Massage Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

If you deal with erectile dysfunction (ED), chances are you’re open minded about any treatment, from lifestyle changes to medications

One sometimes-used “treatment” that’s not as commonly spoken about is the concept of an  erectile dysfunction massage — a specific therapeutic massage technique or techniques intended to improve blood flow, organ function and other elements of erectile health. 

We’re going to be up front: there’s little existing research to support the idea that any form of massage can be a viable treatment for ED. But for men who aren’t seeing the results they want, exploring alternative treatments like massage could lead to the results they want to see. 

Below we’ve discussed what constitutes an ED massage, what research says could actually help and what to do next if you’re going to give an ED massage a try.

The term "ED massage" isn't medically defined, and so there’s no official definition of what constitutes a massage for erectile dysfunction. 

Scouring the internet, you may end up with a list of massages that could purportedly help with erectile dysfunction including:

• Penis massage

• Prostate massage

• Tantric massage

• Erotic massage

• Reflexology

• Acupressure

• Acupuncture

• Pelvic floor massage

• Lymphatic drainage massage.

Generally, all of these types of massage focus on stimulating the muscles, glands, organs or blood flow of your sexual organs with the intention of improving the function of whatever is being massaged. And, in certain circumstances, each may anecdotally improve erectile function for some individuals.

Massage techniques have been documented generally to improve blood circulation, address injuries and improve well-being in some areas of medical treatment. But they’ve not been studied in sexual health — specifically with an eye to ED.

The general consensus when people hear the words “ED massage,” is that they’re generally referring to a prostate massage. Prostatic massage may clear the prostatic duct, and some men have said it leads to erectile improvement.

We have an article on the 3 best prostate massagers if you'd like to check it out.

Unsure where exactly the prostate is? It’s located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It’s about the size of a walnut and surrounds the urethra (the tube that empties urine from the bladder). It also produces fluid that makes up a part of semen.

It is sometimes called the male G-spot (or the P-spot!) — although the existence of this is also medically debated.

Prostate massage therapy usually involves using a lubricated, gloved finger or a tool, and a prostate massager to stimulate the prostate gland carefully. 

Does prostatic massage actually work to treat erectile dysfunction? Some people also believe that a prostate massage can be used to treat chronic prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland) or even prevent prostate cancer.

More research needs to be done.

If you’re interested in learning more about it, you should start by seeking medical advice from a healthcare professional. 

• Prostate stimulation may clear out your prostatic duct, allowing for excess fluid to be reduced, leading to a release of symptoms and positive prostate health.

• This type of therapy may reduce symptoms of an inflamed or enlarged prostate gland and may even help with urine flow and reduce painful ejaculation in some men

As for the negative side effects of an ED massage, well, there aren’t many — just that if you over-stimulate your prostate, you could injure yourself, which means your symptoms could become worse.

A healthy prostate is crucial for sexual intercourse and men’s health in general. And, if you’re experiencing sexual dysfunction or prostate health issues, addressing prostate issues may result in some improvements. 

One way that some people use to treat this erectile dysfunction is prostatic massage therapy, but unfortunately, there’s just not much evidence out there to determine whether or not this type of treatment works. 

• The claims about ED massages point to the ability to improve sexual function by massaging the pelvic floor muscles, prostate, penis or other parts of the pelvic area.

• While some health conditions and injuries could benefit from massage techniques, they are not considered treatment options for ED.

• Massages do not address the underlying cause of sexual dysfunction in cases where it’s due to mental health, blood pressure or testosterone levels — common causes.

• Instead, erectile dysfunction medications like sildenafil (generic for Viagra), tadalafil (generic for Cialis) or Stendra (avanafil) are considered first-line options. These PDE5 inhibitors work to increase blood flow to your penis

Thankfully, there are plenty of ED treatments to help your sexual function. If you are interested in exploring ways to improve your sex life, speak with a healthcare professional.