Pelvic Floor Therapy for Men &
People With Penises in El Cerrito, CA
Serving the greater East Bay and North Bay Areas
It can be challenging to find a pelvic health provider with experience and confidence treating all types of anatomy.
We can help with chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
Patients with chronic pelvic pain; penile, perineal, or testicular pain; pain with ejaculation; burning with urination or urinary urgency; and difficulty or pain with sexual function are often given a diagnosis of chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) or chronic prostatitis. You may have tried antibiotics without lasting relief and without another plan. In many cases, these symptoms aren't caused by an infection at all or symptoms persist long after an infection has resolved.
The pelvic floor muscles themselves can create symptoms that feel like an infection: pain, urinary symptoms, and sexual dysfunction. Because these symptoms can feel like a prostate or bladder problem, the role of the pelvic floor is sometimes overlooked even after all your bladder and prostate scans come back clean.
We have a plan for recovery from prostatectomy or prostate cancer.
Pelvic floor therapy can also play an important role in preparation and recovery from prostate surgery. If you’re trying to manage post-prostatectomy urinary leakage or erectile dysfunction after prostate surgery, research shows that pelvic floor therapy for prostate issues can significantly help with recovery. Even one or two sessions before surgery can help you understand how your pelvic floor works, practice muscle coordination, and learn what to expect after surgery.
Get a head start so you can be well prepared to begin rehab for prostatectomy when your catheter comes out.
We understand treatment for sexual dysfunction and other penile-health concerns.
We work with erectile dysfunction (ED), hard flaccid syndrome (HFS), and sleep-related painful erection (SRPE) because these symptoms can involve pelvic floor muscle dysfunction and increased nervous system sensitivity that can be treated here in El Cerrito at the Soft Power Pelvic Health clinic.
If you're struggling with symptoms that haven't improved, you're not alone. There are options, and we can help.
Looking for Men's Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in the East Bay?
If you have been searching for men's pelvic floor physical therapy or men’s health pelvic PT in El Cerrito, it is important to know that specialized pelvic floor occupational therapy (OT) utilizes the same internal and external orthopedic manual therapies, biofeedback, and down-training techniques for chronic pelvic floor tension; we also use similar strengthening and exercise techniques for urinary leakage or erectile issues. At Soft Power, we go even further. We look beyond the clinic walls to see how pelvic pain, urinary frequency, or other symptoms of pelvic dysfunction impact your actual daily routines, sleep quality, stress levels, and sexual health, giving you strategies that fit into your life for long-term relief.
Dr. Rebs has advanced training in men's pelvic health and working with penile anatomy and regularly treats people with chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS), chronic prostatitis, hard flaccid syndrome, erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, urinary urgency and frequency, bowel symptoms, other sexual dysfunction, and post-prostatectomy leakage.
Care is provided in an affirming environment for cis men, trans men, trans women, nonbinary and gender expansive people, and anyone with a penis or prostate seeking specialized pelvic health therapy.
It doesn’t have to feel weird! Dr. Rebs will check in before every part of the exam and you can defer or avoid any part you don’t feel comfortable with. We understand that spontaneous erections can happen when sensitive areas are assessed and treated and we also understand that these are reflexive and not your fault. You’re not being weird! Dr. Rebs will give you a break if you need it or move to a different part of the body until your system normalizes.
Let us know if you have questions or just need to talk through what your pelvic floor evaluation might look like.
