Penis sensitivity is a tricky subject. While sensitivity is all relative, a general measure all men can usually agree on is ease of orgasm. Most men have little difficulty climaxing, but a number of factors, ranging from masturbation frequency to biological issues can cause reductions in penis sensitivity.
This aspect of penis health is closely bound to men’s sexual fulfillment. A decreased ability to orgasm is obviously a detriment to a fulfilling sex life. Penis sensitivity is hardly the only factor that can cause men to become unable to achieve male ejaculation (psychological factors could also be at play), but it’s definitely worth thinking about.
If a man thinks he might have decreased penis sensitivity, he’s probably considering all the reasons why this could be. Here are a few myths surrounding the subject and some clear-cut advice for increasing sensation.
Myth 1: Circumcision Drastically Reduces Sensitivity
Many men are lead to believe that circumcision, the practice of cutting back the foreskin of the penis, leads to a dramatic reduction in sensitivity throughout life. Thankfully for the many, many circumcised men — 64.9 percent of men born in 1981 were circumcised, a number that has remained relatively high for men of millennial age and above — this idea seems to have been a little overblown.
According to an article written for Broadly, most of the hubbub surrounding this idea comes from a 2007 study in which researchers applied a light touch to the heads of both circumcised and uncircumcised penises. Because the uncircumcised men felt less pressure, the researchers concluded that sensitivity was directly impacted by circumcision.
However, a more recent study found that this particular metric wasn’t actually a good predictor of penis sensitivity, and that the rates of sexual feeling were actually quite similar in both circumcised and uncircumcised men.
“We measured heat detection and heat pain by attaching a thermode to the penis,” lead researcher Jennifer Bossio told Broadly. “Men would indicate either when they would feel a change in temperature or when it hurt. The nerve fibers in the penis that are activated by temperature and pain are more relevant in sexual functioning—or the feel of a sexy touch—than the light touch that past researchers had done. Even though [the foreskin] is more sensitive to light touch, I suspect that isn’t implicated in sexual pleasure. I think that’s the take-home message of this study.”
Myth 2: Inability to Orgasm is Purely Psychological
Some men may be mistaken in thinking that something is wrong with them psychologically if they find it difficult to climax. On the contrary, many men with healthy attitudes toward sex can still have a difficult time with male ejaculation.
Penissensitivity.org notes that many men suffer from reduced sensitivity on a purely physical level. In some men, the frustration can even lead to erectile dysfunction (ED) and anejaculation (the inability to ejaculate). This can make a fulfilling sex life particularly difficult to achieve, and it can be even more disheartening to deal with if a couple is trying to get pregnant.
Myth 3: Masturbation is Completely Harmless
While there’s no harm in masturbation in moderation, over-stimulation can perpetuate the problem of reduced sensitivity. There are a few ways that masturbating too much can make the problem worse. For instance, masturbating while watching pornography has been linked to viewing one’s real-life partner as less sexual than is ideal, making it harder to become aroused in actual sexual encounters. Additionally, solo stimulation of the penis beyond the level at which it is stimulated during natural sex can make it hard to ejaculate when you’re with a partner (a problem that is sometimes referred to as “death grip syndrome”).
In an article for Vice, Ed Smith wrote about his experience giving up masturbation and sex for 21 days.
“ … if you are holding it in, that means you are not having sex or masturbating, which could increase your arousal in anticipation of actually having sex,” Professor Jim Pfaus of Montreal’s Concordia University told Smith. “Learning how to maintain erection and hold off ejaculation makes the orgasm experience more intensely pleasurable.”
Myth 4: There’s Nothing You Can Do About It
For those dealing with penis sensitivity issues, there are small changes they can make that may help. Penissensitivity.org recommends eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, avoiding cigarettes and alcohol, and performing Kegel exercises (they’re not just for women!) on a regular basis.
Men should also consider a penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil). This product contains nutrients such as acetyl L carnitine and L arginine, which are noted for their role in penile sensation and function. Additional ingredients include natural skin-softening agents such as Shea butter, which can address problems with toughened skin caused by daily wear and tear. As part of a healthy penile care regimen, these nutrients can support optimum sensitivity, making partner sex an enjoyable and fulfilling experience.
