Many men use the bicycle for cardiovascular exercising, commuting, fun or all three. But nothing can spoil a bicycle ride for men quite like testicular discomfort. Pain in the testicles usually only occurs during and after long bike rides, and can become a real nuisance over time if you ride your bike on a regular basis. For most men, the cause for the pain is the bike seat. But you don't have to endure the discomfort every time you ride. Some simple adjustments or a new seat can help you avoid developing pain in the testicles.
Causes
Many bicycle seats, especially road bicycle seats, place a lot of pressure on your perineum, the delicate and sensitive area between your genitals and anus. Narrow bike seats can restrict blood flow from the prostate to the penis, according to Prostate-Massage-And-Health.com. If the blood restriction lasts for too long, your testicles can become sensitive and painful. Typically, when you position yourself on a bicycle seat, the nose of the seat is pressed directly against the perineum. Most of your bodyweight is then supported along this narrow strip of seat, the pressure of which causes the blood flow restriction.
Adjustments
If you have concluded that your bicycle seat is indeed the cause for your testicular discomfort, you can take some steps to help relieve the pain. First, try adjusting the seat to its proper height. You should be able to evenly distribute your weight on the seat without needing to lean from side to side when pedaling. If your body leans when pedaling, your seat is likely set too high. The tilt of the seat should also be examined. An upward tilted nose on a bike seat could contribute to your pain. The seat should be completely level.
Seat Types
Road bicycle seats tend to be the most uncomfortable for men. The seats are especially narrow and concentrate the pressure from your body weight moreso than more traditional bike seats that provide some cushioning. More modern road bike seats feature a groove or hole in the middle, which reduces some of the pressure, but that is often not enough to eliminate the pain. If you continue to have testicular pain even after adjusting the seat, consider buying a new seat that provides more cushioning and is specifically designed to relieve pressure on the prostate.
Chronic Pain
If your bike riding experience does not improve after having tried a new seat, take a break from riding for a few weeks. If the pain subsides, then you know that the bicycle seat is indeed the cause for your discomfort. Try padded biker shorts. These special shorts provide some additional padding for the buttocks and may help reduce your discomfort. If none of these remedies help, you may have to reduce the amount of riding you do overall to keep from developing reoccurring testicular pain.
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