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NIOSH Safety and Health Topic:Bicycle Saddles and Reproductive Health |
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Under Pressure Now on the NIOSH Science Blog: Using No-nose Bicycle Saddles to Prevent Genital Numbness and Sexual Dysfunction.Over the last several years, NIOSH researchers have investigated the potential health effects of prolonged bicycling in police bicycle patrol units, including the possibility that some bicycle saddles exert excessive pressure on the urogenital area of cyclists, restricting blood flow to the genitals, resulting in adverse effects on sexual function. NIOSH worked with several police departments with bicycle patrols to conduct reproductive health research. In these studies NIOSH did more than assess a problem; it also tested a solution. Several bicycle saddle manufacturers have developed saddles without protruding noses. NIOSH has investigated whether these saddles, which remove the pressure from the urogenital area, will alleviate any potential health problems. NIOSHTIC-2 Search
NIOSHTIC-2 search results on bicycle saddles NIOSH Published Research on Reproductive Health Issues Related to Bicycle Saddle PressureCutting off the nose to save the penis
Genital sensation and sexual function in women bicyclists and runners: Are your feet safer than your seat? Effects of Bicycle Saddle Designs on the Pressure to the Perineum of the Bicyclist
Nocturnal Penile Tumescence and Rigidity Testing in Bicycling
Patrol Officers Health Hazard EvaluationsNIOSH conducts Health Hazard Evaluations (HHEs) to find out whether there are health hazards to employees caused by exposures or conditions in the workplace. An HHE repors related to bicycle patrol has been listed below. For a comprehensive listing of HHE reports, search the HHE Database.
Saddle Pressure Video Demonstration
Download transcript Related NIOSH ResourcesReproductive Health Page last updated: March 23, 2009
Page last reviewed: November 24, 2008 Content Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
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