Prostate massage
Prostate massage or Prostate milking is the massage or stimulation of the male prostate gland for sexual stimulation or medical purposes.
The prostate takes part in the sexual response cycle, and is essential for ejaculation. Due to its proximity to the anterior rectal wall, it can be stimulated from the anterior wall of the rectum or externally via the perineum.
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Medical uses [edit]
Digital rectal examination (DRE) [edit]
Prostate massage is part of the digital rectal examination (DRE) routinely given to men by urologists in order to look for nodules of prostate cancer and to obtain an expressed prostatic secretion (EPS) specimen for microscopy and microbiological culture to screen for prostatitis.
Therapy for Prostatitis [edit]
Massage of the prostate is a simple but often painful procedure that takes around 5 minutes to complete. There is a wide range of use of prostate massage by urologists depending on the country and individual preferences of the urologist. Massage is not very commonly used in the treatment of prostatitis in the United States and Canada.[1] Many doctors believe prostate massage should not be performed on patients with acute prostatitis, because the infection can spread elsewhere in the body if massage is performed.[2] Some urologists also recommend that an antibiotic be taken as a prophylactic when performing prostate massage for chronic prostatitis because in vigorous massage anal fissures may be created and result in a spread of infection.
Many urologists would rather prescribe antibiotics (typically fluoroquinolones or Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole because they are thought to effectively penetrate the prostate) than to perform massage. Good quality longitudinal studies into the effectiveness of prostate massage for chronic prostatitis are lacking because of the rarity of the disease, lack of public funding and because of little interest from drug companies who fund many large medical studies. Antibiotics alone are sometimes enough to cure the patient in the simplest chronic cases caused by gonorrhea and some other sexually transmitted bacteria, and in many cases of acute prostatitis.
History [edit]
Prostate massage has been used to treat chronic prostatitis since around the year 1890 until today. It replaced older treatments of prostatitis which were the practice of passing the largest possible sound or catheter through the prostatic urethra causing fluid to drain out of the prostate, and the surgical practice of cutting the prostate open and draining it into either the rectum or through the perineum. Between 1890 and the late 1940's prostate massage was often combined with infusion of silver nitrate (an antimicrobial agent) into the urethra. Massage has fallen out of use with many urologists since the development of more effective antibiotics between the 1940's to 1970's and the consequent shift in medical culture toward drug only therapies.
However, due to the ineffectiveness of drug treatments for chronic prostatitis (often termed AAA: antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and alpha blockers) there has been a resurgence of interest by a many urologists into prostate massage. In the late 1990s, a urologist in the Phillippines became well known on the internet for performing prostate massage in conjunction with multiple antibiotics for the treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis.[3][4] In a recent trial, however, prostate massage was not shown to improve outcomes compared to antibiotics alone.[5] The disparity of outcomes from various therapies for chronic prostatitis strongly suggest the disease is multifactorial, and that prostate massage should at least be used in men who are refractory to drug only therapies.
Risks [edit]
Vigorous prostate massage has been documented with occasional consequences that are injurious and life threatening: periprostatic hemorrhage,[6] cellulitis, septicaemia, possible disturbance and metastasis of prostate cancer to other parts of the body, and hemorrhoidal flare-up, and rectal fissures.[7]
Animal husbandry [edit]
Electroejaculation is a procedure in which nerves are stimulated via an electric probe, which is inserted into the rectum adjacent to the prostate. It is most commonly encountered in animal husbandry for the purpose of collecting semen samples for testing or breeding. Some devices are also sold for human use that electrically stimulate the prostate. Electroejaculation is different procedure than prostate massage.
Prostate massage as alternative therapy [edit]
Prostate massage was once the most popular therapeutic maneuver used to treat prostatitis.[8] It is now often seen as an "alternative medicine" or quack therapy by urologists in the United States and Canada.
According to the Prostatitis Foundation,[9] "it used to be, in the age before antibiotics (before about 1960 for prostatitis), doctors performed massage when their patients had prostatitis. In some cases it was enough to cure them of the disease. ... it fell out of common practice with the advent of antibiotics. It's much easier to prescribe a pill and send the patient home." However, according to WebMD,[10] in many prostatitis cases antibiotics do not work because the swelling and inflammation caused by the infection closes off the acini (or sacs), causing the acini not to "shed" bacteria, and protecting the bacteria inside from antibiotics and the body's own immune cells.
Continuing research in emerging medical communities,[11][12] published articles in non-medical circles,[13][14] and anecdotal evidence on the Internet shows that there is still interest in the technique as alternative therapy.
In China, a 2008 survey of 627 urologists found that prostate massage is used prevalently as a nonpharmacological therapy for chronic prostatitis.[15]
Prostate massage as sexual practice [edit]
Prostate massage is also used for sexual stimulation, often in order to reach orgasm. It has been practiced as part of BDSM sexual activity.
The prostate is sometimes referred to as the "male G-spot". Some men are able to achieve orgasm solely through stimulation of the prostate gland, such as prostate massage or receptive anal intercourse. Men who report the sensation of prostate stimulation often give descriptions similar to females' accounts of G-spot stimulation.[16]
Prostate massage has become a common sexual practice in couples' sexual lives as men seem to experience high levels of pleasure from it. Also, the advent of equipment and products for prostate massage encourages people to try it. Many couples though do not purchase such devices but use the finger for anal penetration and prostate stimulation to enhance the man's orgasm. The finger or the prostate massager is introduced into the rectum through the anus and the prostate gland is gently massaged. The main problem in using the finger is that it may be too short to reach the prostate gland. [17]
Prostate massage can be performed individually or with the help of a partner. Some men prefer being anally stimulated by their partner during foreplay or after intercourse. Men can excite their own prostates while masturbating using anal penetration devices.
