Your pelvic floor might be the real cockblock. From erectile dysfunction to nerve damage, millions of men in the U.S. deal with a cockblock. 30 million men in the U.S. experience erectile dysfunction, 15% of men experience pelvic pain, and 11% of men experience urinary incontinence.

Men’s Pelvic Health

Pelvic health in men is not often talked about but is an essential part of physical health when it comes to preventing incontinence of the bladder, organ prolapse, pelvic pain, back pain, and sexual health concerns.

Although 10% of men will suffer from some kind of pelvic floor dysfunction in their lifetime, few will seek treatment. It can take up to seven years for men to get a diagnosis for their pelvic health concerns.

Chronic pelvic health concerns in men can severely impact quality of life and mental health tolls like lowered confidence and performance anxiety. The sooner help can be accessed, and a root cause identified, the sooner one can start to feel better.

Your Pelvic Floor Isn’t A Cockblock, It’s A Messenger. Here’s What It’s Trying To Tell You?

When you’re aroused, your brain sends messages to the genitals to send blood in and prevent it from leaving the penis, causing an erection. When the inflow of blood decreases and the veins open up, the erection stops. Your pelvic floor muscles help manage blood flow to your genitals by compressing the penile veins and trapping the blood in the genitals to create and maintain an erection.

There are two main ways pelvic floor muscle problems can mess up this system and inhibit arousal. If the pelvic floor is weak, the outflow of blood isn’t prevented, and an erection can’t be maintained. A pelvic floor thats too tight - also called the hypertonic or overactive pelvic floor - has been suggested as a possible cause of erectile issues due to compression of the artery that provides blood to the penis.

So, What Can I Do?

One of the reasons men struggle to get a diagnosis for up to seven years is because of the lack of awareness around their pelvic health.

If you are looking to learn more, Dr, Jess and Dr. Susie Gronski, an expert in men’s pelvic health sat down and discussed all things pelvic health and wellness in the episode, Pelvic Pain: The Ultimate Cock Block with Dr. Susie Gronski. Tune in to learn about the types of conditions Dr. Susie Gronski treats and learn about what resources are available to you.

You can listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Waiting won’t make the symptoms go away.

Pelvic PT can help:

Weak or tight pelvic floor muscles
Poor blood flow
Muscle coordination issues
Nerve and tension patterns that interfere with erections

If you are experiencing pelvic pain, please reach out to us at 401-602-7006 to talk to one of our pelvic specialists. We are here to help you and your pelvic floor.