Cyclists Can Rest Easier Now

New bicycle seats now on the market are designed to alleviate the problems that can cause impotence in male cyclists. CBS This Morning Health and Medical Contributor Dr. Emily Senay reports that manufacturers have responded to studies last year that showed that some narrow, hard bicycle seats can cause impotence after prolonged cycling.

The problem is caused when pressure is put on arteries and nerves in the groin area that supply blood and feeling to the genital area. The warning sign is numbness in the genitals, the same kind of sensation as when your foot or hand "falls asleep."

The redesigned seats, two of which are now on the market, have a hollowed-out area for the vulnerable areas of the groin, allowing blood to flow more freely and redistributing body weight away from the bundle of arteries and nerves that can be damaged by other seats.

The new seats cost between $40 and $50, with more expensive models expected to arrive next year.

Women experience a similar problem, and seats designed specifically for a woman's body also will be marketed next year.

Here are some suggestions that both men and women can follow to reduce the risk:

• Make sure the seat is adjusted properly. Seats should be level or angled a few degrees forward. The height of the saddle should be adjusted so that the knees are slightly bent when completing a revolution.
  
  
• Keep the pelvis stable when cycling. Damage could occur when the pelvis moves from side to side.
  
  
• Rest frequently. Get off the saddle every so often to get the circulation going again.