There are a few safety matters concerning prostate stimulation and anal penetration. It is strongly recommended that plenty of lubricant is used with prostate massagers to prevent rectal lining damage. A smaller instrument or finger may be introduced gradually to minimize the discomfort that some may feel. Massagers may be used with or without a condom; however, because of the bacteria found in the rectum, if a condom is not used, it is very important to clean the tool with antibacterial soap before use in another orifice or by a partner.
Equipment [edit]
A prostate massager refers to devices for massaging the prostate gland, mainly for sexual purposes.
The shape of a prostate massager is similar to a finger, since prostate massages are traditionally given digitally. They usually have a slightly curved head to effectively massage the prostate. Lubricant is usually inserted into the anus. A prostate massager should be used with care because of the sensitivity of the prostate. Correct use involves a medium to light repetitive massage, or circular motion—the tool should not be thrusted.
Prostate massage equipment ranges from dildos to butt plugs and G-spot vibrators. When used in sexual practice, prostate massagers are commonly referred to as "prostate toys", "prostate sex toys", and "anal toys". These prostate massagers are inserted into the rectum through the anus and are intended to stimulate the prostate by simple massaging or vibrating. They are used during foreplay by many couples.
Prostate stimulation is thought to produce stronger and more powerful orgasms similar to orgasms in women produced by G-spot stimulation.
Prostate dildos are similar to the vaginal dildos, but they tend to be more curved, slimmer and with a softer texture. Some of the new prostate dildos on the market are driven by batteries and offer vibration at the tip, which may be changed depending on the personal preference. Unlike the vaginal dildos, the anal prostate massager has a flared end to prevent from being lost in the rectum.
Most men prefer butt plugs, which are easy to use, can be inserted freely and left in place while the man's hands are free for other sexual activities such as masturbation. Anal plugs come also in various shapes, sizes and designs and although they are not commonly intended to stimulate the prostate, newer models of more angled butt plugs are now developed to provide a more vigorous massage to the prostate. [18] The new butt plugs have a more curved shape and they are slightly longer than the regular anal plugs. They commonly have a narrow neck and a flared end to prevent losing it in the rectum. Some of the newer models come with batteries and vibrations that increase sexual pleasure.
The G-spot vibrator can be used as a prostate massager as long as it is handled carefully and are provided with a safety base that will not allow to be lost in the rectum. Vibrators for prostate stimulation usually have a pronounced curve at the end.
References [edit]
- ^ Prostatitis Treatments at MayoClinic.com Retrieved September 2, 2008.
- ^ Nickel JC (November 1999). "Prostatitis: evolving management strategies". The Urologic clinics of North America 26 (4): 737–51. doi:10.1016/S0094-0143(05)70215-9. PMID 10584615.
- ^ Nickel JC, Downey J, Feliciano AE, Hennenfent B (1999). "Repetitive prostatic massage therapy for chronic refractory prostatitis: the Philippine experience". Techniques in urology 5 (3): 146–51. PMID 10527258.
- ^ Shoskes DA, Zeitlin SI (1999). "Use of prostatic massage in combination with antibiotics in the treatment of chronic prostatitis". Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases 2 (3): 159–162. doi:10.1038/sj.pcan.4500308. PMID 12496826.
- ^ Ateya A, Fayez A, Hani R, Zohdy W, Gabbar MA, Shamloul R (2006). "Evaluation of prostatic massage in treatment of chronic prostatitis". Urology 67 (4): 674–8. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2005.10.021. PMID 16566972.
- ^ Buse S, Warzinek T, Hobi C, Ackerman D (2003). "[Prostate massage with unwanted consequences. Case report]". Der Urologe. Ausg. A (in German) 42 (1): 78–9. PMID 14655640.
- ^ "Prostatitis Prostate Massage or Drainage". www.chronicprostatitis.com. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
- ^ Nickel JC, Alexander R, Anderson R, Krieger J, Moon T, Neal D, Schaeffer A, Shoskes D (1999). "[Prostatitis unplugged? Prostatic massage revisited.]". Tech Urol. 5 (1): 1–7. PMID 10374787.
- ^ http://www.prostatitis.org
- ^ http://www.webmd.com
- ^ Churakov AA, Popkov VM, Zemskov SP, Glybochko PV, Bliumberg BI (2007). "[Combined physiotherapy of chronic infectious prostatitis]". Urologiia (in Russian) (1): 61–5. PMID 17472003.
- ^ Shen SL, He DL, Luo Y (2006). "[Clinical trials of combined therapy of an oral Chinese medicine with massage for chronic nonbacterial prostatitis]". Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue (in Chinese) 12 (9): 851–3. PMID 17009541.
- ^ "Prostate Problems? Hidden In More Ways Than One"The American Chiropractor, 2008. accessed 13 October 2007[dead link]
- ^ Williams D (2005). "[Massaging the Prostate]". Alternatives 10 (20): 157–9.
- ^ Yang J, Liu L, Xie HW, Ginsberg DA (2008). "Chinese urologists' practice patterns of diagnosing and treating chronic prostatitis: a questionnaire survey". Urology 72 (3): 548–51. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2008.03.061. PMID 18597833.
- ^ Ladas, AK; Whipple, B; Perry, JD (1982). The G spot and other discoveries about human sexuality. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. ISBN 0440130409.
- ^ "Prostate Orgasm". Retrieved 2010-04-12.
- ^ "Aneros Helix". Retrieved 2010-04-12.
External links [edit]
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- Prostate massage, the medical procedure
