Mohannad A Awad1, Thomas W Gaither2, Gregory P Murphy2, Thanabhudee Chumnarnsongkhroh2, Ian Metzler2, Thomas Sanford2, Siobhan Sutcliffe3, Michael L Eisenberg4, Peter R Carroll2, E Charles Osterberg5, Benjamin N Breyer6. 1. Department of Urology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Department of Surgery, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh, Saudi Arabia. 2. Department of Urology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California. 3. Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri. 4. Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California. 5. Department of Surgery, Dell Medical School, University of Texas, Austin, Texas. 6. Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California. Electronic address: bbreyer@urology.ucsf.edu.
Abstract
PURPOSE: We explored the relation of cycling to urinary and sexual function in a large multinational sample of men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cyclists were recruited to complete a survey through Facebook® advertisements and outreach to sporting clubs. Swimmers and runners were recruited as a comparison group. Cyclists were categorized into low and high intensity cyclists. Participants were queried using validated questionnaires, including SHIM (Sexual Health Inventory for Men), I-PSS (International Prostate Symptom Score) and NIH-CPSI (National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index), in addition to questions about urinary tract infections, urethral stricture, genital numbness and saddle sores. RESULTS: Of 5,488 complete survey responses 3,932 (72%) were included in our analysis. On multivariate analysis swimmers/runners had a lower mean SHIM score than low and high intensity cyclists (19.5 vs 19.9 and 20.7, p = 0.02 and <0.001, respectively). No significant differences were found in I-PSS or NIH-CPSI scores, or urinary tract infection history. Cyclists had statistically higher odds of urethral stricture compared to swimmers/runners (OR 2.5, p = 0.042). Standing more than 20% of the time while cycling significantly reduced the odds of genital numbness (OR 0.4, p = 0.006). Adjusting the handlebar higher or even with the saddle had lower odds of genital numbness and saddle sores (OR 0.8, p = 0.005 and 0.6, p <0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Cyclists had no worse sexual or urinary functions than swimmers or runners but cyclists were more prone to urethral stricture. Increased time standing while cycling and a higher handlebar height were associated with lower odds of genital sores and numbness.
PURPOSE: We explored the relation of cycling to urinary and sexual function in a large multinational sample of men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cyclists were recruited to complete a survey through Facebook® advertisements and outreach to sporting clubs. Swimmers and runners were recruited as a comparison group. Cyclists were categorized into low and high intensity cyclists. Participants were queried using validated questionnaires, including SHIM (Sexual Health Inventory for Men), I-PSS (International Prostate Symptom Score) and NIH-CPSI (National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index), in addition to questions about urinary tract infections, urethral stricture, genital numbness and saddle sores. RESULTS: Of 5,488 complete survey responses 3,932 (72%) were included in our analysis. On multivariate analysis swimmers/runners had a lower mean SHIM score than low and high intensity cyclists (19.5 vs 19.9 and 20.7, p = 0.02 and <0.001, respectively). No significant differences were found in I-PSS or NIH-CPSI scores, or urinary tract infection history. Cyclists had statistically higher odds of urethral stricture compared to swimmers/runners (OR 2.5, p = 0.042). Standing more than 20% of the time while cycling significantly reduced the odds of genital numbness (OR 0.4, p = 0.006). Adjusting the handlebar higher or even with the saddle had lower odds of genital numbness and saddle sores (OR 0.8, p = 0.005 and 0.6, p <0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Cyclists had no worse sexual or urinary functions than swimmers or runners but cyclists were more prone to urethral stricture. Increased time standing while cycling and a higher handlebar height were associated with lower odds of genital sores and numbness.
Authors: Guadalupe Molina-Torres; Mirari Ochandorena-Acha; Yune Echazarreta-Aparicio; Nuria Sánchez-Labraca; Manuel González-Sánchez; Marc Terradas-Monllor; Luz A Varela-Vásquez; Jose Antonio Merchán-Baeza; Eduard Minobes-Molina Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-02-17 Impact factor: 3.390