Impact of Physical Activities on Male Sexual Function
January 14, 2022
“The greatest hazard of exercise is not doing it. Far more people are harmed by the lack of exercise than by its excess.”
Dr. Harvey Simon – Editor, Harvard Health
Hundreds of studies conducted over more than half a century demonstrate that regular exercise reduces your risk of developing chronic or deadly outcomes, including heart disease, stroke, and certain types of cancer. Nonetheless, over the past twenty years, there has been a growing interest in the prevention, diagnosis, and therapy of male genital pathologies, such as infertility and erectile dysfunction, as they relate to various sport activities. Most injuries to the penis and scrotum in sports result from direct blows, which is why male athletes should always wear athletic supporters and protective cups for certain sports.
Assessing the Evidence
Since the penis and scrotum are not naturally protected by bones, issues with male sexual performance can occur with recreational activities like mountain biking, soccer, or baseball. Some of the more common causes sexual problems are discussed below:
- Bicycling – Due to the prolonged compression of perineal arteries leading to reduced chronic penile perfusion, bicycling is one of the major risk factors for erectile dysfunction with an incidence of 13 to 24 percent as determined by a study published by National Institute of Health.
- Swimming & Running – Triathletes participate in the three high-intensity sports modalities (including road cycyling), and when compared to recreationally active men, had significantly lower levels of estradiol and testosterone production.
- Concussions – According to research conducted by Harvard Medical School, professional football players who experienced concussions were more likely to suffer from low testosterone levels and erectile dysfunction than the general population.
- Inguinal Hernia – It is much more likely for men to experience problems with their sexual health if they do not properly treat an inguinal hernia (bulge in groin region), which can make both an erection and an orgasm quite painful.
- Intense Workouts – Health benefits of exercise depend on the total amount of exercise rather than its intensity, so aim for a moderate pace. If you are breathing too hard to carry on a conversation, then it is your sign to back off a little.
Playing sports and living an active life are great ways to stay fit and relieve mental, emotional, and physical stress. Nonetheless, it's important to protect your scrotum with protective gear and you should be able to play hard without fear of testicular injury. For cyclists, it is crucial to avoid ill-designed seats as well as manage time in the saddle. Physical activities improve health and the quality of life, but excessive or exhaustive exercise can have negative side effects,
Exercise is Important but Keep it Safe!
Erections mainly involve the blood vessels and the flow of blood to the penis. In older men, the most common causes of erectile issues occurs when blood flow to the penis is physically blocked or limited due to nerve damage. Two of the most common causes are hardening of the arteries and diabetes. Another cause may be a faulty vein that lets blood drain too quickly from the penis. In a recent study, sports and fitness activities in older men were independent variables associated with erectile dysfunction, where in younger men, higher amounts of physical activity the risk of ED was reduced.
There is no specific exercise program for men looking to reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction. Nonetheless, a well-rounded exercise program that includes half an hour of physical activity (like walking) on all or most days of the week can deliver solid health benefits. Sports, such as soccer, mountain biking, or lacrosse, are mixed modalities where training is a blend of endurance and strength. But no matter what activity you choose, always avoid sporadic bouts of high-intensity as well as activities where there is repetitive shock or above-average pressure placed on the unprotected scrotum.
Playing sports and living an active life are great ways to stay fit and manage stress. But it's important to protect your penis and testicles. If you are having problems with ED, let Dr. Earl Eye help you identify what’s causing your problem and suggest a solution to help restore your sex life safely and effectively.
