Does cycling really damage men's sexual organs? | Jessica Brown

New research refutes the theory that pressure from saddles can cause erectile dysfunction, and says cycling could actually improve performance in older men

Few doubt that cycling helps you get healthy. One study last year found cyclists are less likely to develop heart disease or cancer, and a 2011 review showed it improves fitness and leads to longer lives. But there's an area of men's health that has been the subject of a persistent question: does time spent in the saddle lead to problems in the sack?

In recent years, scientists have linked cycling with several male health problems, including erectile dysfunction, which they speculate is caused by the saddle decreasing blood flow to the penis. In one study, Norwegian researchers gathered data from 160 men after they took part in a long-distance bike tour. They found that one in five suffered with numbness to the penis that lasted up to a week after the tour, and 13% developed erectile dysfunction that lasted more than a week in most cases.