In a study by the National Institutes of Health, 61 percent of male road cyclists reported numbness in the genital area—after an average of only 40 minutes on a standard saddle. The problem is not cycling itself. It is the wrong saddle.
Those who regularly ride a bike put pressure daily on an anatomically sensitive area. Because exactly where the classic bicycle saddle presses hardest runs the pudendal nerve and lies the prostate region. A prostate bicycle saddle that specifically relieves this area is not a luxury for many men but a health necessity.
Why the bicycle saddle can strain the prostate
When cycling, the entire body weight rests on the two sit bones and the area between them—the so-called perineum. Here run the internal pudendal artery, the pudendal nerve, and structures that are in direct anatomical proximity to the prostate.
A conventional narrow saddle does not distribute the pressure on the sit bones but directly on this soft tissue area. Studies show that pressure on the perineum with unfavorable saddle design can reach values of up to 100 to 150 mmHg—enough to temporarily interrupt blood flow.
Who is particularly affected?
Men over 45 are disproportionately affected because:
- Tissue elasticity decreases with age
- Existing prostate problems (BPH) make the area more sensitive
- Many experienced cyclists have ridden for years with suboptimal saddles without knowing the connections
Detailed guides on typical men's complaints can be found in the article about saddle pain in men and in the numbness guide.