Yes, when they are done correctly. Most men are never shown how. Here is what kegels help with, what they do not, and how to tell you are doing them right.
Kegels train the muscle that shuts off the flow of urine. That is why they are taught to men who leak and to men before and after prostate surgery. The pelvic floor also plays a direct part in erections.
They work when you squeeze the right muscle, at the right dose, in the positions where you need it. Done wrong, they do nothing. Done too hard, they make things worse.
Leaking with pressure. Men who leak when they cough, sneeze, lift, or stand up. Squeeze the pelvic floor, then stand. Squeeze, then cough. Squeeze, then lift. Pelvic floor therapists call this the Knack.
Prostate surgery. After surgery the external sphincter works alone. It has not caught up yet. That is why you leak. Not because something is broken forever. Training the pelvic floor before surgery is associated with fewer pads sooner, and most men are never told to do it.
Erections. The pelvic floor also plays a direct part in erections. It helps hold blood in the penis. A stronger pelvic floor supports erectile quality.
They do not fix a muscle that is already too tight. If kegels cause pain, or you have pelvic pain to begin with, stop and see a pelvic floor physical therapist. Some men need to learn to relax this muscle before they strengthen it.
They do not work faster if you do more. More is not better. A tired pelvic floor is a weak one.
They do not work lying down only. Lying down is where you learn it. Upright is where you need it.
Most men squeeze the wrong thing. Abs. Glutes. Breath held. That is straining, not a pelvic floor contraction.
The five mistakes: bearing down instead of lifting, holding your breath, squeezing your abs, doing too many too soon, and only doing slow holds with no quick squeezes.
You should feel a gentle squeeze and lift inside the pelvis while your belly and glutes stay relaxed and you keep breathing normally. If you are holding your breath, tensing your abs, or pushing downward, it is not a correct contraction.
If you are turning red, you are trying too hard.
Dr. Meg Cochran, DPT shows the first pelvic floor exercise for men, lying down, with the cues that make it click.
Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat. Gently squeeze and lift. Hold for two to three seconds. Let go completely and rest for ten seconds.
Do five of those, three times a day. It looks like too little. It is not. You are teaching your brain to find the muscle, and that comes before strength.
The first change is usually the pattern, not the count. Leaking becomes tied to specific moments, like standing up or coughing. That shift is progress even when the pad count has not moved.
After several weeks of steady work with no change, see a pelvic floor physical therapist. You may need someone to check that you are using the right muscles.
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Dr. Meg Cochran is a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy specializing in pelvic floor rehabilitation, and treats men after prostate surgery through Where You Are Physical Therapy in Oxford, Mississippi.
This article is educational and is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a substitute for in-person care. Follow your surgical team's instructions. If you have urgent symptoms including severe pain, fever, unexpected bleeding, or a sudden change in function, contact your healthcare provider.
The first week after prostate surgery, written out step by step by Dr. Meg. What to do with the catheter in. What to skip. What to have in the house. Enter your email and it opens right away.
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The Prostate Recovery Quick Start is Dr. Meg showing you the first exercises on video, from before surgery through week 4, with the two sheets to print. Open it on any phone, tablet, or computer, from anywhere. It is educational, not physical therapy.
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