So I am not sure if I have a weak or a tight pelvic floor. Or no issues at all?
So far I have been pushing all my erection problems on psychology, but now I am not sure.
I have done kegels as well as the happy baby stretch, one is for weak pelvic floor and the other for tight pelvic floor. Since I did these exercises my erections have improved, I think…
The thing is, from looking online, it seems like I have more of a tight pelvic floor, in particular because I have high urinary frequency and bladder problems in general for as long as I can remember.
In particular, I sometimes have symptoms that feel like urinary tract infection after masturbating. I masturbate a lot and I always suspected that this might have something to do with the frequent urination.
Also, sometimes I have problems with peeing, like shy bladder and stuff. I also thought this was psychological, but again, I am not sure now…
The symptoms of weak and hard pelvic floor partly overlap and it seems very hard to figure out which one it is.
I have mentioned urinary frequency and ED to a primary care physician and a urologist some time ago, but nothing came out of it and they didn’t even mention pelvic floor. I should probably look for other doctors, but at this point I just feel like no one can help me…
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My first question is how old are you? What kind of shape are you in? Sometimes urologist are quick to dismiss us based on those factors. They don’t take and consideration things like pelvic floor, psychological factors, etc. etc. My urologist just kept saying well at your age your body changes. Even though I kept telling her the issue came out of the field it was like she didn’t believe me. I knew in my head I had nothing to do with my age or health. You know your body better than anybody . Don’t go down a rabbit hole. Get to know your body and check in with yourself. Then seek out specialist that actually will help you. I know you can make progress as I definitely am on the right path and excited to move forward!
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That’s so frustrating not to get answers from the healthcare specialists you spoke with.
I agree with the other commenter that you should consider another medical opinion.
Here’s some info that might help (or might be what you’ve already come across in your research).
How to tell if your pelvic floor is too tight
In a sitting position, place your hands below your sit bones (the lower part of your pelvis) and take some deep breaths. If you don’t feel movement through your fingers, then your pelvic floor might be too tight.
You can also look in the mirror when you do this. If your balls do not move as you take deep breaths, then your pelvic floor might be too tight.
Other clues that you might have a tight pelvic floor include:
- Increased urine frequency
- Any pelvic pain
- Pain on ejaculation
- Abdominal pain
- Difficulty opening your bowels or straining to empty your bladder
If you notice any of these additional symptoms, please talk to your doctor or a physical therapist.
Since you mentioned urinary frequency and UTI-like sensations after masturbation, definitely prioritize getting those checked out. Even if they’re not due to tightness, they might indicate something else that’s important.
Usually we recommend that, if you’re worried about pelvic floor tightness, stop doing strengthening Kegels and focus on reverse Kegels and stretches. But a pelvic floor specialist who can assess your situation will be able to give more tailored recommendations.
As well as speaking to your primary care physician again, search for a pelvic floor specialist in your area and try to see them in person. Your health matters, so keep going and don’t dismiss these important concerns! Good luck.
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I am 30 and mildly overweight, but quite fit (I work out almost every day). The urologist did dismiss me because of those factors and told me the ED was probably psychological.
Don’t get me wrong. Psychology is definitely the main problem for my ED now and I have gotten much better recently because of dealing with it. However I wonder if the pelvic floor issues are also contributing, particularly in the beginning where the vicious cycle of ED started (I thought it was mainly porn).
Just learning now that my urinary frequency which has also caused me great concern throughout my life might have something to do with it, this question came up.
Kegels and reverse kegels have greatly helped my erections, I feel. For now, I just want to know whether I should keep doing kegels or not.
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Thanks for your answer. I don’t have any pain. But I surely have increased urinary frequency and difficulties peeing, having to push a lot and the stream is usually quite weak I guess.
There is no pelvic floor specialist (for men) in my area, maybe I should look online?
You may have both tight and weak pelvic floor at the same time. I had almost all the symptoms you describe. The pelvic floor and the psychological are a vicious cycle.
At least here in the US, most urologists suck at this. I had one prescribe me antibiotics for 90 days for chronic prostatitis. If you want treatment seek out a pelvic floor physical therapist. Most medium sized cities will have a clinic that specializes in this. They’re mainly geared towards women, but help men as well.
If you’re not sure yet, do what I did. I only did reverse kegel exercises for the first 30 days of using this app. Then slowly add kegels in but making sure to start with a reverse and follow up with a reverse kegel activity. There have been a couple of times where I started having those tense symptoms and backed off the kegels and just focused on loosening and relaxing for several days. My erections have improved immensely and symptoms have improved. May not be the same for everyone…Good luck!
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Thanks for your answer. I will try that for now. I also live in the US, so that fits…
From your answer, I guess that you also have increased urinary frequency? Did this improve with the reverse kegels?
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Yes it did. I also had a problem with dribbling after peeing, especially when cold. I felt like an elderly person in a younger body. It sucked. Neither have gone away entirely, but are much, much better. The tight/weak pelvic floor must have been behind a lot of it. I even realized that I was clinching my pelvic floor and ass throughout the day due to stress, etc. It’s crazy how you start realizing this as you work on these exercises. I would say that if a urologist has checked you out and all’s good with the prostate, lean in to the reverse kegels and stretches. Don’t overdo it, but aim for consistency everyday. It really has helped me.