Pelvic floor seems like the wrong muscle to be exercising

Posted by lookingforward @lookingforward, Jan 13 9:36am

I've had radiation, then dry orgasm, but more recently the pulsation of the orgasm is disappearing too. So I figured the answer might be kegels....

But this seems to be the wrong muscle. I can squeeze various muscles in the area and the ones related to pelvic floor, especially around the anus, do not at all feel like the muscles that were involved in ejaculation. The latter are much more forward, around the base of the penis, whereas (if I'm doing them correctly) the pelvic floor muscles are further back.

Or does strengthening one, benefit all somehow?

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jeffmarc | @jeffmarc | Jan 13 10:46am

What drugs are you taking? Are you saying you can’t reach orgasm anymore?

retireditguy | @retireditguy | Jan 13 12:03pm

I'm no expert nor a medical professional, but I found Michelle Kenway's videos on Kegals very good. She does a pretty good job explaining the muscles including the ones around the base of the penis. She has several videos specifically for post proctectomy patients. I used several of her videos when I was figuring out how to do them. Here's one to get started:

Best wishes on your recovery.

lookingforward | @lookingforward | Jan 13 12:08pm

In reply to @jeffmarc "What drugs are you taking? Are you saying you can’t reach orgasm anymore?" + (show)

No drugs. Very weak muscular contractions. Still a general feeling that something has happened, but...

lookingforward | @lookingforward | Jan 13 12:08pm

In reply to @retireditguy "I'm no expert nor a medical professional, but I found Michelle Kenway's videos on Kegals very..." + (show)

Thanks, I will check these out!

survivor5280 | @survivor5280 | Jan 13 4:22pm

To get your front pelvic floor, there is an easy way to remember: nuts to guts. Try to pull your testicles in, like you are trying to stop peeing. With practice you can do front and back individually and together. It sounds like you need the front more.

A couple things I've been taught about pelvic floor is that releasing is far more important than engaging. You can be counterproductive if you just engage and never properly release. To properly release just relax and take a deep breath, you pelvic floor will release.

sbassmeister | @sbassmeister | Jan 14 9:23am

I went to a PT who specializes in working with men after prostate surgery. I was not doing Kegels correctly at all. Once she taught me how to do them correctly, it made a huge difference. I can’t explain what to do but I highly recommend finding an expert to help you.

heavyphil | @heavyphil | Jan 15 7:18am

In reply to @sbassmeister "I went to a PT who specializes in working with men after prostate surgery. I was..." + (show)

These pelvic floor exercises seem to work for some but not others. I too was doing Kegels improperly - clenching my anal sphincter instead of bladder.
However, none of the exercises I found online helped nearly as much as the best Kegel of all: stopping your urine flow, and then restarting at say, 7-10 second intervals. You CANNOT do this wrong as there is only one way to do it - the way you’ve done it all your life.
It helps to have a full or nearly full bladder (if you can) so you can have 3 or 4 urine stoppages. It worked for me.

retireditguy | @retireditguy | Jan 15 8:24am

In reply to @heavyphil "These pelvic floor exercises seem to work for some but not others. I too was doing..." + (show)

@heavyphil -- I remember hearing that in a Michelle Kenway video on youtube as using that technique of stopping your urine as a test to ensure you're doing the Kegals correctly. I'd forgotten about it. Thanks for the reminder!

survivor5280 | @survivor5280 | Jan 16 1:30am

The two analogies I've heard repeatedly and can attest to their relative accuracy: stopping the stream and "pinching a loaf" - if you can replicate those two actions then you are working the front and back pelvic floor and it's important to work them both and not only focus on one.