Penile Rehab and Sexual Health in Male Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy
When the first male pelvic health course was taught, Australian Professor Pauline Chiarelli concluded that men’s health was 30 years behind women’s health. We are closing the gap and continuing to focus on the evolution of pelvic floor physiotherapy for males. After all… everyone has a pelvic floor!
According to the World Health Organization, in 1999, 152 million men were estimated to have erectile dysfunction. The WHO predicts that this number will reach close to 322 million men in 2025 (WHO, 2015).
What men DO NEED TO KNOW is the “hard health is related to heart health” (ISSM 2019 Guidelines). “Any change in erectile function may indicate onset of a cardiovascular event”. It is incredibly important that males meet with a healthcare provider should they detect a change in erectile function or penile appearance.
Facts About Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
- ED is described as the persistent inability to achieve or maintain an erection firm enough or lasting long enough for satisfactory sexual performance (Hackett and Kirby, Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2018)
- There are different types of erectile dysfunction including disorders involving erection, ejaculation, emission, condom associated, hard/flaccid, Peyronies disease (penile shape change) and chronic pelvic pain as well as post ejaculatory pain.
- PELVIC FLOOR MUSCLE DYSFUNCTION is highly associated with erectile dysfunction and sexual pain which may occur during sex or following.
- 68 to 98% of men who have undergone surgery for prostate cancer will experience some form of erectile dysfunction including delayed orgasm, no orgasm, loss of orgasm intensity, pelvic pain, penile sensory changes, penile length loss and/or pelvic pain.
Research supports the role of pelvic floor physiotherapy in male sexual health by addressing the pelvic floor muscles, nerve supply, blood flow, cardiovascular status, lifestyle, and the extensive education that can be provided by trained Pelvic Floor Physiotherapists.
If you have questions about your sexual health, our Pelvic Physiotherapy Team is here to answer all your questions. Contact us at [email protected] to learn more or to book an appointment with one of our certified pelvic physiotherapists.