Male Sexual Conditions
Male sexual conditions are conditions connected to the sexual health of those with a penis. And male sexual health refers to the overall well-being of men (and those assigned male at birth) concerning their sexual function, performance and satisfaction. It encompasses various aspects, including libido, erectile function, ejaculation and reproductive health.
Sexual health-related issues are extremely common and wide-ranging. As pelvic health physiotherapists, the most common conditions that we see are erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, Peyronie's disease and hard-flaccid syndrome. These conditions are defined as follows:
- Erectile dysfunction - is difficulty getting and maintaining an erection. It’s very common, occurring in at least one in five Australian men over the age of 40. Its even more common after prostatectomy when there’s also bladder leakage to worry about.
- Premature ejaculation - is the inability to control or delay ejaculation, or when orgasm and ejaculation happen sooner than you or your partner would like. Premature ejaculation is considered the most common male sexual dysfunction, affecting about 30% of Australian men.
- Peyronie's disease - occurs when thickened scar tissue in the penis hardens over time, resulting in a bend or curvature of the penis, painful or difficult erections.
- Hard-flaccid syndrome is a persistent semi-rigid or firm penis even when not sexually aroused. This mainly affects young men and is often associated with trauma to the penis.
All of these sexual health conditions can occur at any stage of life, but are more common as you age. For some, these problems have been lifelong.
For others, they may develop after years of normal sexual function. So, why does this happen? Normal sexual function relies on a combination of physical and psychological factors. These include a calm nervous system, normal nerve supply, enough blood flow, confidence and good pelvic floor muscle control. In particular, the pelvic floor muscles play an essential role in gaining and maintaining an erection and controlling ejaculation.
Due to their intimate nature, these conditions often go unspoken. Many quietly live with it for years, feeling frustrated and embarrassed in the bedroom, thinking there's no solution. But when left untreated, things can become quite distressing, affecting relationships, intimacy, self-esteem and confidence. You might find yourself withdrawing from intimacy or lacking in confidence. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Help is available
There’s no need to live this way, because good, professional help is available. Our postgraduate-qualified pelvic health physiotherapists help treat these conditions regularly, and most people experiencing these conditions can experience significant improvement. And at Pelvic Health Matters, we’re here to help you.
At least 1 in 5 Australian men over 40 experience erectile dysfunction, while 30 % of Aussie men experience premature ejaculation. But good help is available.
Common signs & symptoms of male sexual conditions
Everyone is different, but if you are experiencing issues with your sexual health, you might be familiar with some of the following:
- Erections that take a long time to achieve
- Difficulty getting an erection hard enough for penetration
- Erections that fade quickly
- Decreased morning or nocturnal erections
- Ejaculating within 1-3 minutes of penetration
- Change in the shape or bend of the penis; this may be a curve upward or bend to one side
- Penile pain with or without an erection
- Penile shortening
- Scar tissue (small lumps or a band of hard tissue) under the skin of the penis
- Coldness or numbness in the penis, particularly in the glans
- Feeling worried or anxious about sexual performance
- Avoiding relationships and intimacy due to embarrassment
- Reduced libido and sexual confidence
- Semi-rigid penis when not aroused
Risk factors & causes of male sexual conditions
- Prostate surgery
- Bladder leakage
- Poor pelvic floor muscle function – too weak or too tense
- Concern about sexual performance
- Relationship issues
- History of trauma, especially intimacy trauma
- Medications
- Vascular problems such as heart disease or high blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Neurological diseases, e.g. Parkinson’s or MS
- Ageing
- Higher body mass index
- Hormone imbalance
- Lifestyle factors, e.g. smoking, drinking alcohol and being inactive
- Stress, anxiety and depression
- Penile surgery such as vasectomy and circumcision
- Aggressive masturbation
- Recurrent thrush or infection
- Unrealistic expectations from porn
- Low back pain
Our Proven Pathway for Treating Male Sexual Conditions
Discover what matters
You’re assessed as a whole person
We begin by taking the time to learn all about you – as a whole person, not just a patient. So, your postgraduate-qualified pelvic health physiotherapist will gather the following information:
- QUESTIONNAIRE: You’ll complete a pelvic health questionnaire online before your first visit. This helps us understand your history, current health concerns and what matters to you.
- 1-on-1 CONSULTATION: Here, we’ll take the time to learn about you and your sexual concerns. We believe a holistic approach enables us to understand how your specific physical, emotional and lifestyle factors influence your sexual health.
- THOROUGH ASSESSMENT: This includes an examination of your spine, pelvic floor and abdominal muscles, and pelvic joints and muscles. You’ll also complete questionnaires about your thoughts, feelings and environment.
- CONNECTING THE DOTS: Now that we’ve discovered so much about you and your sexual issues, we can explore how it all fits together. For example, understanding how worrying about bladder leakage, combined with your weak pelvic floor, can contribute to erectile dysfunction. Or perhaps we’ll discover that your anxiety levels mixed with a tense pelvic floor might contribute to premature ejaculation. Everyone is different.
- SET GOALS: We’ll help you set meaningful pelvic health goals, such as:
- Feel confident in my erections
- Enjoy sex without guilt or frustration
- Know I can last as long as I want
- Feel confident I can please my partner
Restore what matters
You’ll have a personalised pelvic health plan.
Step 2 is where we get down to action. Together, we’ll choose the best research-proven treatment options that suit your lifestyle. You’ll learn how your pelvic floor muscles contribute to sexual function, how your nervous system and body work together, what may not be working so well, and what you can do to improve this problem.
Next, we’ll start Pelvic Floor Muscle Training. You’ll learn valuable new skills and connect with hidden (and highly useful) muscles that you didn’t know you had. Then, we’ll create a personalised program based on your needs. You’ll learn how to use these vital muscles when you need them. We’ll also help improve the strength, endurance and relaxation of your pelvic floor muscles.
If you have Peyronie's disease, we may use therapeutic ultrasound, which can help reduce the size and thickness of the plaques (scar tissue) that have built up. We’ll also give you advice on self-massage and stretches that release tension.
You’ll also learn how to break the cycle of your condition with strategies to calm your nerves, muscles and the connection with your thoughts and emotions. This might include general exercise, and techniques like mindfulness and breathing exercises.
In addition to all of this, we'll give you excellent resources and tools to help you progress. You’ll be armed with all the things!
ABOUT YOUR APPOINTMENTS: Together, we’ll work out how often we should see each other. We’ll agree on what works best for you, your commitments and your finances.
Enjoy what matters
You’ll be living your best life.
The final step is ensuring you achieve all the meaningful goals you set at the start of your time with us. You might also be surprised to find that you can embrace new possibilities you hadn’t considered, such as starting a new relationship. After a few sessions, you’ll have all the valuable skills to ensure good sexual function in all situations – without running back to appointments all the time.
Life has a way of throwing things off track, though, so sometimes, you might want a little reboot. A stressful life event or a new relationship can all challenge sexual function. Whatever the case, just know – we’re always here for you, ready to help whenever you need it.
Read about Frank 65 yrs, Josh 45 yrs, Geoff 41 yrs, Eddie 25 yrs
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Pelvic Health Matters
New name.
Same exceptional care.
Formerly known as Women’s & Men’s Health Physiotherapy, our new name reflects both what we believe in and what we do. We have an unwavering belief that pelvic health matters for everyone, at every stage of life.
Same phone number: 03 8823 8300
New email: physio@pelvichealth.com.au