The practice of prostate milking or prostate massage has a long history, particularly in Asian countries. Despite what you may have heard, it isn’t just for sexual pleasure. This practice can have health benefits for men with prostate problems.
Prostate milking has been used historically in many cultures to
enhance men’s sexual performance, says Prostate.net. Throughout history, men who had many wives or were sexually involved with many women sometimes asked clergy or doctors to administer prostate massage because it was thought to enhance virility.
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These days, however, prostate milking is seen in a more clinical light because some healthcare practitioners believe it can help support prostate health.
According to Mayo Clinic, prostate milking is done in a similar way to a digital rectal exam. A physician inserts a gloved and lubricated index finger into the man’s rectum and manually locates the prostate gland and applies gentle, repetitive pressure.
According to Prostate.net, a man can milk his own prostate or his partner can perform the massage. Regardless of the reason for prostate milking, a physician should be consulted first.
Although there is some disagreement about why prostate milking is helpful, some believe it improves circulation in the prostate and opens up internal fluid ducts.
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When antibiotics are being used to treat bacterial prostatitis,
prostate massage may help optimize their effectiveness, says WebMD. They go on to caution against the use of prostate milking for acute prostatitis because it can promote spreading of the infection.
According to Prostate.net, prostate milking releases prostatic fluids, which helps reduce inflammation. This release also can improve erectile function by enhancing muscle tone in the pelvis.
Prostate.net points out that aside from manual prostate milking, there are also commercial devices available for this purpose. They caution consumers to be wary of devices that seem to be marketing only sexual devices. Most of these devices are intended to be inserted into the anus, as a finger would be, but others are designed to provide external stimulation to the prostate by applying pressure to the perineum, or the area between the scrotum and the anus.
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