Prostate Restored
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto Pexels Logo Photo: Ketut Subiyanto

What does male Kegels do?

Kegel exercises for men can strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which support the bladder and bowel and affect sexual function. With practice, Kegel exercises for men can be done just about anytime. Before you start doing Kegel exercises, find out how to locate the correct muscles and understand the proper technique.

What vitamins to take to look younger?
What vitamins to take to look younger?

The 14 Best Anti-Aging Vitamins and Supplements Curcumin. Curcumin — the main active compound in turmeric — has been shown to possess powerful...

Read More »
What does metastasis to the brain feel like?
What does metastasis to the brain feel like?

Brain metastases may form one tumor or many tumors in the brain. As the metastatic brain tumors grow, they create pressure on and change the...

Read More »

Kegel exercises for men: Understand the benefits Kegel exercises for men can help improve bladder control and possibly improve sexual performance. Here's a guide to doing Kegel exercises correctly. By Mayo Clinic Staff

Think Kegel exercises are just for women? Think again.

Kegel exercises for men can strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which support the bladder and bowel and affect sexual function. With practice, Kegel exercises for men can be done just about anytime. Before you start doing Kegel exercises, find out how to locate the correct muscles and understand the proper technique.

Benefits of Kegel exercises for men

Open pop-up dialog box Close Male pelvic floor muscles Male pelvic floor muscles The male pelvic floor muscles support the bladder and bowel and affect sexual function. Kegel exercises can help strengthen these muscles. Many factors can weaken your pelvic floor muscles, including the surgical removal of the prostate (radical prostatectomy) and conditions such as diabetes and an overactive bladder.

You might benefit from doing Kegel exercises if you:

Have urinary or fecal incontinence

Dribble after urination — usually after you've left the toilet

How to do Kegel exercises for men

To get started:

Find the right muscles. To identify your pelvic floor muscles, stop urination in midstream or tighten the muscles that keep you from passing gas. These maneuvers use your pelvic floor muscles. Once you've identified your pelvic floor muscles, you can do the exercises in any position, although you might find it easiest to do them lying down at first. To identify your pelvic floor muscles, stop urination in midstream or tighten the muscles that keep you from passing gas. These maneuvers use your pelvic floor muscles. Once you've identified your pelvic floor muscles, you can do the exercises in any position, although you might find it easiest to do them lying down at first. Perfect your technique. Tighten your pelvic floor muscles, hold the contraction for three seconds, and then relax for three seconds. Try it a few times in a row. When your muscles get stronger, try doing Kegel exercises while sitting, standing or walking. Tighten your pelvic floor muscles, hold the contraction for three seconds, and then relax for three seconds. Try it a few times in a row. When your muscles get stronger, try doing Kegel exercises while sitting, standing or walking. Maintain your focus. For best results, focus on tightening only your pelvic floor muscles. Be careful not to flex the muscles in your abdomen, thighs or buttocks. Avoid holding your breath. Instead, breathe freely during the exercises.

How do you tell if you're doing Kegels correctly?
How do you tell if you're doing Kegels correctly?

“You can test you if you are doing kegels correctly by placing a finger in the vagina and squeezing the muscles—you should feel a lifting and...

Read More »
What is the enemy of testosterone?
What is the enemy of testosterone?

To make a long story short, more sugar means increased levels of insulin. And for those of you who don't know, insulin is the number enemy of...

Read More »

For best results, focus on tightening only your pelvic floor muscles. Be careful not to flex the muscles in your abdomen, thighs or buttocks. Avoid holding your breath. Instead, breathe freely during the exercises. Repeat 3 times a day. Aim for at least three sets of 10 repetitions a day.

When to do your Kegels

Make Kegel exercises part of your daily routine. For example:

Fit in a set of Kegel exercises every time you do a routine task, such as brushing your teeth. Do another set after you urinate, to get rid of the last few drops of urine. Contract your pelvic floor muscles just before and during any activity that puts pressure on your abdomen, such as sneezing, coughing, laughing or heavy lifting.

When you're having trouble

If you're having trouble doing Kegel exercises, don't be embarrassed to ask for help. Your doctor or other health care provider can give you important feedback so that you learn to isolate and strengthen the correct muscles. In some cases, biofeedback training might help. In a biofeedback session, your doctor or other health care provider inserts a small probe into your rectum. As you relax and contract your pelvic floor muscles, a monitor will measure and display your pelvic floor activity. Research suggests that biofeedback training is more effective in treating fecal incontinence.

When to expect results

If you do your Kegel exercises regularly, you can expect results — such as less frequent urine leakage — within a few weeks to a few months. For continued benefits, make Kegel exercises a permanent part of your daily routine.

Can drinking too little water cause high blood pressure?
Can drinking too little water cause high blood pressure?

When your body is dehydrated, it releases higher amounts of a chemical called vasopressin. Vasopressin helps your kidneys retain water, which can...

Read More »
What color is your urine when kidneys are failing?
What color is your urine when kidneys are failing?

When kidneys are failing, the increased concentration and accumulation of substances in urine lead to a darker color which may be brown, red or...

Read More »

There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. From Mayo Clinic to your inbox Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. Email ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Subscribe! Thank you for subscribing! You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry

Can dark chocolate make me sleepy?
Can dark chocolate make me sleepy?

Dark chocolate can make you feel drowsy even though caffeine is present in it. It won't make you feel awake the way milk chocolate does as milk...

Read More »
Why do old men get shorter?
Why do old men get shorter?

“Older adults can get shorter because the cartilage between their joints gets worn out and osteoporosis causes the spinal column to become...

Read More »
How often should a man see a urologist?
How often should a man see a urologist?

After your first prostate exam has been completed and you are healthy, there won't be a need to have another exam for at least 10 years. This is...

Read More »
How do you know if a guy is mature?
How do you know if a guy is mature?

17 clear signs you're dating a mature man 1) He Knows How To Make Decisions. ... 3) He Knows the Push-and-Pull of Compromising. ... 5) He Never...

Read More »