Overcoming erectile dysfunction without drugs: new hope for men!
Women have been encouraged to strengthen their pelvic floor
muscles through regular exercising for decades. As the baby
boomer generation begins to feel the effects of aging, more and
more women are taking up that message to maintain continence and
sexual health well into their older years.
But now comes the news that strong pelvic floor muscles may also
be critically important for men.
A recent British study of men suffering from erectile
dysfunction found that a simple program of pelvic floor
exercises, done correctly and regularly for 6 months, overcame
the problem in 40% of men, with a further 35.5% showing a real
improvement.
Men in the study were initially divided into two groups, with
one group undertaking the exercise program and the other group
receiving advice on lifestyle changes, such as giving up smoking
and reducing alcohol intake. An assessment after three months
showed that men doing exercises had improved markedly whereas
the men in the lifestyle group showed no improvement. Men in the
lifestyle group were then switched into the exercise group and
another assessment took place three months later. By this point,
all men had improved, and they continued to improve over another
three months while they exercised at home.
Two thirds of the men in the study also experienced "dribbling"
after urinating when they started the program, but this was
significantly overcome by pelvic floor exercising too.
The authors are so convinced of the importance of their findings
that they recommend that a pelvic floor exercise program be
considered as the first therapy option for erectile dysfunction,
before drugs or other more invasive treatments are tried.
The good news for men who need help with the problem of erectile
dysfunction is that pelvic floor exercises can be done
discreetly at home, in a way that fits in with each man's
lifestyle and schedule.
In the study, the exercise technique was taught by therapists,
using widely available instructions.
For men who are not able or willing to consult a practitioner,
but who need more assistance than written instructions provide,
exercise devices, such as the PFXA can often provide the answer. An
exercise device can help to
- identify and isolate the correct muscles for squeezing
- provide resistance and visual feedback on squeeze strength and
duration and
- maintain motivation by providing clear evidence of
improvement.
Whatever method is chosen for learning and monitoring the
correct exercise technique, a simple pelvic floor program may be
the answer for many men who prefer to try home-based options
before seeking professional help, or who are reluctant to take
the drugs that are usually offered as the first line of therapy.