The debate over what causes fertility problems or infertility still rages. Until recently the biggest thing that cycling was implicated in was impotence. Now some people are calling in to question whether cycling affects your ability to produce a pregnancy.
As with anything, the problems that may be associated with cycling are mostly related to distance and length of time spent cycling.In men who spend a great deal of time on the bike or in cycling shorts there is the potential risk of causing the overheating of the testicles. This can diminish sperm production.
The testicles in a man's body are located in the scrotum. The purpose of having the testicles in the scrotum and not in the body are temperature related. For proper sperm production the testicles tend to prefer a cooler environment. The scrotum can expand and contract providing temperature regulation for the testicles.
When a man wears tight clothing, in this case bike shorts, there is the potential for increasing the temperature of the testicles and removing the body's natural mechanism for cooling them as the scrotum can't easily expand away from the body. Add to this the constant rubbing and pressure on the area from your bike saddle and you could potentially have a problem.
Generally speaking, regular cycling is not going to cause a problem in men who have normal, adequate sperm counts with active, motile sperm. The two exceptions are to the man who rides hundreds of miles a week or at a time or the man who has problems already with his test results.
The good news is that the potential effects of cycling on sperm production are minimal and reversible. It may be time to cut back on the cycling for awhile, during your period of actively trying to obtain a pregnancy.
You've heard the old wives tale about men trying to have a baby switching to boxers shorts - well, the old women had it right! It generally takes about three months to see any effect on sperm counts.
With luck, the few of you this effects, you'll be back on your bike in no time! And enjoy your new form of exercise!
