Cyclists get scrotal trauma warning

Male mountain-bikers, who spend hours cycling over rough terrain are suffering a painful problem that could leave them at higher risk of testicular cancer, researchers have found.

Male mountain-bikers, who spend hours cycling over rough terrain are suffering a painful problem that could leave them at higher risk of testicular cancer, researchers have found.

A study published in The Lancet today shows 96 per cent of mountain-bikers suffered from scrotal abnormalities and were also three times more likely to suffer from sperm containing cysts than non-cyclists.

Constant saddle vibrations and shocks from cycling overrough ground are thought to be the main reasons for the high levels of scrotal trauma. Bikers are being advised to wear padded shorts and invest in ergonomic saddles.

The study, from the University of Innsbruck, involved 45 mountain-bikers who rode at least two hours a day, six days a week, and 31 students who did not ride at all.

Dr Ferdinand Frauscher and colleagues found only 16 per cent of the students had scrotal abnormalities compared with 96 per cent of the bikers. Dr Frauscher said: "We assume that the abnormalities of scrotal contents... are essentially a saddlerelated problem, resulting from a higher rate of microtrauma to the scrotal contents than previously assumed."