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Men's Health

Pelvic Health Physiotherapists can offer treatment for the following conditions - Follow the links below to get more information and useful advice:

Urinary incontinence is a common side effect following a prostatectomy (surgical removal of the prostate).
 
The following videos have been produced by the Urology Specialist Nurses and Pelvic Health Physiotherapists. They address common questions that men undergoing prostatectomy often ask about how to manage and reduce incontinence symptoms:
 
They can help to remind you of information given by the Nurse or Physiotherapist at your clinic appointment. 
 
Pelvic floor exercises are also explained in these leaflets:
 
Using an app such as Squeezy for Men can help, as you can set reminders at times that suit your daily routine
 
Healthy bladder habits are important to help reduce urge incontinence:
 
Bladder training can often help to reduce urge incontinence. This is explained in this leaflet - Bladder Training
 
Here is an example of a bladder diary (as described in the leaflet) that you can complete - Bladder Diary
 

Useful Websites and Apps
 

Information Leaflets
 
You may have been referred for investigations by your Consultant or Continence Nurse Specialist. The links below provide information regarding two common bladder tests:
 
 

There are two main types of urinary incontinence:
 
  • Stress Incontinence – leakage of urine on exertion such as coughing, sneezing and during exercise
  • Urge Incontinence – leakage of urine occurring  when there is not enough time to reach the toilet
Urge incontinence is due to an overactive bladder:
 
Stress and urge incontinence can also occur together and this is known as mixed incontinence
 
If you are experiencing stress incontinence and/or urge incontinence, strengthening your pelvic floor muscles may help to resolve your symptoms
 
This animation shows the location of your pelvic floor muscles - Anatomy of the male pelvic floor
 
This video explains how to do pelvic floor muscle exercises (also known as Kegels) Male pelvic floor exercises
 
Pelvic floor exercises are also explained in these leaflets:
 
Using an app such as Squeezy for Men can help, as you can set reminders at times that suit your daily routine
 
Healthy bladder habits are important to help reduce urge incontinence:
 
Bladder training can often help to reduce urge incontinence. This is explained in this leaflet - Bladder Training
 
Here is an example of a bladder diary (as described in the leaflet) that you can complete - Bladder Diary
 
Healthy bowel habits are important as straining to empty your bowels can make urinary incontinence worse:
 
Useful Websites
 
Information Leaflets
 
You may have been referred for investigations by your Consultant or Continence Nurse Specialist. The links below provide information regarding two common bladder tests:
 
 

Constipation refers to infrequency or difficulty opening your bowels, where stools may be hard, lumpy or painful to pass.

Further information and tips for avoiding constipation can be found below:

It is important that you regularly check your stools to rule out more serious conditions that can affect bowel function.

Key signs and symptoms to look out for can be found on the bowel cancer UK website-Bowel Cancer Symptoms

It is important to avoid straining if you are having difficulty opening your bowels.

Repetitive straining can weaken your pelvic floor and increase your risk of developing complications such as haemorrhoids.

Adapting the position you use to sit on the toilet can help ‘straighten out’ the back passage, which makes it easier to pass stools. This sheet gives information about the best position to use- Correct Position for Emptying Bowels

 

It’s important to ensure you relax your pelvic floor muscles when emptying your bowels, and difficulty relaxing the pelvic floor can contribute to problems with emptying.

The video below guide you through techniques to encourage relaxion of the pelvic floor whilst on the toilet:

Guided Visualization for Elimination (Constipation, Urinary Hesitancy, Incomplete Bladder Emptying)

 

Pelvic floor dysfunction can contribute to difficulties emptying the bladder and/or bowels. This can be due to either a weak or a tense pelvic floor. Assessment by a pelvic health physiotherapist will be able to guide you on whether your pelvic floor muscle needs strengthening or releasing if the above tips haven’t worked.

Bowel control problems can affect people in different ways:

  • Sudden urges to poo that you can’t control

  • Accidental bowel leakage

  • Being unable to hold on to wind

The information below may be helpful:

Weak pelvic floor muscles can contribute to bowel control problems.  They can be strengthened by doing regular pelvic floor muscle exercises.  This animation shows the location of your pelvic floor muscles - Anatomy of the Male Pelvic Floor

This video explains how to do pelvic floor muscle exercises (also known as Kegels) Male Pelvic Floor Exercises

Pelvic floor exercises are also explained in these leaflets:

 

Healthy bowel habits are important as straining to empty your bowels can make symptoms worse:

For more support you can contact the Bladder and Bowel Community

 

Chronic pelvic pain syndrome or CPPS is also known as chronic non-bacterial prostatitis.
 
The definition of CPPS is persistent or recurring symptoms of pain or discomfort in the perineum (the area between the anus and testicles), testicles and/or penis. It can sometimes also effect bladder, bowel and sexual function. The causes of CPPS are not completely understood. It is not thought to be caused by infection, but a number of other factors may be involved.
 
You may be referred to see a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist if your Consultant thinks that tension in your pelvic floor muscles may be contributing to your symptoms.
 
See below for some useful information that you may find helpful if you have tension in your pelvic floor muscles:
 

All exercises and stretches that you do should be completely comfortable, so stop if you experience any discomfort.
 
The information below may be helpful if you have a persistent pain condition:
 

Maintaining a healthy weight can help to alleviate bladder and bowel symptoms - Weight Management

If you would like further help with this you can self refer to the Adult weight management service : Request for Support for losing weight (office.com) 
 
Stopping Smoking can help to alleviate bladder leakage by reducing coughing associated with smoking - Help Me Quit

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and partners have developed the ‘melo’ website to look after the mental wellbeing of its residents. Melo can help you to develop new skills that will support you when life is difficult.

 

Exercise - Physical activity guidelines for adults aged 19 to 64 - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Fitness Studio exercise videos - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Physical activity for adults and older adults (publishing.service.gov.uk)

 

If you have tried the exercises and advice but still feel you would like to see a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist regarding any ongoing bothersome symptoms, you can request a referral from your:

  • Consultant
  • Urology Nurse Specialist
  • Bladder and Bowel Nurse Specialist
  • GP