Firstmed Blog

The Tour de France created quite a stir in London this weekend as thousands of fans gathered in Trafalgar Square to cheer on their cycling heroes. 189 riders were presented to the crowd, estimated to have been around 25,000, ahead of the Grand Depart this weekend.

It will be the first time the Tour has started in England, but the third time it has passed through the country in its 104-year history.

What does this have to do with ED you might wonder? Well bicycle enthusiasts might be interested to know that new studies suggest that a dose of ED treatments, such as Viagra will help more cyclists to climb that summit with more success

The relationship between impotence and cycling has long been a dubious one. There is plenty of anecdotal and clinical evidence to suggest that cycling causes numbness and discomfort in the genital region, but whether or not that equates to long-term impotence is unknown. But now the connection has taken on a new twist.

Following reports that Viagra may improve breathing in low oxygen situations, it seems that cyclists may opt to take erectile dysfunction treatments regardless of whether or not they suffer from ED in order to improve their performance.

Studies suggest that ED treatments may improve breathing in low oxygen situations. This may have a significant effect on cycling in high altitude. Erectile Dysfunction medications work by dilating blood vessels, and this effect might be the reason for the improvements in cyclist’s performance in high altitude settings. By the same method that the drug improves circulation to the penis it can also pump blood through the lungs more efficiently.

Considering the world of professional cycling has been dogged by dope scandals, whether or not this will add a new dimension to drug testing is as yet unknown. Especially considering that Viagra is probably easier to get than steroids or other drugs that improve endurance. Is drug use still rife in professional cycling or has testing reduced it being a rarity rather than the norm.