Having a prostatectomy can be a concerning time for some men, particularly when it’s combined with a cancer diagnosis. Removing the prostate to treat the cancer usually results in most men (80%) developing urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction as a side effect of the surgery. This can improve with time but it has been reported that 16-51% of men can still be incontinent at one year post operatively. Urinary incontinence can be extremely distressing and can have a significant impact on daily life for these men. The wearing of pads and leakage during daily activities, sport and exercise can impact on the man’s self-esteem and confidence.

There is lots of research to suggest that being taught and undertaking pelvic floor exercises before and after your surgery can limit the degree of incontinence and improve it more quickly (Milios, J (2019). It is recommended that men diagnosed with prostate cancer who are planning surgery as a treatment option should consult with a pelvic health physiotherapist to initiate pelvic floor exercises as soon as possible. There is also good evidence that doing pelvic floor exercises can help the recovery of erectile dysfunction too.