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How to Get Sensation Back?

Health Tips - Dec 24, 2023

Updated at

Dec 25, 2023

Dr. Ahmed Zayed - Reviewer Image
Medically reviewed by

Dr. Ahmed Zayed

Written by

Jamie Smith

how to get sensation back

As men get older, there may come a time when loss of penis sensitivity begins to wane, leading to a rut in sex life and relationship.

This phase can be disheartening and embarrassing at first glance, loss of penis sensation can contribute to anxiety around your sexual performance, struggle to orgasm, lower sex drive, quality of life, and mental disorders, too.

This condition can be the result of several reasons including hormone imbalance, underlying health conditions, and even your technique for masturbation.

But it's important to remember that loss of sensitivity in your penis is a common experience that can be overcome with simple changes to your habits, lifestyle, and certain medical treatments.

How to get sensation back? it's your first concern then the good news for you is that this guide has covered everything to increase pleasurable sensation in the penis, and enhance the sexual experience in the bedroom.

What is a loss of penile sensitivity?

The penis is the primary sexual organ of the male body and is used for sex, urination, and conceiving babies.

The head of the penis, known as the Glans, is the sensitive structure at the end of the corpus (shaft), which consists of many nerve endings and blood vessels that normally contribute to sensitivity.

When the penis is erect during sexual intercourse, the blood smoothly flows to the vessels, making them much more sensitive.

Lack of sensation and numbness in your penis can occur when nerves don't function properly and the blood supply to the penis becomes damaged or compressed.

In some cases, medical conditions, injury-related trauma to your penis, hormonal imbalance, diabetes, and cardiovascular-related issues could negatively impact nerve function, sex drive, and penis sensitivity.

However, this condition is normal, but the treatment largely depends on the underlying causes, such as testosterone levels and mental health conditions.

Causes of reduced penis sensation

Knowing the causes of your reduced penile sensitivity may not treat it permanently, but you can know the dos and don'ts of successfully making it go away.

As men get older, the process of blood circulation slows down, making it difficult for them to feel sensitive or stimulated while having sex.

Lacking penile sensitivity might be a sign of a bad sexual experience or that something is going wrong with your health.

Medical conditions

Certain medical conditions can badly affect unrelated bodily functions, including diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS), chronic illness, prostate cancer, and cardiovascular disease, which affect your nerve function and break the chain of blood supply to the genitals.

For instance, one study suggests that diabetic men suffer from lower libido and a lack of penile sensitivity. Based on medical research, Peyronie’s disease, known as penile curvature, also causes sensitive issues in the male penis that can prevent them from enjoying performance in bed.

Several factors can contribute to this condition. Let's explore them more thoroughly.

Trauma and injury to the penis

The better your nerves function properly, the more your penis will feel sensation and stimulation. If your penis gets accidentally injured or traumatized, it can lead to nerve damage, causing numbness.

Sporting injuries like cycling for long periods, sitting comfortably on a chair, falling on the floor frontally on land, bike accidents, and wearing tight clothes can also lead to injury to your private part.

You might be surprised, but 50–80% of cyclists experience penis numbness as a result of their riding style and time.

Reduced Testosterone

Lower sex drive, muscle mass, hair loss, performance anxiety, and decreased stamina levels are the results of lower-key hormones known as testosterone.

Low T levels can cause erectile dysfunction and a lack of sensation in the genitals. When men cross their 20s, this hormone starts to decrease from its actual level. It is a common concern but leads to sexual dysfunction.

Certain medications

If you are taking certain medications for underlying diseases, you may suffer from their side effects.

For example, antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), hydrochloride as a Parkinson's treatment, medication for diabetes, and pain management could contribute to the loss of penile sensitivity. And it may cause erectile dysfunction and delay orgasm.

So it’s good to check whether you’re comfortable with the treatment you are taking currently and its possible adverse effects.

Vigorously masturbation

Masturbation is good for our sexual health, but in some cases, excessive masturbation and applying techniques can cause male impotence.

Many guys use a very tight grip, popularly called "death grip syndrome," which is a widely used masturbation technique where men masturbate with aggressiveness and a firm grip. As a result, it can make the penis hyperstimulate, causing a decreased sensation in the penile area and a delayed orgasm during penetrative sex.

So if you search for how to get sensation back, this would be the first thing to avoid.

Sedentary lifestyle

One of the key reasons for having low penis sensitivity is your bad lifestyle. If you have symptoms of erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation, it might be a result of your sedentary lifestyle.

Living a sedentary lifestyle means sitting on the sofa for a long amount of time with popcorn and watching TV. Being physically inactive and exercising increases the chances of developing many health issues.

Your mental issues

Certain psychological issues are also responsible for the desire for physical intimacy and mood—issues such as depression, anxiety, stress, and overthinking hurt sexual performance and sensation.

If you are experiencing one of these conditions, It's important to speak to your healthcare provider and get personalized advice.

 8 Ways to get sensation back in the penis

Are you worried about your performance anxiety, and waning in your relationship, and sexual life because of decreased sensitivity in your genitals?

Explore below eight actionable tips and techniques on how you can increase penis sensation to help you improve your nerve and erectile function.

