Prostate massage is drug-free alternative treatment for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). Many men use prostate massage for prostatitis and general prostate health. It can be helpful for men with an enlarged prostate and are looking to improve sexual health.
Prostate massage enhances blood flow, improves urinary flow, and helps maintain the integrity of the prostate tissue. Improved blood flow delivers oxygen, essential nutrients, and white blood cells, which help fight infection. A patient can perform prostate massage on himself, have a partner help, or have it done by a physician. It can be done both internally and externally.
Also know as “prostate milking,” prostate massage stimulates the release of prostatic fluid. This release opens up channels in the prostate and reduces inflammation, which is a major contributor to CP/CPPS. About 50% of men with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis have pelvic floor muscle disorders contributing to their pain. Prostate massage is helpful for for treating pelvic floor disorders because it improves muscle tone.
How Does Prostate Massage for Prostatitis Work?
There are several ways to perform daily prostate massage. You should consult your doctor before trying prostate massage for prostatitis to make sure it is safe for you and to learn the technique if you are unsure.
Prostate massage for prostatitis may be performed by:
- Inserting a gloved and lubricated finger into the anus;
- Using an internal prostate massager;
- Applying finger pressure to the perineum; or
- Using an external prostate massage device.
You, your partner, or your doctor can insert a finger internally. Using a glove and lubricant, insert the finger anally and press it against the prostate, which feels like a small, round ball. Be very careful when probing for the prostate. Massage the different areas of the gland by applying light pressure and releasing it. If you apply pressure to the center of the prostate, that should release prostatic fluid that will appear at the tip of the penis. Depending on the state of your prostate, prostate massage can range from causing some discomfort to being pleasurable.
Internal prostate massagers can also be lubricated and inserted into the anus to massage the prostate. External massagers apply pressure to the perineum, which is the area between the scrotum and the anus.
If you choose to use your finger externally, you can apply pressure to the perineum. Apply gentle pressure to the entire length of the perineum.
How to Find Prostate Massage Devices
If you are looking to acquire a prostate massage device, you may wonder what to look for. You want a product that is specifically designed for this purpose. Be careful not to buy sex toys that may have been repacked as massagers. Read the product description carefully, and research the company that makes it before you purchase. You want a reputable company that sells products that come with a money-back guarantee and can repair the product if broken. Talk to your doctor about what type of device is best for you before you make the purchase.
Some internal prostate massagers provide vibration. It is important to use a product that is safe and puts out the right kind of waves, because the prostate gland is very fragile. You want a product that produces sonic waves. Sonic waves can:
- relax the prostate,
- stimulate muscles in the area,
- reduce inflammation, and
- encourage blood flow and fluid flow to the area.
There are external massagers as well. External massagers work by stimulating a spot on the perineum. These small devices can be used while sitting.
Using prostate massage for prostatitis is a treatment that can take some time. As is true with many alternative CP/CPPS treatments that treat the muscles around the prostate, you may not begin to see any benefits of daily prostate massage for several weeks or months. You need to be patient with your progress.
There are a number of other alternative prostatitis treatments that work on muscles around the prostate that may help with CP/CPPS symptoms. The Wise-Anderson Protocol, myofascial trigger point release therapy, and the Renew XY Health Program for Men all work on pelvic muscles and/or trigger points. Prostate massage is also part of other whole body treatment programs for CP/CPPS like the “NPAT” Treatment Program for Prostatitis.
NPAT stands for:
- Natural treatments (ALCAT, elimination diets, and wheat-free diets)
- Phytotherapy (pollen and quercetin together with probiotics)
- Alternative Treatments (acupuncture, prostate massage, pelvic rehabilitation and therapy)
- Total body (exercise, chronic stress management, lifestyle)
As NPAT demonstrates, prostate massage can be safely combined with other therapies as part of a holistic approach to treating prostatitis. Because CP/CPPS often times develops from other problems in the body outside of the prostate itself, many men find success in managing their symptoms through using a multimodal approach to treating their prostatitis.
If you have an upcoming PSA test, refrain from performing a prostate massage for a few days before you get the test. The massage (an other kinds of stimulation) could artificially and temporarily raise your PSA level, causing you unnecessary alarm and unnecessary testing.
