DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Summary

Workers who ride a bicycle as 

part of their job may be at risk 

for genital numbness or more serious sexual and/or reproductive 

health problems from pressure 

in the groin (perineum) from 

the traditional bicycle saddle. 

NIOSH has conducted studies 

that have demonstrated the effectiveness of no-nose bicycle 

saddles in reducing pressure in 

the groin and improving the sexual health of male bicycle patrol 

police officers. While most workers in jobs that involve bicycling 

are men, recent evidence suggests that no-nose bicycle saddles may also benefit women.

No-nose Saddles for Preventing Genital 

Numbness and Sexual Dysfunction from 

Occupational Bicycling 

Description of 

Exposure

About 40,000 workers in public 

safety occupations ride bicycles as 

part of their job. They include police officers, emergency medical service personnel (EMSs), and security staff who patrol by bicycle. A 

number of these workers have reported groin/genital numbness and 

more severe sexual problems related to prolonged use of a bicycle saddle in their work [NIOSH 2000]. In 

a study conducted by Schrader et 

al. [2002], police bicycle patrol officers reported spending an average of 

about 25 hours per week sitting on 

a bicycle saddle. Many of them also 

ride a bicycle for recreation while off 

duty, and therefore may spend more 

than 25 hours per week on a bicycle saddle. 

The traditional bicycle saddle has a 

narrow nose that protrudes under the 

groin as the cyclist straddles the bicycle. Ideally, the weight of the cyclist 

should be supported on the saddle 

under the pelvic sit bones. However, part of the weight is supported 

where the groin contacts the saddle 

nose. Bearing weight on this region 

of the saddle compresses the nerves 

and arteries in the groin (see Figures 

1 and 2). These nerves and arteries 

run through the groin between the 

sit bones to the genitals. Pressure on 

these nerves and arteries over time 

may lead to a loss of sensation and a 

decrease in blood supply to the genitals. This can contribute to the sexual 

and reproductive health effects that 

have been reported.

Figure 1. Nerves and arteries for the 

genitals (shown in green) compressed 

under the traditional saddle nose. The 

blue region represents the contact areas on the sit bones. The yellow region 

represents the pubic bone. The pelvis is 

shown in the side view.

Figure 2. Example of pressure measured on a traditional saddle with a protruding nose. The white box shows the 

groin region. The blue color is the lowest pressure, followed by green, yellow, 

orange, and red (highest pressure). This 

saddle has a cut-out hole as shown by 

the thinner dark outline of the saddle.
NIOSH Studies

NIOSH studies [2000, Schrader et al. 2002] showed 

that male bicycle patrol security officers who complained 

of groin numbness had night erections that lasted less 

time than those of a similar group of non-bicycling men. 

Other NIOSH studies [Lowe et al. 2004; Schrader et 

al. 2008], showed that pressure on a traditional (nosed) 

bicycle saddle in the area under the bicyclist’s groin is 

typically 2.90 pounds per square inch during cycling and 

may reach as high as 5.37 pounds per square inch. (As a 

point of reference, the pressure on an arm blood pressure cuff needed to restrict blood flow in the arteries is 

about 120 mm Hg, which is equal to 2.32 pounds per 

square inch). This level of pressure is affected by the 

weight and body shape of the cyclist, the shape and cushioning of the saddle, and the degree to which the cyclist’s 

body is tilted forward.

Fewer studies of the effects of bicycle saddle use on female cyclists have been conducted. However, recent evidence suggests that women cyclists may also be at risk 

for a decrease in sensation of their genitals from use of a 

traditional nosed bicycle saddle [Guess et al. 2006].

Reducing Pressure in the Groin 

from the Bicycle Saddle

The no-nose bicycle saddle

A number of manufacturers have designed bicycle saddles to support the weight of the cyclist on their sit 

bones without a narrow nose of the saddle protruding 

forward under the groin region. A no-nose bicycle saddle 

is designed so that the portion of the nerves and arteries 

for the genitals that are forward of the sit bones are not 

compressed against any part of the saddle surface (see 

Figure 3). A no-nose bicycle saddle should have no saddle material protruding between the thighs of the cyclist 

to create pressure in the groin.

NIOSH studies of no-nose saddles

A study by NIOSH [Lowe et al. 2004] showed that saddles without the protruding nose greatly reduced pressure in the groin that compresses the nerves and arteries 

for the genitals. In a more recent NIOSH study [Schrader et al. 2008], the no-nose saddles were associated with 

pressure in the groin region of 1.02 pounds per square 

inch. In a typical pressure picture for a no-nose saddle, 

there is very little pressure forward of the sit bones (see 

Figure 4). The pressure on the nerves and arteries for 

the genitals may be even lower than 1.02 pounds per 

square inch because some of the measured pressure was 

caused by the back of the thighs making contact with 

the rounded-off front of the no-nose saddle. The study 

showed that the no-nose saddle reduced pressure in the 

groin by at least 65% (see Figure 5). In the 2008 NIOSH 

study, more than 90% of officers on bicycle patrol who 

tried a no-nose saddle were still using the saddle after 6 

months. These officers believed that no-nose bicycle saddles could be used safely and effectively in their work. 

