Is Your Penis Too Sensitive?

The skin on your penis may get irritated and feel overly sensitive after it’s been touched a lot during sex or masturbation (or after wearing underwear that chafes). This should resolve on its own, but if it doesn’t, there could be an underlying physical or psychological issue.  

Physical issues that can cause a sensitive penis include:  

• Phimosis/paraphimosis. Men who have not been circumcised have foreskin that covers the tip of their penis when it is flaccid (soft) and pulls back/down when the penis gets erect (hard). Phimosis is a condition in which the foreskin gets stuck to the tip of the penis and cannot pull completely away. Paraphimosis is a condition in which the foreskin is pulled back and becomes stuck. Both conditions can cause pain, swelling, and increased sensitivity.     

   

• Balanitis. A person can be diagnosed with balanitis when the head of the penis becomes inflamed, but this isn’t a complete diagnosis because balanitis can be caused by an infection, skin condition, or irritation. It’s important to see a health care provider who can figure out the root cause and offer solutions.  

   

• UTIs. Most people will get a urinary tract infection (UTI) at some point in their lives though they are more common in uncircumcised men and people with vaginas. A UTI is an infection in any part of the urinary system such as the kidneys, bladder, or urethra. These can cause pain (often described as a burning sensation) when you pee and when you ejaculate and can make your penis feel overly sensitive.  

   

• Injury. It’s hard to even think about the most sensitive parts of our body getting injured, but it can happen. The penis may be injured during contact sports, rough sex, falls, or other accidents. This causes pain and trauma and may lead to heightened sensation or a tingling, pins-and-needles-like feeling in the penis. These symptoms may go away as the body heals but you should see a health care provider if they don’t. 

   

Penis sensitivity can also be a result of psychological issues like stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, or a past history of sexual abuse.   

Using lube during sex can prevent chafing. Condoms can also prevent chafing (try putting a drop of lube on the inside of the condom to help with this) and they can prevent sexually transmitted infections as well. 

Uncircumcised men should never try to force their foreskin to move in either direction if it is resisting as this can cause more damage. If you’re having issues with your foreskin, see a health care provider right away. 

Probably not. There is some debate about whether circumcision changes the sensitivity in the head of the penis, but most people who are opposed to the practice argue that circumcising men will decrease not increase their sensitivity. 

In truth, research has suggested it does neither. A study comparing men who were circumcised as babies to those who were not found they had very similar levels of sensitivity.