For many men, an overly sensitive penis can cause tough problems in the bedroom. But some men struggle with not being sensitive enough — and that sucks.
Loss of penile sensitivity can occur for a range of reasons, from hormonal issues to the way you masturbate (seriously). Like other sexual issues, it’s often an embarrassing issue to talk about — a key reason why many men are as quiet as church mice about this common problem.
But that doesn’t mean you have to live like this. If you find it difficult to enjoy sex due to a lack of penis sensitivity, it’s time to seek the help you need.
The good news is that loss of sensitivity in your penis, like other forms of sexual dysfunction, is very treatable, often with simple changes to your habits and lifestyle.
Treatments include:
Using lubricant
Switching sexual positions
Sitting differently
Taking a break from cycling
Using a loose grip when masturbating
Changing up your medications
Checking your testosterone levels
Seeking erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment
Considering therapy
Below, we’ve explained what loss of penile sensitivity is, as well as the many ways in which this widespread sexual health issue can develop.
We’ve also discussed everything you need to know about how to increase penile sensitivity, with nine techniques and treatment options that you can use to improve sensitivity in your penis, enhance your sexual performance and enjoy more pleasurable, satisfying sexual experiences.
As a man, your penis is generally the one thing you can always count on to be ready for action whenever you need it — when you’re younger, sometimes your penis even pops up when you don’t need it at all.
So, when this trusted and reliable friend lets you down, “troubled” may not begin to describe your feelings.
Lacking sensation in your penis could mean different things to different people. For some men, a lack of feeling in the penis may be as extreme as feeling fully numb or lacking sensation at all. For others, it might simply mean not feeling sex as intensely or finding it difficult to finish during penetrative sex without some extra effort.
In some cases, loss of sensation may be caused by a medical condition that affects nerve function and sensitivity in your penis, such as diabetes or trauma to your penis. In other cases, hormonal issues that affect your libido could alter your response to sexual stimulation.
There are so many potential reasons this condition could develop, so understanding the underlying cause of your lack of penile sensitivity is an essential step towards making your penis more sensitive for better sex.
With a healthy penis, your nervous system responds to sexual stimulation, causing blood vessels to expand and increase blood flow to your erectile tissue. That increase in blood flow is what makes you hard when you’re ready for sexual activity.
When you have a less sensitive penis, it’s because something is going wrong with this process. This can be caused by various issues and underlying conditions, including:
Medical conditions
Stress
Age
Medications
Injuries
Masturbation techniques
Sedentary lifestyle
Psychological
Let’s examine them in more detail.
Some diseases and medical conditions, such as diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, prostate cancer tumors, and multiple sclerosis, can affect nerve function throughout your body, including the nerve endings in and around your penis.
This may cause a decrease in penis sensitivity and affect your ability to become aroused from sexual contact. For example, one small study suggests that men with diabetes and erectile dysfunction (ED) have different response patterns to penile stimulation than healthy men.
Even certain vitamin deficiencies, particularly of vitamin D, may play a role in decreased male erectile function.
Stress can contribute to a range of negative effects on your sexual function and performance, including changes in your level of interest in sex and your ability to engage in sexual activity.
For example, research has found clear links between anxiety, depression, stress, and changes in natural chemical production, which can cause issues like erectile dysfunction.
Stress is also linked to increased cortisol, which reduces testosterone production. This could reduce the sensitivity of your penis, as well as your interest in sex — a topic we’ve discussed more below.
Furthermore, stress can also affect your ability to relax in bed, which might make you less responsive to sexual contact.
We hate to break it to you, but a decrease in penile sensitivity may be part of the natural aging process for many men.
According to research published in the journal Fertility and Sterility, delayed orgasm — an issue in which men find it difficult or impossible to orgasm from penetrative sex — is more common in men above the age of fifty.
The authors point to an age-related reduction in penile sensitivity as one potential cause of this increase in difficulty reaching orgasm.
Certain medications can reduce your level of penis sensitivity, resulting in sexual function issues.
Antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are linked to a higher risk of delayed orgasm — an issue that can occur as a result of low penile sensitivity.
