It completely freaked me out,” says Sam Ford. “I’m young, I’m fit and healthy, I shouldn’t be getting erectile dysfunction (ED). Aches and pains are associated with sport and especially cycling, but getting two bouts of ED was like, ‘what the f**k is going on here’ – I panicked.”
Ford (not his real name) has agreed to tell his story to help raise awareness of a problem that, though common, is rarely discussed. A competitive regional racer in his mid-20s, he started suffering dull testicular ache, urinary incontinence and the need to pee more frequently after increasing his training volume to between 20 and 25 hours a week during the first lockdown. On two occasions, he experienced problems getting an erection. “It was a low point because going to the doctor at my age about ED was not something I thought I’d have to do.”
Ford’s experience of cycling-related genital worries is far from unique. Male and female riders can be affected by these often embarrassing and definitely unwanted issues. Chloe Whatmore (not her real name) suffered a flare up of genital herpes after cycling. “It was unpleasant, of course,” says Whatmore, who is in her early-40s. “It was absolutely not something I wanted to be managing. It affected my cycling and it’s not a nice condition to have to deal with.” The herpes simplex virus, also responsible for cold sores, is incredibly common – 70% of people catch it sooner or later, according to the Herpes Viruses Association.
Discussing genital issues may make us feel awkward, even queasy – but it’s vital that we do. The advancement in understanding and openness has helped reduce the prevalence of saddle sores, but other common issues affecting the penis, vagina and anus remain shrouded in secrecy and excessive politeness. We all have these body parts and we’re all susceptible to the same problems – so it’s time to break the taboo.
Underreported cycling-related genital issues
(Image credit: Future)
Most of the people I spoke to for this article insisted on anonymity, including a coach who told me: “I hear from riders about problems down there, especially genital numbness, all the time, but we never discuss it further. It’s a massively underreported issue. Some say it’s because they’re riding a TT bike so it’s par for course. No, it doesn’t need to be there.”
Bianca Broadbent, a specialist sports physiotherapist who also works as a bike-fitter, says: “You’ll give the…