The Double-Edged Sword: A Sensitive Penis

If you search the term "penis sensitivity," results fall into two distinct categories: "How to make my penis less sensitive" and "How to make my penis more sensitive?"

Young men who are less sexually experienced might tend to pop the cork on the champagne well before the clock strikes midnight for their partners. Some older gents, on the other hand, notice a natural decline in penis sensation.

However, some older men are also hypersensitive and experience premature ejaculation (PE) as a result. By the same token, some younger guys notice their sensation down under starting to fade. Penis sensitivity can also play a role in erectile dysfunction (ED), and neither PE or ED have any age boundaries.

We'll discuss penis hypersensitivity and loss of penis sensation, and some causes and solutions for each.

Why is my penis too sensitive? 

Premature ejaculation is a problem that can lead to relationship issues, anxiety, poor self-image and more.

But it's not rare. About 30 percent of men experience PE at some point.

While psychological and emotional factors are in the mix, penile hypersensitivity also plays a major role. A study published in the journal Nature in 2017 found a strong correlation between the severity of men's PE and the degree of hypersensitivity they experienced.

What to do about a hypersensitive penis

The first action you should take if you experience an overly sensitive penis is to get checked out to make sure you don't have a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or a urinary tract infection (UTI) because these can affect penis sensitivity.

If a hypersensitive penis is contributing to your PE and causing distress, get a recommendation for a therapist and discuss your issues.

After that, some methods for slowing your roll when you're having sex include:

Practice: Edging, or learning how to masturbate right up to the brink of coming and then pulling back, can help you learn your limits so you know better when to slow down stimulation or pull out for a moment.

Warm up: Masturbate an hour or two before you're planning to have sex to dull the raw edges of your horniness and sensitivity.

Topical creams: Non-toxic numbing agents are sold as orgasm-delay aids, and you can find condoms pre-lubricated with them as well. Condoms, in general, can help reduce penis sensitivity during sex.

When your penis isn't sensitive enough

While some decline in penis sensitivity with age is natural, the first factors most clinicians will look at are your blood sugar and blood pressure. Type 2 diabetes can damage nerves, including those in the penis. Diabetes often develops with age, as do high blood pressure and other cardiovascular issues, which can also damage the delicate blood vessels that carry blood to the penis.

Other possibilities for sensation loss include medications, low testosterone or anxiety.

And for younger guys who think they may be losing some penis sensitivity, keep in mind that both diabetes and high blood pressure are becoming more common in younger men every year, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

What to do if your penis isn't sensitive enough

The first step to restoring penis sensitivity is to check for underlying health issues. Then:

Ease your grip: Often called "death-grip syndrome," some men develop idiosyncratic masturbation habits that can desensitize the penis and make it difficult to come when having sex. Change your grip, try switching hands or reduce how often you masturbate to see if it helps your sensitivity.

Check your other habits: Smoking and drinking do not help. Alcohol abuse leads to nerve damage and reduced libido. Tobacco reduces the amount of nitric oxide in your body, according to studies, and nitric oxide is a key component in making your penis hard.

Look at your butt: Numbness can result if you go on long bicycle rides or have a tendency to sit for long periods on a hard chair. Change out your bike seat for a more comfortable model and take breaks at work to stand up and move around a bit.

Conclusions

While age may cruelly take some measure of your sensitivity, you can find ways to mitigate this penis problem. A healthy lifestyle is a good start, but get checked out for other issues, too.

And for men young and old with hypersensitive penises, talk with someone about the issue—including your partner. Learning some of the above methods for controlling sensitivity will help, too.

And practice, practice, practice!