The prostate gland's chief function is adding alkaline secretions to semen in order to offset the acidity of the female reproductive tract and thereby prolong the lifespan of spermatozoa in the vagina. Normally, it is about the size of a walnut, but in older men it often enlarges, sometimes in the absence of a malignant process but at other times as a precursor to prostate cancer. Certain exercises can help maintain the health of this important gland.
Prostate Massage
Massage of the prostate is sometimes performed in a medical setting, but you can do it at home as well. When not used as part of a general health maintenance regimen, prostate massage can be used to treat both prostatitis, or inflammation of the prostate, and benign prostatic hyperplasia, better known as BPH, a non-cancerous enlargement of the gland. Use an instrument such as a drumstick with a lubricated condom over the blunt end. Gently insert 4 to 5 inches into the anus and apply pressure to the prostate which you will feel as it is highly sensitive. After several seconds, withdraw the stick about 1 to 2 inches, then repeat the procedure four or five times. Expect milky secretions and sexual arousal during this process.
Kegel Exercises
Originally developed for pregnant women in order to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor to prepare for childbirth, Kegel exercises target the pubococcygeus, or PC, muscle. Contracting the PC interrupts a urine stream and also tightens the anal sphincter. Kegels are of benefit to men with prostatitis and BPH, and involve squeezing the PC, holding for 1 to 10 seconds, relaxing for 10 to 20 seconds and repeating the procedure with the aim of reaching about a dozen contractions. Perform these sitting down at first; with conditioning, it is possible to do Kegels while standing as well.
Masturbation
A study at the University of Nottingham found that men over 50 who ejaculated more than 10 times a month through a combination of sexual intercourse and masturbation experienced a slight protective effect against cancer of the prostate--exactly the reverse of what is found in younger men. Interestingly, this protective effect was greater when masturbation was examined in isolation, suggesting that ejaculation per se is not uniquely responsible for the observed effect.
