(Missouri News Service/Veronica Carter) JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – At this time of year, cycling becomes the choice of many people for getting some exercise and enjoying the outdoors. But a study by Yale researchers in 2006 linked cycling to problems with sexual health and urinary dysfunction. Now, a new team of scientists is disputing those results.

According to new research, the Yale study was too small and focused mostly on extreme athletes, not those who bike for exercise, leisure or to commute. Dr. Mohannad Awad, resident physician at the University of California-San Francisco and a member of the American Urological Association, authored the new study.

“Surprisingly, the results were completely contradictory to the previous results,” Awad said. “We found that cyclists have no worse sexual or urinary functions compared to other, non-cyclist athletes.”

There are many cycling events happening in communities around the state, and guides to Missouri’s bike trails are available online. Popular trails include: Two Rivers Bike Trail, Swope River Trail, Matson Hill, Sac River Trail, Rock Bridge State Park and the South Trace of the Ozark Trail.

Awad said previous studies raised questions about the risks associated with prolonged perineal pressure in men and women who bike regularly. They linked this pressure to numbness, pain and erectile dysfunction in men, and suggested cycling also may be a hazard to women’s sexual health.

But Awad said the new research was focused on the average weekend cyclist, rather than athletes who ride for very long distances.

“When the previous studies have been done in the past, the cycling community just got worried. And a lot of people might have just stopped cycling for a long time,” he said. “So, we just wanted to reach out to all the cyclists, all over the world, and let them know the results.”

Awad said riding a bike is one of the healthiest forms of exercise. His advice: strap on a helmet and enjoy the ride.