Common symptoms that can be treated at Soft Power in El Cerrito
Pelvic pain
Chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS)
Chronic prostatitis, chronic nonbacterial prostatitis
Pudendal neuralgia
Hard flaccid syndrome
Perineal pain
Tailbone pain or coccydynia
Groin pain
Testicular pain
Pain after vasectomy
Penile pain
Low back pain
Sacroiliac joint pain
Bladder concerns
Urinary urgency and frequency
Incontinence with urge
Incontinence or post void dribble
Urinary hesitancy
Incomplete emptying
Overactive bladder
Painful urination
Bowel and digestive concerns
Constipation
Dyssynergic defecation or incomplete emptying
Pain with bowel movements, dyschezia, anismus
Fecal urgency
Fecal incontinence
hemorrhoids or anal fissures
Abdominophrenic dyssynergia
Chronic bloating or distention
Sexual health
Erectile dysfunction
Painful erections
Pain with ejaculation
Delayed ejaculation
Premature ejaculation
pain with anal penetration or anodyspareunia
Penile rehabilitation after prostate cancer treatment
Peyronie's disease support (alongside medical management)
Hard flaccid syndrome
Recovery after surgery
Prostatectomy or radical prostatectomy
Gender-affirming surgery
Hernia repair
Pelvic or abdominal surgery
TURP or HoLEP
FAQ
How long does it take to see changes?
1
Patients typically see changes after 3-4 visits and can often reach their goals within 8-12 treatment sessions. Some conditions require a longer duration of care, especially if symptoms have been going on for a long time. Some people see meaningful changes after 1-2 visits. Everyone has a different experience because there are so many variables involved, so it can be challenging to predict.
How do I get started?
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Feel free to reach out through our contact form if you have questions or would like to speak to someone before scheduling. If you’re ready to schedule, we make it easy. You can just click the button at the top of the page and find a time that works for you. We use a scheduling system called Embodia and it is very easy to navigate.
Has Dr. Rebs had specific training and experience treating men and people with penises?
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Yes! About half my caseload (and sometimes more than half) has been men since I began treating. I’ve been trained by the leading experts in pelvic health both in Northern and Southern California and have specific training and coursework dedicated to erectile dysfunction, post-prostatectomy and prostate radiation rehab, chronic pelvic pain, chronic prostatitis, hard flaccid syndrome, and pudendal neuralgia.
Is a rectal exam required?
4
Definitely not. It can be very useful and can provide a lot of information about the state of your pelvic floor, but you get to decide if you want this to be part of your evaluation and treatment. It can be very helpful to do intrarectal manual therapy for certain conditions and presentations, but it’s never required.
Rectal exams at Soft Power are typically much more gentle than an experience of a quick prostate check with your urologist. This is because Dr. Rebs is trained in manual therapy and nervous system techniques that can make this type of treatment more tolerable. You will be given the option of lying down on your stomach or your side. Rectal exams can also be done lying on your back if that is your preference.
It’s also possible to evaluate elements of pelvic floor coordination using only external palpation of muscles around the genitals or ultrasound, meaning we can look at your bladder through your lower belly or through the perineum with an ultrasound probe. This is completely painless and only involves some cold gel and a little pressure.
What happens during the assessment?
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The assessment begins with a deep dive into your symptoms, history, and goals. This usually takes about half the time, and we reserve the second half for physical assessment that usually involves an external exam of tissues around the pelvis and abdomen. If appropriate, we will talk about an internal rectal exam to assess the tissue tone, your coordination, and your awareness. You are in charge and can defer any part of the exam you don’t feel comfortable with.
What if I get an erection during treatment?
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Spontaneous erections do happen and they’re always fine. I usually prepare my patients that this is a possibility. I will typically give some options like leaving the room for a minute, changing position, or treating a different body part until the erection settles. These structures are sensitive and communicate with reflexes in the spinal cord, so it completely makes sense and is totally normal.
Does Dr. Rebs treat the actual penile tissues?
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Dr. Rebs typically uses both external and internal techniques around the genital tissues. If you are having pain specifically in the penis or scrotum, these tissues can definitely be assessed and treated with your consent. If you’ve seen other providers who just ask you to move your genitals out of the way during treatment, it probably just means their toolbox doesn’t include direct treatment.
It can be important to directly assess some of these tissues if you are having sensory changes or numbness in the area.
Can I bring someone with me?
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Yes! Of course. You’re welcome to bring a friend or partner to your sessions with you.
Contact Soft Power
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