There is no association between cyclists’ self-reported time in the saddle and erectile dysfunction (ED) and infertility, according to a study of 5,282 male cycling enthusiasts that authors say is the largest study of its kind.
The study, which was published in the Journal of Men’s Health, refutes the previous suggestions of a simple causal relationship between the amount of time men cycle and those health conditions. It did, however, find a graded increase in the risk of prostate cancer in men aged over 50 years who cycle more than 8.5 hours per week compared with those who cycled less than 3.75 hour per week. It said the positive association between prostate cancer and increasing cycling time in that population warranted further investigation.
”The findings suggest a graded association between cycling and risk of prostate cancer, but whether this is a definitive association related to causation or diagnosis remains to be seen,” reads an abstract of the study.
The detailed cross-sectional study of habitual cyclists was directed by researchers at the Medical School and the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London. The researchers said the association between cycling, ED, infertility and prostate cancer were of particular interested given the well documented heath benefits of cycling.
Researchers solicited cyclists to take an online survey by advertising in British cycling magazines and with cycling user groups. Participants were asked to report whether they had suffered from ED in the last 5 years and then asked if they had been diagnosed with infertility or prostate cancer by a physician. Diagnoses reported before the onset of regular cycling (i.e., once per week or more) were excluded from analysis.
