Yes, Men Have Pelvic Floors Too: Breaking the Stigma Around Male Pelvic Health

When we think about pelvic floor therapy, most of us immediately picture elderly women or new moms recovering from childbirth. But here's the truth: men have pelvic floors too, and just like women, they can experience pelvic floor dysfunction that affects their quality of life—physically, emotionally, and even intimately.

In honor of Men’s Health Awareness Month, let’s open up a conversation that doesn’t happen often enough: men’s pelvic health and how pelvic floor therapy can make a powerful difference.

So, What Is the Pelvic Floor?

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that stretch like a hammock from your tailbone to your pubic bone. These muscles support your bladder, bowel, and sexual function. In men, they also support the prostate and play an important role in urinary control and erectile function.

When these muscles become tight, weak, overactive, or uncoordinated, they can lead to a range of symptoms—and yet, many men don’t realize that help is available or even necessary.

6 Signs Men Might Need Pelvic Floor Therapy

If you or someone you love is experiencing any of the following, it may be time to consider pelvic floor therapy:

1. Frequent Urination or Urgency

Feeling like you need to run to the bathroom constantly or struggling to “hold it” is not just annoying—it can be a sign of overactive pelvic floor muscles or poor bladder coordination. This often shows up as:

• Urinating more than 8 times a day

• Waking up multiple times at night to go (nocturia)

• Feeling like the bladder isn’t fully empty after urinating

• Having sudden, intense urges that are hard to control

Pelvic floor therapy can help by retraining the bladder, relaxing tight muscles, and restoring healthy coordination between the bladder and pelvic floor.

2. Leaking Urine When Laughing, Lifting, or Sneezing

Also known as stress incontinence, this occurs when physical activity or sudden pressure on the abdomen (like sneezing or lifting something heavy) causes urine leakage. In men, this is especially common:

• After prostate surgery

• When the pelvic floor muscles are weakened or underactive

• When pressure on the core and pelvic floor isn’t managed properly

This isn’t just a female or postpartum issue — many men silently struggle with it, and it’s highly treatable with proper pelvic floor strengthening and coordination work.

3. Pain in the Lower Back, Hips, Perineum, Testicles, or Penis

Chronic pelvic pain in men is often misdiagnosed or dismissed, yet it can stem directly from pelvic floor dysfunction, especially tight or hypertonic muscles. This pain might feel like:

• A deep ache or burning in the perineum (area between the scrotum and anus)

• Testicular heaviness or sensitivity with no clear cause

• Hip or tailbone pain that radiates

• Lower back discomfort that doesn't respond to traditional therapies or chiropractic work

Pelvic floor therapy can address muscular tension, nerve entrapment, and less than optimal movement patterns, helping to reduce pain and improve function.

4. Erectile Dysfunction or Difficulty With Arousal

Pelvic floor muscles are directly involved in blood flow, muscle contraction, and nerve function related to sexual performance. If these muscles are weak, overly tight, or not firing properly, it can contribute to:

• Reduced or inconsistent erections

• Trouble maintaining erections

• Decreased sensation or pleasure

• Anxiety or tension during intimacy

Pelvic floor therapy focuses on restoring muscular tone, coordination, and circulation, often improving not just performance but overall confidence and comfort.

5. Constipation or Straining to Have a Bowel Movement

Struggling with bowel movements—even if it’s occasional—can be a sign of poor coordination between the pelvic floor and core muscles. Signs include:

• Needing to push or strain excessively

• Incomplete evacuation

• Hard or dry stools despite eating fiber and drinking water

• A “blocked” sensation or pressure in the rectum

Pelvic floor therapy can help retrain the body’s natural bearing down reflex and ensure the muscles involved in elimination are working in harmony rather than against each other.

 6. A Feeling of Heaviness or Incomplete Bladder Emptying

Some men report a dragging or heavy sensation in the lower pelvis, or the feeling that their bladder or bowels are never completely empty. This can be a sign of:

• Pelvic organ or floor dysfunction

• Muscle tightness or weakness preventing full release

• Nerve irritation that disrupts bladder sensation

This symptom can be subtle but extremely frustrating—and pelvic floor therapy can help restore awareness, mobility, and proper muscle engagement to support full release and reduce discomfort.

These symptoms aren’t normal or “just part of getting older” — they’re often a result of pelvic floor dysfunction, and they are treatable.

Why Don’t We Talk About This?

Men are often taught to “man up,” “tough it out,” or “just deal with it.” There’s stigma around male vulnerability, especially when it comes to sensitive areas like bladder control or sexual function. But ignoring these signs doesn’t make them go away — it just delays healing.

Here’s the good news: pelvic floor therapy is a safe and effective non-surgical and non-medication way to address these concerns and help men regain control, strength, and confidence.

How Pelvic Floor Therapy Helps Men

A pelvic floor therapist trained to work with men can offer:

• Assessment of muscle tone, strength, and coordination

• Customized exercises to relax or strengthen the pelvic floor

• Breathwork and postural alignment support

• Education on bladder and bowel habits

• Recovery strategies post-prostatectomy or surgery

• Tools to support erectile function and reduce pain

Whether you’re dealing with chronic pelvic pain, recovering from surgery, or just want to feel more confident in your body, find a pelvic floor therapist that offers a whole-body approach that supports long-term wellness.

It’s Not Just About Symptoms — It’s About Empowerment

Pelvic floor therapy isn’t just about treating dysfunction — it’s about restoring trust in your body, reconnecting with your core, and reclaiming your health and freedom. There is strength in vulnerability. And there is healing in support.

What You Can Do This Men’s Health Month

• If you’re a man experiencing symptoms — know you’re not alone, and help is available.

• If you’re a woman reading this — talk to your partner, brother, father, or friend. Share this post and encourage open conversations about men’s pelvic health.

• If you’re curious about therapy — reach out and ask questions. This is a safe, judgment-free space to explore your options.

Ready to Take the First Step?

I work with both women and men to support pelvic floor health and whole-body healing. If you or someone you care about is experiencing symptoms, I’m here to help.

Send me a message to learn more and to book your first Pelvic Floor Therapy appointment - Let’s break the stigma — together.