When should I start the exercises?
If you’re going to have surgery for prostate cancer or an enlarged prostate, it’s a good idea to start doing the exercises before the surgery. This will help you to do them properly after your treatment. It might also help you to stop leaking urine sooner.
After surgery, you’ll have a tube called a catheter to drain urine from your bladder. If you’re having surgery for prostate cancer, the catheter is usually removed after one to three weeks.
After surgery for an enlarged prostate, the catheter is usually removed after two to three days, once your urine is clear of blood and you can urinate properly.
You can start doing pelvic floor muscle exercises as soon as your catheter has been removed. They’re safe to do, and won’t hurt or cause any damage. But like all muscles, pelvic floor muscles can become tired so try not to overdo it.
If you had your surgery a while ago but still have urinary problems, starting the exercises could still help. You should also speak to your doctor or nurse, as there may be other treatments that could help.