June is Men’s Health Awareness Month, and I want to take a moment to talk about something that does not get nearly enough attention: men’s pelvic health.
When most people hear “pelvic floor physical therapy,” they often think of women’s health, pregnancy, or postpartum care. Men have a pelvic floor too, and it plays a major role in bladder control, sexual function, bowel health, core support, and overall quality of life.
Pelvic health therapy can be especially effective before and after prostate cancer treatments.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men. Many men experience changes after prostatectomy, including urinary leakage and erectile dysfunction. Even with nerve-sparing procedures, erectile dysfunction is very common after surgery, and for some, it can persist.
Pelvic rehabilitation before a prostatectomy helps strengthen and coordinate the pelvic floor muscles that play a key role in urinary control after surgery. Research shows that patients who learn and practice pelvic floor muscle training before their procedure often regain continence faster and experience less urinary leakage during recovery. Preoperative pelvic rehab also improves muscle awareness and confidence, making it easier to perform postoperative exercises correctly and support a smoother return to daily activities.
Pelvic rehabilitation after prostatectomy aims to restore function by improving blood flow, retraining the pelvic floor, addressing sexual dysfunction and providing guidance on return to normal daily and recreational activities.
And timing matters.
The earlier pelvic PT begins, the better the opportunity to support recovery. Ideally, men should be referred before surgery or very soon after, not months or years later when symptoms have already become frustrating, limiting, or discouraging.
Unfortunately, many men are never referred for pelvic rehab at all, or they are referred much later than they should be.
Men deserve to know that help exists. They deserve education before surgery, support during recovery, and care that addresses the full picture of their health, not just cancer survival, but quality of life afterward.
If you or someone you love is preparing for prostate surgery, recovering from prostate cancer treatment, experiencing urinary leakage, pelvic pain, or changes in sexual function, pelvic floor physical therapy may be an important part of the healing process.
Pelvic health is men’s health, too.
To learn more or get a free consultation, visit betterwithpelvichealthpt.com
Shana Hoke
Pelvic Health Physical Therapist at Better With PT