Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Do motorcyclists have erectile dysfunction? A preliminary study

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 18, pages 396–399 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between motorcycling and erectile dysfunction (ED). We investigated the relationship between motorcycling and erectile function using the 5-items version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF5) in 234 motorcyclists (response rate 75%) and 752 healthy controls (response rate 66%). In all, 161 (69%) of 234 motorcyclists were diagnosed as ED based on IIEF5. The prevalence of ED in the motorcycle group increased by age as: 58, 63, 76 and 93%, for motorcyclists in 20–29, 30–39, 40–49 and 50–59 years, respectively. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of ED between the motorcycle group and the control group in all age groups. On stepwise logistic regression analysis, motorcycling was the strongest risk factor for ED. Although the severity of ED in motorcyclists was not so severe, motorcycling may be one of risk factors for ED.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Solomon S, Cappa KG . Impotence and bicycling. A seldom-reported connection. Postgrad Med 1987; 81: 99–100.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Bond RE . Distance bicycling may cause ischemic neuropathy of the penis. Phys Sports Med 1975; 3: 54–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Anderson KV, Bovim G . Impotence and nerve entrapment in long distance amateur cyclists. Acta Neurol Scand 1997; 95: 233–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Dettori JR, Koepsell TD, Cummings P, Corman JM . Erectile dysfunction after a long distance cycling event: associations with bicycle characteristics. J Urol 2004; 172: 637–641.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Sommer F, Konig D, Graft C, Schwarzer U, Bertram C, Klotz T et al. Impotence and genital numbness in cyclists. Int J Sports Med 2001; 22: 410–413.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Naya Y, Mizutani Y, Ochiai A, Soh J, Kawauchi A, Fujito A et al. The effect of chronic diseases on erectile function of middle-aged males in Japan. Urology 2003; 62: 532–536.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Rosen RC, Cappelleri JC, Smith MD, Lipsky J, Pena BM . Development and evaluation of an abridged 5 item version of the international index of erectile function (IIEF5) as a diagnostic tool for erectile function. Int J Impot Res 1999; 11: 319–326.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Schwarzer U, Wiegand W, Bin-Saleh A, Lotzerich H, Kahrmann G, Klotz T et al. Genital numbness and impotence rate in long distance cyclists. J Urol 1999; 161(Suppl): 178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Nerdozza Jr A, Claro JA, Oliveila FV, Aboim E, Lopes JA, Miguel S . Does exercise-related perineal compression induced erectile dysfunciton. J Urol 2000; 163(Suppl): 239.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Kerstein MD, Gould SA, French-Sherry E, Pirman C . Perineal trauma and vesiculogenic impotence. J Urol 1982; 82: 57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Nayal W, Schwarzer U, Klotz T, Heidenreich A, Engelmann U . Transcutaneous penile oxygen pressure during bicycling. BJU Int 1999; 83: 623–625.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Shawarzer U, Sommer F, Klotz T, Cremer C, Engelmann U . Cycling and penile oxygen pressure: the type of saddle matters. Eur Urol 2002; 41: 139–143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Mirbod SM, Yoshida H, Jamali M, Masamura K, Inaba R, Iwata H . Assessment of hand–arm vibration exposure among traffic police motorcyclists. Int Arch Occul Environ Health 1997; 70: 22–28.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Yan JG, Matloub HS, Sanger JR, Zhang LL, Riley DA . Vibration-induced disruption of retrogenic axoplasmic transport in peripheral nerve. Muscle Nerve 2005; 32: 521–526.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. White CR, Haidekker MA, Stevens HY, Frangos JA . Extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation and endothelin-1 production in human endothelial cells exposed to vibration. J Physiol 2004; 555: 565–572.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Hamed EA, Meki AR, Gaafar AA, Hamed SA . Role of some vasoactive mediators in patients with erectile dysfunction: their relationship with angiotensin-converting enzyme and growth hormone. Int J Impot Res 2003; 15: 418–425.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan

    A Ochiai, J Soh, Y Ishida, S Ushijima, Y Mizutani, A Kawauchi & T Miki

  2. Department of Urology, Matsushita Memorial Hospital, Moriguchi, Osaka, Japan

    Y Naya

Authors
  1. A Ochiai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Y Naya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J Soh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Y Ishida
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. S Ushijima
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Y Mizutani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. A Kawauchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. T Miki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Y Naya.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ochiai, A., Naya, Y., Soh, J. et al. Do motorcyclists have erectile dysfunction? A preliminary study. Int J Impot Res 18, 396–399 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901445

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901445

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links