Penis. (Yeah, I said it.)

Today, I’m going to talk about something that I haven’t really addressed all that much -  the penis. More specifically, I’d like to talk about the people who have penises. In general, penis bearing people are anything BUT under-represented, however, pelvic floor physical therapy is one place where they are sometimes overlooked. 

Did you know that pelvic floor physical therapy was originally called “women’s health” physical therapy? We focused on what people with a uterus typically experience - incontinence (often occurring after childbirth), pelvic pain (muscle dysfunction, endometriosis, etc.), pelvic organ prolapse. A whole list of things that primarily excluded peeps with penises, no matter their gender identity. 

You deserve better. Pelvic pain in penis bearing people was once broadly categorized as “prostatitis”, or, more specifically “nonbacterial prostatitis” - which pretty much means, “we don’t know why you hurt and you don’t have an infection but we think it’s your prostate so that’s what we’re gonna call it but we still don’t know what to do about it”. 

Or something like that. It’s kind of a shit diagnosis, in addition to being largely inaccurate as the cause for a large portion of pelvic pain in people with penises.

Whether you have a penis or not, pelvic floor dysfunction can have an effect on far more than a person’s physical experiences. Sense of self, romantic relationships, and social and recreational activities can all be affected by pelvic floor dysfunction. If you have pain whenever you have an erection, how likely are you to be enthusiastic about intimacy with your partner on a regular basis? If you can’t sit for more than 10 minutes without aching in your testicles, how often are you going to want to have dinner with friends, or sit through a movie? 

It can affect so many aspects of our being that getting help and feeling better is essential to a good quality of life.

Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t discriminate against anyone’s gender; it’s an equal opportunity sort of beast. I’m glad that we have recognized that “women’s health” in no way encompasses all that we do, and I’m proud to provide help to those who need it - regardless of gender!