Ask An Expert: How Can I Maintain Penile Health Prior to Prostate Cancer Treatment?

By Rebecca Ironside, MSPT

1 min read

Welcome to our Ask an Expert video series, where we ask a healthcare professional to answer a community member's question about prostate cancer. Becca Ironside, a pelvic floor physical therapist, is leading the series.

This week she answers a community member's question about sexual health, specifically: how to maintain penile health prior to prostate cancer treatment, and what might be involved to achieve that.

Have any questions you'd like to see discussed? Let us know in the comments below.

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The ProstateCancer.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

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Dennis E. Golden Moderator & Contributor
Agree increased blood flow is the key to a lot of improvements. In addition to an increase in physical activity do not underestimate the impact stress can have on your ability to perform.
Richard Faust Community Admin
Hi . I have a question that is little off topic, but occurred to me when watching the video a second time. I noticed you mentioning the pelvic floor muscles role in holding up our organs, which made me think about the diaphragm and abdominal muscles and whether or not they could have a role to play in recovery from prostatectomy. I came across this study which looked at this question from the standpoint of urinary incontinence: <a href='https://www.nature.com/articles/s4159😧19-55724-4' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>https://www.nature.com/articles/s4159😧19-55724-4</a>. The authors did find decrease urinary incontinence with rehabilitation-training programs for both muscle groups. This is just one study, so I was wondering if, in your practical experience you have seen this or come across any other research on the impact of this type of rehab. Best, Richard (ProstateCancer.net Team)
1. Rebecca Ironside, MSPT Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="Richard Faust" user-id="3268931"/> Yes, yes, and yes! Strengthening one particular muscle of the core called the transversus abdominis has a profound impact on both urinary continence and erectile dysfunction. You can watch the Q & A on How to Achieve More Rigid Erections to learn how to activate this particular muscle. It is really kind of easy, perhaps easier than performing Kegels correctly (in my humble opinion). Also, performing belly breathing will activate the diaphragm. Doing so will strengthen and lengthen this crucial muscle and prevent pressure buildup in the abdomen, which often leads to constipation and urinary leakage when pressure remains unchecked. There is more to life than Kegels! Lol Becca Ironside, Moderator
Rebecca Ironside, MSPT Moderator & Contributor
<inline-mention username="Dennis Golden" user-id="3259730"/> You are correct in saying that the ability to perform is closely tied to anxiety and stress. Arousal is actually driven by the parasympathetic nervous system (a calming influence, not the fight or flight sympathetic nervous system). I have seen a huge increase in ED in all the men I treat, even those without PCa. This is directly correlated to the stress we have all experienced during the pandemic. From an evolutionary standpoint, people having a low sex drive is seen in times of famine, war or strife - likely because it isn't an ideal time to bring new life onto the planet. Becca Ironside, Moderator 
1. Dennis E. Golden Moderator & Contributor
 I recall reading somewhere that in times of stress a higher ratio of males to females are born. Just curious is there any truth to that evolutionary statement?
2. Rebecca Ironside, MSPT Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="Dennis Golden" user-id="3259730"/> I looked this up today and it is true that more boys are born after war than are infant girls. Scientists have a hard time explaining why. One of the most interesting arguments is that taller men are more likely to survive war; they are also more likely to sire boys than shorter men, who have more daughters. And one cannot have children if one never comes home from war. I realize that this isn't directly related to prostate cancer, but as we are all living under wartime circumstances, I find it quite fascinating to ponder. Thanks for bringing it up, Dennis. Becca Ironside, Moderator
Dennis E. Golden Moderator & Contributor
Figured you might find that interesting 😀

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