Prostate Massage: Health and Sex Benefits

If the penis is the class clown and the testicles are the sensitive nerds everyone wants to protect, then the prostate is the quiet kid who sits in the back. He may not get the same attention, but he certainly deserves it.

Fortunately—and not only for the sake of rescuing us from that belabored metaphor—the popularity of prostate massage has grown. That’s a good thing, because a healthy prostate is essential to sexual function.

Prostate massage basics

The prostate is a walnut-shaped gland located behind the bladder that works as a sort of mechanical switch between urination and ejaculation. It surrounds the urethra and is responsible for producing part of the fluid that makes up semen. Big deal, right? Well, the pulsing a man feels when he ejaculates is the prostate’s smooth muscle contracting as it expels prostatic fluid.

Ah, now you’re paying attention.

Plenty of anecdotal evidence touts the benefits of prostate massage, as does data from numerous small studies. But the lack of large-scale prostate massage studies means the medical profession as a whole is hesitant to support it as therapeutic.

What is known is that massaging the prostate, when performed in a therapeutic setting, can cause the spontaneous release of seminal fluid, or even orgasm in a sexual context.

Benefits of prostate massage

Therapeutic prostate massage is purported to clear the prostate’s ducts and relieve symptoms of several conditions, including:

• Prostatitis. In conjunction with antibiotics, prostate massage can help alleviate the discomfort caused by prostatitis. One small study of prostatitis patients found prostate massage combined with antibiotic treatment reduced symptom severity and had long-term benefits.
• Painful ejaculation. Blockages in the reproductive system can cause ejaculation to be uncomfortable. Prostate massage can help clear blockages by releasing the fluid through the prostate ducts.
• Urine flow. Since the prostate fully surrounds the urethra, when it’s swollen, it can impede or even block urine flow. Prostate massage can help alleviate the swelling.
• Prostate orgasm. In a sexual context, it’s possible (though all the evidence for now seems to be anecdotal) for some men to have an orgasm from prostate massage alone. Many men report a more intense, deeper, full-body orgasm, often compared to a G-spot orgasm for women.

How to perform a prostate massage

The prostate can be indirectly stimulated by pressing on the perineum. But to achieve the full benefits of a therapeutic prostate massage, a doctor or therapist must insert a finger into the rectum, much like a digital rectal exam to check for prostate health.

You can feel the same benefits at home, as well. Sexual prostate massage can involve men stimulating themselves with a finger or a sex toy during masturbation, or it can be part of a couple’s sex play.

Find the prostate by feeling about two or three inches in along the front wall of the rectum (arousal causes the prostate to swell and be easier to locate). You’ll feel a bulb of tissue beneath the front wall of the rectum, behind the penis.

The person performing the massage should use lubricant and a gloved finger, slowly inserting it into the rectum. The person receiving the massage may feel an initial slight discomfort at having a finger inserted, but they shouldn’t feel pain. Once the person performing the massage has the finger inserted, they should slowly and gently press on the prostate with stroking, come-hither motions.

What to remember

You may find temporary relief of your symptoms even after just one session of prostate massage. But either as therapy or part of sex play, prostate massage is something you'll likely have to try several times before getting the full range of benefits.

Speak with your doctor to see if therapeutic prostate massage might be right for you. If you want to approach prostate massage in a sexual context, be sure to go slow and take your time.