week may suffer chronic pelvic pain and numbness – or worse. According to one Boston researcher, bicycle riding has now been linked to more than 100,000 cases of permanent impotence.”

ROGER MINKOW, M.D./RESEARCHER
“The thought is that arteries and nerves around the pelvis are being compressed by narrow dome-shaped bicycle seats.”

DEAN EDELL, M.D.
“You know the old joke: ‘Doc, it hurts when I do this.’ ‘So, don’t do that.’ Well, bike riders are an impassioned lot and not about to give up riding. So doctors have approached the problem from a different direction – they have re-designed the seat.”

ROGER MINKOW, M.D./RESEARCHER
“In a normal seat there’s a dome.”

DEAN EDELL, M.D.
“Dr. Roger Minkow thinks he’s solved the problem by eliminating pressure on crucial pelvic nerves. He’s designed a concave seat cut with a special v-shaped groove which ends in two wedge-shaped pieces.”

ROGER MINKOW, M.D./RESEARCHER
“The center section is removed so that as the rider sits on his bones here, and there’s no pressure in the middle.”

DEAN EDELL, M.D.
“Next the reality test – having cyclists ride try this invention. 25 cyclists tried the seat; Stanford urologist Robert Kessler headed the study.”

ROBERT KESSLER. M.D./STANFORD UROLOGIST
“Of the 25 patients, 14 had complete relief of their symptoms. And the thing that was unusual is that in that group of 14, four of those patients had erectile dysfunction which was at least greater than one year. And those patients had complete relief of their erectile dysfunction.”

DEAN EDELL, M.D.
“Anatomically, he says the seat design seems to work. Of course, only time will tell if the “wedge” is the best way to provide relief.”

END NOTE
By the way, many women also suffer from numbness and pain from their bike seats and this new seat seems to provide many with comparable relief. The seat is called the “Body Geometry Seat” by Specialized Bikes, and the Web address for those wanting more information is

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