Several of these officers said that it took some time to 

get used to the no-nose saddle because it has a different 

feel than a traditional saddle.

Recommendations

Contrary to some cyclists’ belief, it is not normal for any 

part of your body to go numb or lose feeling. Numbness 

in the groin or genitals is a warning sign that should not 

be ignored. Workers who ride a bicycle as part of their 

Figure 3. Removal of the protruding saddle nose reduces 

pressure under the nerves and arteries for the genitals. See 

Figure 1 for further description.

Figure 4. Example of pressure measured on a no-nose saddle. In this example there is almost no pressure in the groin 

region.
job*

 can take the following steps to help prevent sexual 

and reproductive health problems: 

 Use a no-nose saddle for workplace bicycling. Give 

yourself time to get used to riding with a no-nose saddle. At first, it may seem very different from the saddle you have used in the past. No-nose saddles may not 

always be available at retail bicycle shops, but they are 

readily available for purchase through the Internet.

 Seek guidance on proper bicycle fit from a trained bicycle fit specialist. Use of a no-nose saddle may require different saddle height and angle adjustments. 

Be sure that the no-nose saddle is adjusted according 

to the manufacturer’s instructions.

 Dismount the bicycle when at a standstill. Do not lean 

against a post or other object to stay seated on the bicycle saddle when you are not riding.

 Dismount the bicycle if you begin to have numbness, 

tingling, or loss of feeling in any part of your body.

*NIOSH has not studied competitive cycling and can 

not make recommendations for the relatively small 

number of workers who ride a bicycle competitively in 

their occupation. 

Acknowledgments

The principal contributors to this publication were Steven 

M. Schrader, Brian D. Lowe, and Michael J. Breitenstein of 

the Division of Applied Research and Technology, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The International Police Mountain Bike Association has assisted 

NIOSH in much of the research conducted on this topic.

References

Guess MK, Connell KA, Schrader SM, Reutman SR, 

Wang A, Lacombe JA, Toennis C, Lowe BD, Melman 

A, Mikhail MS [2006]. Genital sensation and sexual 

function in female bicyclists and runners: Are your feet 

safer than your seat? J Sexual Med 3(6):1018–1027.

International Police Mountain Bike Association [2008]. 

The complete guide to public safety cycling. 2nd ed. 

Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Lowe BD, Schrader SM, Breitenstein MJ [2004]. Effect of bicycle saddle designs on the pressure to the 

perineum of the bicyclist. Med Sci Sports Exerc 

36(6):1055–1062.

NIOSH [2000]. Health Hazard Evaluation Report: City 

of Long Beach Police Department, Long Beach, CA. By 

Schrader SM, Breitenstein MJ, Lowe BD. Cincinnati, 

OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HETA 

2000–0305–2848.

Schrader SM, Breitenstein MJ, Clark JC, Lowe BD, 

Turner TW [2002]. Nocturnal penile tumescence and 

rigidity testing of bicycling patrol officers. J Androl 

23(6):927–934.

Schrader SM, Breitenstein MJ, Lowe BD [2008]. Cutting off the nose to save the penis. J Sexual Med 

5:1932–1940.

Figure 5. Comparison of groin pressure for a traditional and 

no-nose saddle.
For More Information

Mention of any company or product does not constitute endorsement by NIOSH. In addition, citations to Web sites external to 

NIOSH do not constitute NIOSH endorsement of the sponsoring organizations or their programs or products. Furthermore, 

NIOSH is not responsible for the content of these Web sites. 

This document is in the public domain and may be 

freely copied or reprinted. NIOSH encourages all 

readers of the Workplace Solutions to make them 

available to all interested employers and workers.

As part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 

NIOSH is the Federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations to prevent work-related 

illnesses and injuries. All Workplace Solutions are based on research studies that show how worker exposures to hazardous 

agents or activities can be significantly reduced.

No-nose Saddles for Preventing Genital Numbness 

and Sexual Dysfunction from Occupational Bicycling

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2009–131

More information about bicycle saddles and reproductive 

health can be found at the following Web site: http://www.

cdc.gov/niosh/topics/bike/.

The reproductive health topic page can be found at the following Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/repro/.

A video demonstration of saddle pressure on no-nose saddles 

can be found at the following Web site: http://video.cdc.gov/

ramgen/niosh-video/saddle_pressure.rm.

For copies of the NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation report 

this document cites, contact NIOSH at:

Telephone: 1–800–CDC–INFO (1–800–232–4636)

TTY: 1–888–232–6348

E-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov

or visit the NIOSH Web site at www.cdc.gov/niosh

For a monthly update on news at NIOSH, subscribe to 

NIOSH eNews by visiting www.cdc.gov/niosh/eNews.

Safer • Healthier • PeopleTM April 2009

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

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