Delayed orgasm and decreased sensitivity may also be side effects of antipsychotic drugs, opioids, and medications for Parkinson’s disease.
Penile sensation depends on proper nerve functioning. The glans (or head) of your penis contains numerous nerve endings, making it the most sensitive part of the penis.
That means injuries that affect your nerves can potentially hinder the delivery of pleasure messages from your penis to the nerve receptors inside your brain.
Some injuries to your penis, including sporting injuries and complications from surgery, can lead to nerve damage and reduced sensitivity. Peyronie’s disease, for example, is one result of penis injury that can lead to decreased sensitivity.
Injuries from treatments for prostate cancer and bladder cancer can cause erectile dysfunction due to nerve damage, changes in penile blood flow, and altered response to sexual stimulation.
Fortunately, the nerves in your penis can regain sensitivity with the right treatment plan. In one — admittedly very small — study of six men who lost penile sensation after an injury, five (83 percent) patients had a complete recovery of sensation, and one (17 percent) had partial relief after surgical repair.
Yes, there is such a thing as masturbating too much, as well as masturbating with a technique that can affect your level of penile sensitivity during sex.
You may have seen the idea of “death grip syndrome” floating around the internet. This condition is controversial, but research has found that it may affect penis sensitivity. For example, one review article published in the World Journal of Men’s Health noted “vigorous masturbation styles” as one of several factors that may contribute to delayed ejaculation or inability to ejaculate.
If you get used to orgasming alone — particularly if you have a firm grip or tend to masturbate vigorously — you might notice that your penis feels less sensitive during penetrative sex.
Being sedentary may also affect your level of penis sensitivity and sexual function. Studies have shown that the amount of time you spend sitting each day is correlated with your risk of ED and correlated explicitly with reduced sensation in the perineum.
Being inactive can increase your risk of dealing with several distinct forms of sexual dysfunction, including ED. It’s also associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, which can affect blood flow and nerve function.
Clearly, some behaviors can increase both your risk of losing penis sensitivity and ED. But is there a specific link between lost sensitivity and erectile dysfunction?
While penis sensitivity may not sound like that big a deal for guys who want to last longer, it can cause some pretty serious problems — regardless of your sexual stamina.
Sexual sensitivity plays a significant role in helping you feel aroused and allowing you to experience sexual pleasure. And the relationship works the other way, too — a numb penis can halt the sexual arousal cycle, increasing your risk of sexual performance issues such as ED.
If you’re still able to get and maintain an erection, diminished penis sensitivity could make it more difficult for you to reach orgasm normally during sex. This can lead to either premature or delayed ejaculation, both of which are surprisingly common and frustrating sexual health problems.
These issues can take a serious toll on your sexual self-confidence and even potentially lead to mental health conditions such as depression or sexual performance anxiety.
Whether you’re looking for natural ways to increase male sensitivity, penis sensitivity creams, or other proven treatments, keep reading to explore your options.
Below, we’ve shared some actionable tips and techniques for how to increase penis sensitivity, help improve your sexual function, and get sensation back.
Sometimes, the symptoms of erectile dysfunction are easy to mistake for signs that your penis is less sensitive. For example, if you have erectile dysfunction, you may find it hard to respond to sexual contact, as your penis lacks the blood flow to become firm and enlarged.
The good news is that erectile dysfunction is generally easy to treat using FDA-approved medications such as:
Viagra® (sildenafil)
Stendra® (avanafil)
Levitra® (vardenafil)
These medications work by increasing blood flow to your penis when you feel sexually aroused, making it easier for you to enjoy pleasurable sex with your partner.
Hims offers access to a range of evidence-based treatments for ED online, with medication available after an online consultation with a healthcare provider who will determine if a prescription is appropriate.
You may also want to explore erectile dysfunction creams, such as the FDA-approved topical gel Eroxon®, to increase sensitivity.
Making things extra slippery doesn’t always work in your favor since one of the best male sensitivity enhancers is friction.
If you usually use lube, try either reducing the amount that you apply or skipping lube entirely the next time you have sex. You may find that natural lubrication gives you a more responsive, sensitive experience that makes reaching orgasm easier.
