Spain – Professor Vaamonde at the University of Cordoba have noted that men engaged in an intense cycling were less fertile.

The study was focused on fifteen healthy Spanish Triathletes. The researchers focused on the quality of their sperm, the intensity and duration of training for each of the three disciplines of triathlon (swimming, cycling, running). The results showed that the more an athlete practices cycling, there are more abnormal sperms. The other two sports did not make any change.

Fifteen triathletes had less than 10% of normal active sperm. Those who traveled over 300 km per week by bike had only 4% of them. Researchers believes that the compression of the testicles to the seat or wearing tight sports clothing could be the cause.

Dr. Vaamonde now would like to discover the biological mechanisms causing infertility before proposing a preventive measure. These measures could include taking antioxidants, a modification of the programs of drive, even a preventive congelation of sperm.

A previous studies have also showed that triathletes were the one whose semen was most affected. A triathlon combines 3800 meters of swimming, 180 kms of bike riding and a marathon of 42 km on foot..