Long bike rides 'may cause infertility'
Men who cycle may be in danger of becoming infertile, a new study in Spain has concluded.
Experts at the University of Cordoba have found that cycling distances over 300 km a week may result in fertility problems, which could boost the need for health cover.
Specialists at the facility studied a number of athletes who travelled extensively on bikes every week and discovered that only four per cent had a sperm count considered normal.
Dr Diana Vaamonde, who led the investigation, said the condition could also affect normal people who train in a similar manner.
"Protective measures for these sportsmen need to be developed. These could include giving antioxidants and modifying training regimes," she stated.
Dr Vaamonde added that one other method may be to freeze athletes' sperm before they begin actively training, which may interest health insurance customers.
In other news, a recent study carried out at the University of Murcia in Spain found that men who eat less meat and more fruit and vegetables are also more likely to have 'faster' sperm, which increases the chance of reproduction.
By James McCann 
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