If you love motorcycles, a study out of Japan could be bad news for your sex life. The study linked a risk of impotence or erectile dysfunction with motorcycle riding, and included 150 men who ride their motorcycles just three hours each week.
Previous research has confirmed a link between impotence and bicycling primarily because of too much pressure on the perineum, the area between the scrotum and the anus, caused by the design of many bike seats. This compression is thought to cause neuropathy in the penis, which contributes to an inability to get an erection.
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According to an article in the International Journal of Impotence Research, the new study sought to determine if there was a link between erectile dysfunction and riding a motorcycle, acknowledging the difference in seat design compared to a bicycle and the presence of vibrations from the engine.
The study used a questionnaire called the International Index of Erectile Function that was administered to members of a hobby motorcycle club in Japan. For those members who rode three hours each week, 46 percent reported having problems
getting an erection and emptying their bladders, Health Central reported.
One limitation of the study is that it does not mention or seem to account for differences in the types of motorcycle or the power of the engines used.
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These findings might be a concern for men around the world who are turning to motorcycles and scooters as an alternative means of transportation due to increased gas prices, increasing traffic congestion, and parking difficulties,
says The Sydney Morning Herald. The paper also noted that impotence can affect most men at some points in life and also could be due to emotional stress and health issues like high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease.
The study also found that the subjects who reported erectile dysfunction classified the severity as only mild or mild to moderate.
While this research does indicate motorcycles as one potential risk factor, more studies are needed regarding this link.
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