http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/bike/


Womens sexual health

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1743-
6109.2006.00317.x

Genital Sensation and Sexual Function in Women Bicyclists and
Runners: Are Your Feet Safer than Your Seat?
Marsha K. Guess, MD,**Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore
Medical Center, Bronx, NY, Marsha K. Guess, MD, Departments of
Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive, Yale University School of
Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, Room 308, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. Tel:
(203) 785-3469; Fax: (203) 430 8586; E-mail: marsha.guess@...
Kathleen Connell, MD,Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology and
Women's Health and Urology, Albert Einstein College of
Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, and Steven Schrader,
PhD,National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health—
Reproductive Health Assessment, Cincinnati, OH, USA Susan Reutman,
PhD,National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health—
Reproductive Health Assessment, Cincinnati, OH, USA Andrea Wang,
MD,Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women's Health and
Urology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical
Center, Bronx, NY, and Julie LaCombe, MD,Departments of Obstetrics &
Gynecology and Women's Health and Urology, Albert Einstein College
of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, and Christine
Toennis, PhD,National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health—
Reproductive Health Assessment, Cincinnati, OH, USA Brian Lowe,
PhD,National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health—
Reproductive Health Assessment, Cincinnati, OH, USA Arnold Melman,
MD,Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women's Health and
Urology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical
Center, Bronx, NY, and and Magdy Mikhail, MDDepartments of
Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women's Health and Urology, Albert
Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY,
and *Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center,
Bronx, NY, Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women's Health
and Urology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical
Center, Bronx, NY, and National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health—Reproductive Health Assessment, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Marsha K. Guess, MD, Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology and
Reproductive, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street,
Room 308, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. Tel: (203) 785-3469; Fax: (203)
430 8586; E-mail: marsha.guess@...
ABSTRACT

Introduction. Bicycling is associated with neurological impairment
and impotence in men. Similar deficits have not been confirmed in
women.

Aim. To evaluate the effects of bicycling on genital sensation and
sexual function in women.

Methods. Healthy, premenopausal, competitive women bicyclists and
runners (controls) were compared.

Main Outcome Measures. (1) Genital vibratory thresholds (VTs) were
determined using the Medoc Vibratory Sensation Analyzer 3000. (2)
Sexual function and sexually related distress were assessed by the
Dennerstein Personal Experience Questionnaire (SPEQ) and the Female
Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS).

Results. Forty-eight bicyclists and 22 controls were enrolled. The
median age was 33 years. The bicyclists were older, had higher body
mass indices (BMIs), were more diverse in their sexual orientation,
and were more likely to have a current partner. Bicyclists rode an
average of 28.3 ± 19.7 miles/day (range 4–100), 3.8 ± 1.5 days/week,
for an average of 2.1 ± 1.8 hours/ride. The mean number of years
riding was 7.9 ± 7.1 years (range 0.5–30). Controls ran an average
of 4.65 ± 2.1 miles/day (range 1.5–8) and 5.0 ± 1.2 days/week. On
bivariate analysis, bicyclists had significantly higher VTs than
runners, indicating worse neurological function at all sites (P <
0.05). Multivariate analysis found significant correlations between
higher VTs and bicycling at the left and right perineum, posterior
vagina, left and right labia. Increasing VTs at the clitoris,
anterior vagina, and urethra were associated with age. In
bicyclists, there were no correlations between VTs and miles biked
per week, duration of riding, or BMI. Composite SPEQ scores
indicated normal sexual function in all sexually active subjects.
Neither group suffered from sexually related distress.

Conclusion. There is an association between bicycling and decreased
genital sensation in competitive women bicyclists. Negative effects
on sexual function and quality of life were not apparent in our
young, healthy premenopausal cohort. Guess MK, Connell K, Schrader
S, Reutman S, Wang A, LaCombe J, Toennis C, Lowe B, Melman A, and
Mikhail MK. Genital sensation and sexual function in women
bicyclists and runners: Are your feet safer than your seat? J Sex
Med 2006;3:1018–1027.