RCGP says pelvic floor exercises may help male impotence

Main Category: Erectile Dysfunction / Premature Ejaculation
Article Date: 01 Nov 2004 - 0:00 PST


UK - The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has published research which suggests pelvic floor exercises may increase a man's sexual performance.

The research, from the University of the West of England in Bristol, published in the November edition of the RCGP's British Journal of General Practice (BJGP), compared different treatments for erectile dysfunction.

As part of their treatment plan, patients were asked to complete 30-minutes of daily pelvic floor exercises, over a three month period. Participants were also given advice concerning their smoking, alcohol intake, general fitness and weight reduction.

Forty per cent of the men participating in a research project reported that their sex lives were back to normal after carrying out the exercises for the three months. A further 34% reported that their sex lives had improved as a result of doing the pelvic floor exercises.

Dr Grace Dorey, Consultant Physiotherapist and author of the study, said: "We would definitely recommend that pelvic floor exercises are used as a first-line approach to treating men with erectile dysfunction. Most of the men that participated in the research reported that their sexual performance had improved as a result of the exercises"

Dr Sarah Jarvis, spokesperson for the RCGP, said: "Pelvic floor exercises have been recommended for a number of years in the treatment of women, so I am not surprised that they have proved effective in treating men with erectile dysfunction. This could be a useful method of treating male patients who do not have a psychosexual problem - providing they complete their exercises on a daily basis."

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The RCGP journal, British Journal of General Practitioners (BJGP) is published monthly and distributed to over 20,000 RCGP members, associates, and subscribers in more than 40 countries worldwide. Its primary purpose is to publish first-rate, peer reviewed research papers on topics relevant to primary care.

The Royal College of General Practitioners is the largest membership organisation in the United Kingdom solely for GPs. It aims to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and to act as the "voice" of GPs on issues concerned with education, training, research, and clinical standards. Founded in 1952, the RCGP has over 21,000 members who are committed to improving patient care, developing their own skills and promoting general practice as a discipline.

http://www.rcgp.org.uk

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