MTB + Man = Scrotal Damage? Read On!

[Big Game]

Here's a little something I found while tooling around fark.com:


Austrian Study Finds Mountain Biking Harms Scrotum
Mon Dec 2,10:00 AM ET Add Science - Reuters to My Yahoo!



CHICAGO (Reuters) - Men who log 3,000 miles or more a year on their mountain bikes suffer scrotal damage that could reduce their fertility, according to a study released on Monday.



The report, based on examinations of 40 "extreme" bikers and 35 non-cyclists, suggests that men who spend the most time on their bikes should invest in shock absorbers and suspension systems that could double the cost of a standard mountain bike, the study said.


Scrotal examinations of the bikers found that 88 percent had cysts, calcification, varicose veins and other abnormalities compared to 26 percent of the non-biking group.


Sperm samples showed that the extreme bikers had a count that was only a third that of the non-cyclists while bikers' sperm had less motility or movement than non-bikers.


"We believe that extreme mountain biking results in semen alteration, which may have an impact on fertility," said lead author Ferdinand Frauscher of University Hospital in Innsbruck, Austria.


"We believe that repeated mechanical trauma to the testicles results in some degree of vascular damage and may thereby cause a reduction in sperm motility," he said.


His report was released at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America."

[EVIL BOTA]

Ah B.G. I hate to burst ur bubble ,But this is old news. That is why they came out with the new style seats for men. Most seat have a nice grove in them so you don't pinch off the blood to ur pouch and have a nice soft gel in them to give ur jewels a rest. So unless ur a pro racer and you have to have the lite seat.You need not SACrifice ur nads..

[hogboy]

hmm, damage

that is pretty subjective
--
what I know about myself is the more I ride,
the better I err, perform overall. love long time

hehehe so survey this or survey that, it depends on how you ride and who you are I guess....
as far as sperm count goes that has to do with heat in the crotch area due to wearing bike shorts and riding hard, NOT pressure on the 'taint

for count to be at it's highest you need to keep the grapes cooler than the rest of the body, (which explains the position that genetics places the said grapes) bike riders in shorts and working out cook the little guys and that would happen if you take hot baths all day too

whatever. biking has only made me and my GF happier in the happy spots.

[MMcG]

This is a different study and doesn't really apply to the love channel solution to saving our nad sacks.

Here's another version of the story from the AP:

By LINDSEY TANNER, AP Medical Writer

CHICAGO (AP) - Frequent mountain-biking may reduce fertility in men, according to a small Austrian study that adds fodder to a debate over cycling and male sexual function.



The research suggests frequent jolts and vibration caused by biking over rough terrain may cause abnormalities, including small scars within the scrotum and impaired sperm production.


The abnormalities were found in professional mountain bikers and other "extreme" bikers who logged at least 3,000 miles yearly — or an average of more than two hours a day, six days a week.


Dr. Ferdinand Frauscher, a urology-radiology specialist at University Hospital in Innsbruck, Austria, said he studied about 55 avid mountain bikers and found nearly 90 percent had low sperm counts and scrotal abnormalities.


Only 26 percent of the 35 non-bikers he studied had similar damage, according to research presented at this week's annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.


Whether the abnormalities were severe enough to make fathering a child difficult is uncertain, though some of the bikers studied had already experienced difficulty conceiving, Frauscher said.


Participants were aged 17 to 44.


His study looked at fertility rather than impotence, which was linked to recreational cycling in research heavily publicized in 1997. The earlier findings, by Boston University impotence specialist Dr. Irwin Goldstein, were construed by many cycling aficionados to suggest that men should avoid any cycling sports.


Some doctors thought Goldstein's findings were overstated, but the issue has prompted a mini-industry of bicycle seats designed to avoid the compression of penile arteries that Goldstein said occurs during cycling.


Such problems may occur on narrow, racing-type seats, Frauscher said. Some newer, wider designs feature holes or gaps to avoid pressure, but these likely would have no effect on the scrotal damage found in the Austrian study, which may be caused by jolting over rough terrain rather than artery compression, Frauscher said.


Frauscher said men shouldn't avoid mountain biking because of the study, but should perhaps consider investing in bikes with shock absorbers or suspension systems designed to reduce the jolting.

Stanford University urologist Dr. Robert Kessler said he was skeptical of Frauscher's findings. Scrotal varicose veins, which were among the abnormalities Frauscher linked to mountain biking, are usually congenital and not linked to trauma, Kessler said.

"It doesn't make sense," Kessler said.

Dr. Eduardo Randrup, a urologist at Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans, said the link is plausible but not necessarily cause for alarm. The damage Frauscher found "may well be reversible" and likely would not occur from recreational cycling, Randrup said.

Dr. Sangili Chandran, a sports medicine specialist at Christ Hospital and Medical Center in the Chicago suburb of Oak Lawn, said other studies have found similar results but, like Frauscher's, have been too small to be conclusive.

"The theory is there, the proof I'm still looking for," Chandran said.

[Big Game]

I hate to break the news to you, Evil One, but your news is old news. My news is "new." This is a totally different story. So you might want to get your facts straight before you shoot your big mouth off. (Sorry to have to chastise you Evil One, but because so many look up to you, I do not have the luxury of couching my critism in euphemisms; I must be to the point)


Anyway, I think its obvious why male mountain bikers have such a high incidence of scrotum damage.

We have the most to protect, as we're the men with the largest b*lls.

That was pretty cheesy (and probably too vile for these posts), but I liked it anyway.

[EVIL BOTA]

How about we just say that its the same story told differently. Yes heat is a factoralso,But One such study showed that the blood supply to ur package gets cut off (not Lorraina Bobbit style)during long rides on not so soft seats. Hence the groved seats that you can now purchase. B.G. is is ok for you to get flip with the mouth I am used to it..lmao

[Mt.A TODD]

While we are on the topic of scrotal damage. I know this old dude who had a little accident on his bike. He was riding a steep descent and got behind his seat. He was wearing loose sweatpants and no underwear. The sweatpants somehow got snagged on the tire and were sucked into frame and rear brake! Needless to say, his "package" also got sucked in! Not quite sure what the total damage was, but I know it wasn't pretty and involved a trip to the emergency room. He also did not ride a bike for a couple of years after the accident. OUCH! :'(

[CouchingTiger]

hmm, damage

that is pretty subjective
--
what I know about myself is the more I ride,
the better I err, perform overall. love long time

hehehe so survey this or survey that, it depends on how you ride and who you are I guess....
as far as sperm count goes that has to do with heat in the crotch area due to wearing bike shorts and riding hard, NOT pressure on the 'taint

for count to be at it's highest you need to keep the grapes cooler than the rest of the body, (which explains the position that genetics places the said grapes) bike riders in shorts and working out cook the little guys and that would happen if you take hot baths all day too

whatever. biking has only made me and my GF happier in the happy spots.


Dude, you don't have a girlfriend!

Remember, aggressive mountain biking can also lead to wrist and forearm stress so that may just explain the longer "love sessions" ;) Hahahaha!

-Couch

[SloMoJo]

Ah Marlarky!

The only real damage to your ball bearing set would be a collision with your headset N' stem!

There's the true nutcracker! ;)

[AGENTGRAPE]

;)did anyone see monday nites news on fox they did the same old story. by the way the video footage was of a 50+ guy on an ancient rigid. when will the rest of the world catch up? :)

[MTBSteve]

Lol agent grape