Kegel exercises are commonly associated with women as they can help tone the pelvic floor muscles. However, did you know that kegel exercises are also beneficial for men?
Kegel exercises are exercises that target the pelvic floor muscles, or the so-called pubococcygeal muscles. Both men and women have this muscle, which supports the pelvic organs such as the urethra, bladder, and bowel. What are kegel exercises like for men?
Benefits of Kegel Exercises For Men
There are many factors that can cause weak pelvic floor muscles in men, such as prostate removal surgery, diabetes, overactive bladder, obesity, and age. Experts suggest that men with complaints of weak pelvic floor muscles practice kegel exercises.
Kegel exercises provide many benefits, such as:
Overcoming the urinary and fecal incontinence problem
Kegel exercises can help overcome urinary and fecal incontinence problems that men may experience. If performed regularly, this exercise will improve control over urination and bowel movements.
Managing prostate pain and swelling
Kegel exercises can help manage prostate pain and swelling that occurs with prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in some cases. It should be noted that the effectiveness of kegel exercises may vary depending on the severity and type of prostate condition.
Kegel exercises also cannot be used as the primary treatment method for prostatitis or BPH. Kegel exercises are only useful in supporting treatment to reduce pressure on the enlarged prostate, reduce pain and discomfort, increase blood flow to the prostate, reduce swelling, and aid the healing process.
Increasing sexual pleasure
Kegel exercises have been associated with increased sexual pleasure in some individuals, for example, with better ejaculation control or more intense orgasmic sensations.
Performing kegel exercises regularly can increase the strength and endurance of the pelvic muscles, which can help in sexual life.
Is There Any Negative Impact of Kegel Exercises for Men?
In general, kegel exercises are safe to do and, when performed consistently, can help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles without causing damage. However, it is important to do them correctly to avoid mistakes that can cause problems.
As with any physical exercise, it is not recommended that you overdo kegel exercises, as they can lead to muscle fatigue and strain. These exercises should also be avoided if you are using a urinary catheter.
If you have any health issues that affect your pelvic floor muscles or urinary system, you should consult your doctor before starting kegel exercises or any other physical exercise.
Kegel Exercises Tips for Men
To perform kegel exercises, you need to identify your pelvic floor muscles. The trick is to try to stop the flow of urine while urinating. The muscle that you feel when you stop the flow of urine is the kegel muscle.
- Kegel exercises should be done when your bladder is empty
- Make sure to be completely relaxed when doing kegel exercise
- Don't try to do too many reps at a time. Start with a few reps and increase gradually
- Consistency is the main key in exercising the kegel muscles. Do the exercises regularly, 2-3 times a day
Some men may find greater benefits by combining kegel exercises with other pelvic floor exercises, such as squats or deadlifts. Always consult a doctor, especially if you have a history of certain health problems.
If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.
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- dr. Pandu Lesmana
Mayo Clinic (2022). Kegel exercises for men: Understand the benefits. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/mens-health/in-depth/kegel-exercises-for-men/art-20045074
Cleveland Clinic (2021). Kegel Exercises for Men. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22211-kegel-exercises-for-men
Colleen M. Story (2017). Kegel Exercises for Men: Do They Work?. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/kegel-exercises-for-men
Cleveland Clinic (2022). Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9100-benign-prostatic-hyperplasia