Look for medical treatments

If your penis is not responding or getting harder as you would like it to, the chances are you’re experiencing erectile dysfunction because the blood is not flowing through the vessels.

Lack of blood flow and symptoms of ED are strong indications that your penis is less sensitive or unable to stay erect for pleasurable sex.

The good news for you is that treating your ED and maintaining your erection can be easy with certain medications. For instance,

These medications work by inhibiting an enzyme called PDE-5 and increasing blood flow, causing a firmer erection.

If you have a question regarding how long can the average man stay erect, checking out this guide might be worthwhile.

Change your self-pleasuring technique.

Masturbation is a self-pleasure technique that sometimes turns into a serious problem if you don't use the right method or consider some basic instructions.

Research has found that some guys use a very tight grip for harder masturbation to take self-pleasure to its peak. However, in the long term, this technique can cause hyperstimulation, leading to difficulty getting pleasure.

It's better to avoid consistent masturbation and take a little break (a week or month at least). You can also try loosening your grip or even stroking at a slower pace.

However, explore more and see what suits you the most.

Consider lifestyle changes

Your lifestyle, daily routine, diet, and habits play a vital role in a healthy life.

Simple lifestyle changes like adding some vitamins to your diet, regular exercise, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption can allow more blood to flow inside the tissue, making the penis more sensitive and helping you get a strong erection.

Read here to learn the best vitamins to consume for erectile strength.

Check your testosterone and stamina levels.

You might be wondering what the relationship is between low testosterone and less sensitivity. Lower testosterone or stamina levels can directly affect your sexual drive as well as cause many physical problems, such as fatigue, difficulty concentrating, sleep issues, and more.

In this case, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) or some other medical methods could help you increase your key hormone testosterone level. It's important to talk to your healthcare provider first about these concerns.

Switch your medications.

Health conditions vary from person to person, and mixing up some of the medication could have a huge impact on your body. If you feel any kind of sexual issues, like less sensitivity, erectile dysfunction, or premature ejaculation, it might be worth getting advice from healthcare professionals or switching to different medications.

They may prescribe the right treatment and adjust your dosage so that you can have great sex with your partner.

Consider taking therapy sessions.

Since lack of penis sensitivity is caused by many physiological factors such as anxiety, stress, depression, etc. Taking regular therapy sessions can help you control your mind and thoughts and make you think positively.

Talking to a therapist can help you diagnose the issues behind your mental disorders, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is used to treat chronic and severe stress that might help men improve their self-confidence and increase sexual arousal.

Change sex positions.

Having physical intimacy frequently in the same position or the same room could make you bored, so it's time to spice up your sexual performance.

Adding some gadgets or toys and trying new positions in bed can allow you both to feel each other, which could increase the sensation in your genitals for both of you.

There are so many positions to try and see what makes you most sensitive.

Express yourself

One of the most effective ways to get your penis sensation back is by expressing yourself and what you desire from your partner.

Tell her when you’re enjoying what you would like by using words, “That feels great,” or even simply, "Yes," which is enough to stimulate the penis.

Touching your girl's body, sucking on them for extra stimulation, and using the squeeze technique ensures that your nerve endings are on fire, which might help with sensitivity.

Penile numbness and reduced penile sensitivity

Penile numbness and reduced penile sensitivity are both terms that describe distinct aspects of men's sexual experience, but they refer to different things.

Decreased penile sensitivity refers to a sexual orientation in which men feel little to no stimulation. But it doesn't necessarily imply a complete absence of sexual attraction.

On the other hand, penis numbness refers to having no sexual attraction towards a partner and not being able to feel the touch or vibrations.

What if your penis is hypersensitive?

According to the study, premature ejaculation is another sexual health condition that happens when the penis is too sensitive (hypersensitive). In this condition, men ejaculate sooner (within one minute or less) than they desire.

However, apart from a hypersensitive penis, many psychological and biological factors cause PE, which makes men reach orgasm nearly within about 1 minute of vaginal penetration.

There are many treatments available to address this issue, such as using numbing ointments and applying sprays and wipes, that can decrease your penis sensitivity and prolong ejaculatory time.

Using topical anesthetics like lidocaine or benzocaine to number specific areas of tissue can also be a better option. Remember, all these things must be under the moderation of doctors.

When should I see a doctor?

Loss of penile sensitivity and numbness are common sexual disorders that occur in men and vary from person to person. If you're experiencing a loss of sensation in the male genital area, it's essential to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice.

They can help identify the underlying cause of the issue and recommend appropriate treatment.

A final takeaway on how to get sensation back

Navigating sexual performance with reduced penile sensitivity and numbness in the penis can be challenging for men. Remember, it is a complex issue that can affect their sexual experience and can be caused by physical and physiological factors.

If you find yourself struggling to reach orgasm in a normal amount of time and notice that intercourse doesn’t feel more pleasurable, follow the tips mentioned above to restore nerve function and get things back in order.

Remember that you are not alone, and with the right support and care, it's possible to lead a fulfilling life and maintain meaningful intimate relationships while living with less penis sensitivity.