How to Desensitize Your Penis: Tips and Products to Try
Erectile dysfunction (ED), sexually transmitted infections (STIs), or prostate health may come to mind when someone brings up sexual health. But if you’ve got a too-sensitive penis and a suffering sex life to show for it, stamina might be on that list as well.
Wondering how to desensitize your penis? If your sexual experiences are too quick for comfort and you think a less sensitive penis might be the solution, we’ve got you.
Below, we’ll explain what penile sensitivity is, why decreasing it could be a good thing, and safe, science-backed ways to last longer.
What Causes Penis Sensitivity?
Penile sensitivity is generally considered a good thing, but it has its limits.
Having an orgasm is pretty much always a satisfying experience. But having one too fast — an event medical professionals call premature ejaculation (PE) — can be a bummer.
So, why do some guys have more sensitivity than others? Well, it can depend on a lot of factors.
Anything that affects the skin on or around your penis or the glans (head or tip) can, in theory, change your sensitivity. Spinal injuries, which can impact nerve endings, could also impact penile sensitivity.
Potential causes of changes in sensitivity:
Injury or trauma to the shaft, base, or head of the penis
Circumcision (removal of the foreskin)
Phimosis (tight foreskin)
Medical conditions like an infection or STD (sexually transmitted disease)
Bike riding
Anything that leads to nerve damage
That said, nerve damage generally won’t make you more sensitive or faster to finish in bed, but it could make you less sensitive.
improve performance with doctor-trusted treatments
What to Know About Premature Ejaculation and Penile Sensitivity
Premature ejaculation is pretty common, affecting an estimated 20 to 30 percent of sexually active men. It’s characterised by having an orgasm sooner than you (or your partner) would like, typically within two to three minutes of starting sexual activity.
When it comes to premature ejaculation, psychological factors and mental health issues are common causes. These can include things like:
Guilt or shame surrounding sex
Anxiety
Stress
Trauma
Relationship problems
Health conditions could also potentially contribute to premature ejaculation, so make sure you address problems like:
Diabetes
Hypogonadism (low testosterone levels)
Abnormal levels of other hormones
Hyperthyroidism
Alcoholism or recreational drug use
Sleep problems
Low serotonin levels
A word to the wise: If you’re concerned that one of these issues may be causing increased or extreme sensitivity, talk to a healthcare professional. It’s always a good idea to get medical advice, whether your problems are due to depression, a physical issue, or something else entirely.
Benefits of Decreasing Penis Sensitivity
Before we get into how to desensitize your penis, let’s discuss why you might want to address hypersensitivity in the first place.
Some people actually struggle to orgasm or ejaculate — a condition called anorgasmia — which may cause a lot of frustration and require visits to see a urologist.
That said, the more common sexual dysfunction issue is definitely finishing too soon.
If you suddenly had the ability to last longer, it could erase the symptoms and trickle-down woes of premature ejaculation. Figuring out how to reduce sensitivity in your penis might, indirectly, boost your mental health, self-confidence, and romantic relationship.
Be ready for sex whenever you’re in the mood
How to Decrease Your Sensitivity
Hypersensitivity — abnormally sensitive sexual function — isn’t what most men want, regardless of how long you and your partner want sex to last.
So, there are three categories of ways to decrease sensitivity that have been shown to be safe and potentially effective: topicals, medications, and non-pharmaceuticals like therapy and lifestyle changes.
Topical Premature Ejaculation Treatments to Desensitize Penis
Desensitizing your penis with a topical product is the most straightforward treatment for premature ejaculation. It’s really simple, and in many cases, it works.
Over-the-counter topical medications like benzocaine and lidocaine can temporarily desensitize your penis. These may be available as wipes, sprays, or ointments.
Benzocaine is an effective treatment option for premature ejaculation. Data from a small randomised placebo-controlled trial of 21 men showed that 4% benzocaine wipes can triple the time to ejaculation after two months of use.
