What About Ken?: Sexual Dysfunction and Pain in Younger Men

Sexual pain and dysfunction in younger men is an underserved population with valid and real needs for treatment and education. Pelvic health physical therapists can provide musculoskeletal-based treatment to address pain and dysfunction. This session will further inform health care professionals of the musculoskeletal side of sexual pain and dysfunction in younger males and the positive outcomes that can be achieved through collaboration.

In her presentation, Dr. Downey will cover the following learning objectives:

• Identify patients in the second and third decades that may have dysfunctional intercourse in pelvic health practice.
• Explore musculoskeletal causes of urogenital pain in younger men.
• Utilize a biopsychosocial and trauma-informed language approach when discussing sexual dysfunction to reduce fear and improve participation and compliance in physical therapy treatment plans of care.
• Apply beginning treatment techniques to those patients with sexual dysfunction.

Pamela A. Downey, PT, DPT, Pelvic & Women's Health Board-Certified Specialist, is a Board Certified Specialist in Pelvic Health Physical Therapy, Board Certified in Biofeedback for Pelvic Muscle Dysfunction and a Certified Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner. She has more than 25 years of experience treating individuals with pelvic pain including neuralgias of the lumbosacral plexus, voiding and sexual dysfunction, pregnancy-related and post-partum musculoskeletal dysfunction, including diastasis recti, sacroiliac joint pain and dyspareunia. Dr Downey sees oncology patients including those involving the breast, bowel, bladder and prostate. She has extensive experience in applying Pilates therapeutic movement into physical therapy and pelvic health practice. Dr. Downey’s private practice, Partnership in Therapy is located in Miami, FL, and welcomes all persons from adolescents to octogenarians for personalized one-on-one care.

Dr. Downey is an assistant professor in the Physical Therapy Program at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Coral Gables, Florida She received her Bachelor of Arts from Sarah Lawrence College and her Master of Science, Doctorate in Physical Therapy and is all but dissertation in her Doctor of Philosophy from University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Downey has presented research and lectured nationally and internationally at professional conferences and has authored a book chapter on pelvic pain in the medical text Women’s Health Physical Therapy. She is actively involved in the Academy of Pelvic Health of the American Physical Therapy Association, a Polestar Pilates Rehabilitation Educator, and Senior Faculty in the Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute.

In her presentation, Dr. Sun will cover the following learning objectives:

• Identifying and ruling out potential medical contributors to pain or dysfunction with sex in heterosexual and homosexual men 

• Differentiating syndromes and terminology within sexual and pelvic floor disorders

• Providing patient-centered education on medical management options and expected care pathways while setting realistic expectations for recovery and interdisciplinary involvement

• When to refer to a urologist and a urologist's role in treatment 

Helen Sun, MD, Functional and Reconstructive Urology Fellow, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Center, Division of Urology. Dr. Helen Sun originally hails from the Bay Area of California and completed her urology residency at Case Western Reserve University. She is currently doing a functional and reconstructive urology fellowship at the University of Colorado to further her passion for restoring quality of life to patients affected by issues such as incontinence, urinary stricture disease, and pelvic organ prolapse. She believes strongly in the power of multidisciplinary care to manage challenging patients.