The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Show

Doctors Are Removing Testicles for This | Dr. Susan Macdonald

May 5, 2026
Dr. Susan Macdonald, a board-certified urologist and surgical program director at Penn State who specializes in chronic pelvic pain in men. She exposes how neuropathic pelvic floor pain is often misdiagnosed, why antibiotics can mask the real issue, the anatomy most doctors never teach, nerve-sparing surgical options vs unnecessary orchiectomy, and rising teen erectile dysfunction linked to pornography.
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ANECDOTE

Lawyer Misdiagnosed With Prostatitis After Repeated Antibiotics

  • A high‑powered lawyer suffered chronic pelvic pain mislabelled as prostatitis and endured multiple antibiotic courses without lasting benefit.
  • Dr. Susan Macdonald used SSRI and pelvic floor framing to redirect treatment after conventional care failed.
INSIGHT

Male Pelvic Floor Anatomy Explains Diverse Symptoms

  • Male pelvic floor is a hammock of levator ani muscles (pubococcygeus, puborectalis, iliococcygeus) that few clinicians learn about.
  • These muscles surround the urethra, rectum, and spermatic cords, explaining diverse symptoms like weak stream and testicular pain.
ADVICE

Reduce Pelvic Floor Tone Not Just Strengthen It

  • For chronic pelvic pain reduce pelvic floor resting tone rather than strengthening with Kegels; learn to relax the muscles via pelvic floor physical therapy.
  • Macdonald warns generic Kegel instruction can worsen high‑tone patients and recommends specialized therapists.
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