Medicated wipes and topicals (like benzocaine wipes) contain this numbing treatment in the proper dose to help you go longer.
Just remember to wait at least five minutes before having sex after applying them. The numbing ingredients on your genitals can be transferred to your partner’s, and one of the most commonly reported side effects is numbing of the vagina.
Using thicker condoms (possibly with a desensitising lubricant lining the interior) can help, too.
Premature Ejaculation Medications
Of course, men’s health isn’t all about the penis. As such, premature ejaculation can be treated through other channels.
Antidepressants like fluoxetine (Prozac®), paroxetine (Paxil®), and sertraline (Zoloft®) may be used off-label as a treatment for premature ejaculation. (Off-label use is when a drug is prescribed for something it’s not FDA-approved to treat.)
These medications have been shown to improve symptoms of PE, offer more control over ejaculation, and support sexual satisfaction.
But how do antidepressants work to treat premature ejaculation? Those mentioned above are all selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that work by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is the main neurotransmitter involved in controlling ejaculation, so more of it can have the effect of delaying ejaculation.
Technically, delaying ejaculation is a side effect of SSRIs. Healthcare professionals have essentially made lemonade out of lemons for some men by prescribing SSRIs for premature ejaculation.
ED Medications for Men With PE
ED medications like sildenafil, sold under the brand name Viagra®, treat sexual function problems by encouraging blood flow in the penis’s blood vessels. They can also shorten the latency period between one orgasm and the next.
Some research suggests ED meds can address premature ejaculation as well, improving ejaculatory control, confidence, and sexual satisfaction. But they may not work for everyone as a remedy for PE.
Other Techniques to Desensitize Penis and Last Longer
A variety of tools are at hand to help you last longer in bed.
Masturbation before sex with a partner, the squeeze technique (in which you literally squeeze the tip of your penis to prevent ejaculation), the stop-start method, exercising your pelvic floor muscles, and other hacks may help.
Premature ejaculation can be associated with intimacy issues, lower self-confidence, and other mental health-related problems. With that in mind, therapy is a great way to talk through some of these fears with a professional who knows how to navigate them.
Trusted treatment for PE
Personalised Recommendations
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Traditional Pill
Priligy® (Dapoxetine) for PE
From £8/use
Priligy®️, the branded version of dapoxetine, is the only licensed and clinically approved medication to treat premature ejaculation. It has been shown to increase the time to climax by up to 3 times.
Traditional Pill
Sildenafil for PE
From £2.36/use
Sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra®) can be taken as needed to delay ejaculation and improve sexual quality of life.2 Plus, it can help you get another erection more easily after orgasm. Round two?
Traditional Pill
Tadalafil Daily for PE
From £21/month
Tadalafil Daily (the active ingredient as Cialis®) can help improve climax control and overall bedroom performance2. A once-per-day pill that builds up in your system over several days and allows you to be ready for intimacy on your schedule. Being ready to go at any time? Hot.
Important safety information for Sildenafil, Tadalafil, Tadalafil Daily or Viagra Connect.
How to Desensitize Your Penis: Takeaways
Penis sensitivity is a, well…sensitive subject. But you have options.
Here’s what to remember about how to desensitize your penis:
There are a number of effective products, including anesthetic creams, sprays, wipes, and thick condoms guys can use before and during sex if they’re worried about an overly sensitive penis.
If you want to know how to decrease your sensitivity naturally, you can try Kegel exercises, the squeeze technique, or the stop-start method.
But in some cases, consulting a urology specialist might be your best bet. A healthcare provider can help diagnose the cause of your hypersensitivity and suggest treatment options.
If mental health conditions might be interfering with your stamina, you can address them with talk therapy or couples’ counselling with a sex therapist.
Hims has multiple treatments for premature ejaculation you can access through our platform.
Take your well-being seriously and get your sexual activity times back in the green. Reach out when you need us.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment or medication.