Want to try something different? Changing up your go-to sexual positions can do more than spice things up. When you’re in new positions, the way your genitals connect changes, which could adjust the sensation for both of you.
Try having your partner put their legs together, lie on their stomach, or get into a different position to see if this increases your level of sensation and makes sex more pleasurable.
Any time you sit down without your butt fully supporting your weight, or when there’s significant pressure on your perineum, you risk compressing the pudendal nerve, which transmits sensations from your genitals to your brain.
If your sitting position causes pain in your lower abdomen, try adjusting the way you sit so that there’s more pressure on your butt and less pressure on your perineum. Getting up now and then may also help to ease pressure and prevent nerve pain.
Speaking of your pudendal nerve, cycling — although great cardio and an environmentally conscious way to get around — can put too much pressure on it, especially when you do so for an extended period on a bike with a thin seat.
If you’re a cyclist and notice that your penis doesn’t feel quite as sensitive as usual after going for a long ride, take a break. Alternatively, try to go for shorter rides with a more supportive seat to put less pressure on your genitals and the surrounding nerves.
If you notice that your lack of penile sensitivity isn’t a problem when you masturbate, it might be worth taking a break from solo stroking for a while.
Research shows that over time, many people can fall into the grip trap of masturbating harder and harder, compounding the reduced sensitivity problem.
Try taking a break from masturbating for a week at the very least, and only reach orgasm when you have sex. If you don’t want to stop masturbating (who does?), try softening your grip to reduce pressure on your penis and see if it still feels pleasurable.
This technique is especially important if you practice “idiosyncratic” masturbation methods that feel very different from penetrative sex, like using toys or vibrators.
If you’re prescribed any medication and think it might be affecting your penis, it’s best to let your healthcare provider know.
Depending on your specific medical needs, your healthcare provider may suggest switching to a different medication or adjusting your dosage so that you can enjoy better performance in bed. Whatever you do, just don’t stop taking any prescribed medicines without medical advice.
Hormones can do some weird stuff. Low testosterone can have a serious impact on your sex drive, as well as your level of response to sexual stimulation. It can also cause other physical problems, such as difficulty concentrating, sleep issues, and changes in your body composition.
If you think low testosterone could be causing or contributing to a drop in erogenous sensitivity, let your healthcare provider know. They can check your testosterone levels and, if appropriate, prescribe testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) or a similar treatment.
You probably already know there’s a strong connection between your brain and your penis, so you might not be surprised to learn that your brain is another thing that can take your sensitivity off-track. If you’re less interested in sex or less responsive to sexual arousal because of stress or anxiety, therapy might help.
Several forms of therapy are used to treat chronic stress and severe anxiety, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Talking to a therapist can help you identify what’s causing you to feel stressed and then take action to change harmful thought processes and behaviors.
Hims offers access to a range of mental health services.
Penile sensitivity is an important part of a healthy sex life. If you’ve noticed that sex doesn’t feel as physically pleasurable as it should or that you struggle to reach orgasm in an average amount of time, it’s best to let your healthcare provider know. In the meantime, remember that:
Loss of sensitivity in your penis is often a symptom of other health issues. Medical issues, stress, and certain medications can all reduce penile sensitivity. Finding the underlying cause may require the guidance of a medical professional.
Low penis sensitivity is almost always treatable. You can usually learn how to increase penis sensitivity with a few simple changes to your daily habits, lifestyle, and sexual techniques. If a lack of sensitivity is affecting your sexual performance, try using the methods above to improve blood flow, restore nerve function, and improve your sex life.
Lack of sensation can also be linked to erectile dysfunction. Sometimes, the symptoms of erectile dysfunction are confused with low penis sensitivity. Luckily, erectile dysfunction is usually treatable.
Finally, if you don’t notice improvements in your penile sensitivity after making changes to your habits and lifestyle, let your healthcare provider know. They’ll be able to identify what’s causing your issues and recommend the most appropriate and effective form of treatment.
If you happen to be experiencing the opposite issue and have a highly sensitive penis, learn all about premature ejaculation (PE) and find out which PE treatments are available.
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