Common Pelvic Floor Problems in Men: Symptoms You Shouldn't Ignore
It’s true, men have pelvic floors too! There are a number of symptoms that can arise from pelvic floor dysfunction, that are not always obvious as something physical therapy can help with. Let’s take a look at some common complaints that just may be coming from your pelvic floor.
5 Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Men
✔️Testicular/Penile Pain
✔️Erectile Dysfunction
✔️Ejaculatory Dysfunction
✔️Gooch or Grundle Pain
✔️Urinary Urgency or Frequency
What Causes These Symptoms?
The pelvic region is complex and there can be a variety of organic or medical causes for the symptoms listed above, including diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, infection, certain medications, and malignancy. But what happens when all of the tests come back normal and these medical conditions have been ruled out? - We need to look at the pelvic floor!
Common pelvic floor causes to consider:
Overactive or Strained Pelvic Floor Muscles - When muscles become overactive or tight, they restrict blood flow and oxygen which causes a build-up of lactic acid and produces pain. Muscle tightness can also cause restriction or irritation to the nerves of the pelvic region which can result in pain, numbness, or even itching.
Muscle Weakness - Just like other areas of your body, your pelvic muscles can become atrophied and hinder their performance. This can have an impact on blood flow and continence as well.
Habits - The way you stand, move, and carry yourself each day has a significant impact on muscle activation/recruitment and movement patterns. This is where posture comes into the picture because the nerves of the pelvic region all originate at the spine and will be influenced by how you stand, sit, run, etc. The way you enjoy sexual activity can also have an impact on your pelvic floor functioning over time and can result in changes to erection quality, sensation, and orgasm. And finally, certain habits can cause a sudden, strong urge to urinate or make you feel like you have to pee all the time.
How Pelvic Floor Therapy for Men Can Help
Pelvic floor therapy addresses these symptoms by evaluating how your muscles, nerves, and connective tissue are all functioning in and around the pelvis. With a thorough evaluation, we can determine if your symptoms are coming from the pelvic floor muscles themselves or from another area of your body like your spine, hips, and even ankles!
Pelvic floor therapy for men may involve looking at a bladder/bowel diary, guiding you through helpful movements or exercises, providing manual therapy to your tissues/structures, and talking through self-management strategies that you can implement at home between visits and for the long-term.
I know that seeing a physical therapist for symptoms involving the penis and testicles may sound scary or awkward but I can assure you that a pelvic floor therapists who is trained to work with men will make sure you feel comfortable. There’s no such thing as TMI and there’s nothing we haven’t heard before, with this type of visit.
Where To Find Pelvic Floor Therapy for Men’s Health Issues
Stop suffering in silence and going down the Reddit/Google rabbit holes. Schedule an evaluation and start feeling better. If you’re local to Delray Beach, we provide pelvic floor physical therapy for men. If you’re not local to Florida, we provide virtual coaching or wellness visits for men’s pelvic health issues as well.
I hope this information was helpful and maybe caused you to look at symptoms you have been ignoring. If you need help finding a pelvic floor therapist in Florida, we hope that you will consider us for either in-person or virtual appointments.
In the meantime, you can get more pelvic health content sent right to you, by completing the short form below👇
