Sensitive penis can be caused by a genetic predisposition, occurs with balanitis, balanoposthitis, phimosis, a short frenulum, allergic reactions. It is observed after prolonged abstinence, against the background of hormonal fluctuations in puberty, with emotional overstrain, stress, irritation due to contact with tissue or hygiene products. The reason is established on the basis of the results of the survey, external examination, lidocaine test data, additional studies. Treatment – local and general drug therapy, surgical interventions.
General information
A sensitive penis is one of the most common causes of premature ejaculation. It is associated with local changes in the penis area. Early ejaculation caused by psychogenias, prostatitis, neurological diseases, and taking certain medications should be distinguished from this condition.
The cause of primary hypersensitivity is excessive innervation of the head due to an increase in the number of nerve endings transmitting signals to the dorsal nerves of the penis. This variant is observed from birth, persists throughout life, is not associated with other diseases. In other cases, hypersensitivity occurs against the background of local irritating influences or a temporary change in the psychological state, causing an increased reaction to various stimuli.
Causes of sensitive penis
Physiological causes
In adolescents, the etiofactor of temporary hypersensitivity may be an increase in testosterone levels. The condition normalizes as you get older and with the onset of sexual activity. Subsequently, it may temporarily appear after prolonged abstinence. A possible physiological cause in people of any age is rubbing the penis with tight underwear or wearing synthetic underwear, especially in hot weather.
Sometimes short-term irritation of the head occurs when using unsuitable hygiene products, washing powder, rinse aid. It is difficult to establish the exact cause of the symptom with emotional overstrain. Both the experiences themselves and the heightened perception of signals from skin receptors against the background of nervous system arousal can provoke a violation.
A sensitive penis after a recent circumcision is also the norm, in the subsequent constant friction of the head on the underwear leads to a decrease in the severity of sensations. Experts point out that the sensitivity of the head in the long term after surgery is reduced by almost half, but the transition period can cause certain inconveniences.
Inflammatory processes
Inflammation causes skin irritation and, as a result, a sensitive penis. Possible etiofactors are specific and non-specific infections, some non-infectious pathologies. Balanitis can occur acutely or chronically. The head of the penis is edematous, hyperemic, covered with a plaque with an unpleasant odor. Erosion may occur. There are difficulties urinating, pain, itching. With a chronic course, the symptoms are smoothed out.
In patients with balanoposthitis, not only the head, but also the foreskin is involved in the inflammatory process. As in the previous case, there is swelling, redness, pain. The mobility of the prepuce is limited. The most striking symptoms are found in catarrhal inflammation. They are worried about severe pain, excruciating itching, burning during the injection process. With a chronic course, the manifestations are insignificant, they increase against the background of alcohol intake. Over time, the skin atrophies, is often injured and bleeds.
Specific infections are more likely to develop when affected by candida (transmitted from women with candidiasis) and the herpes virus. Fungal balanoposthitis proceeds with the formation of deep erosions, pronounced infiltration and almost complete loss of mobility of the foreskin. Sometimes films are formed, when removed, the bleeding surface is exposed. The detachable is white with a sour smell.
With herpetic balanoposthitis, bubbles appear on the head and prepuce. The contents of the vesicles are initially transparent, then cloudy. After opening, light brown crusts remain. General hyperthermia, intoxication syndrome, regional lymphadenitis are possible. Balanitis and balanoposthitis in STIs complicate the course of urethritis, are observed with non-compliance with hygiene, weakening of immunity:
- Gonorrhea. The incubation period ranges from 5 to 10 days. The discharge is thick, abundant, yellowish-gray.
- Trichomoniasis. Manifests in 1-2 weeks. The symptoms are weakly expressed, they are more disturbing after injection and sexual contact. The discharge is mucopurulent in nature.
- Chlamydia. It is also prone to a low-symptom course. The discharge appears only in the morning. Reiter’s syndrome may occur.
- Ureaplasmosis and mycoplasmosis. They develop after a month or more from the moment of unprotected sexual contact. There may be itching of the head. The selections are sparse, transparent or translucent.
Phimosis
Phimosis is formed against the background of balanitis or balanoposthitis, urological manipulations, frenulum tears, STIs, abstinence from sexual activity (especially in the absence of spontaneous erections), diabetes mellitus. It is accompanied by difficulties when trying to remove the prepuce, skin irritation, bleeding, hypersensitivity, soreness during sexual intercourse. The nature of the discharge is determined by the cause of inflammation. With progression, dysuria is determined.
Short bridle
In patients with a short frenulum of the penis, a strong tension of the skin occurs during an erection. The frenulum is richly innervated, therefore, with its slight shortening, the sensitive penis worries, with pronounced pain during sexual intercourse. Repeated traumatization with the occurrence of profuse bleeding, an increased tendency to the development of inflammatory processes are characteristic. Secondary psychogenic erection disorders, erotophobia are possible.
Dermatitis
A sensitive penis is observed with dermatitis in the penis area:
- Atopic. As a rule, it debuts in childhood, sometimes it is first detected in adults. Penis lesion is infrequent. There is a high risk of secondary infection and the development of balanitis.
- Simple contact. It is provoked by contact with the remnants of washing powder on linen, hygiene products. Accompanied by dry skin, sometimes – the appearance of bullae and erosions.
- Allergic contact. The reason is care products, household chemicals, dyes for clothes, synthetic underwear. It is manifested by itching, hyperemia, edema. In the acute form, the lesion is limited, in the chronic form it is widespread.
- Orthogenic contact eczema. Develops with an excessive tendency to carry out hygienic measures, the use of irritating care products. The head turns red, itches, scabs appear on it.
Diagnostics
The determination of the causes of hypersensitivity is the responsibility of the urologist-andrologist. If STIs are suspected, allergic dermatitis is examined by a dermatologist-venereologist, allergist. During the survey, the doctor finds out when the symptom first appeared, whether any diagnosed diseases or unusual changes in the head preceded its appearance.
During an external examination, the mobility of the prepuce is assessed, signs indicating a possible nature of the disorder are revealed: edema, hyperemia, cracks, bubbles, the presence of pathological secretions, an increase in regional lymph nodes. In the absence of external changes to differentiate hypersensitivity and other causes of erectile dysfunction, the patient is offered a lidocaine test.
The essence of the manipulation is to apply 10% lidocaine to the head of the penis 10-15 minutes before sexual contact. You should have sex with a condom. If, according to the results of 3-5 tests, the duration of the act significantly increased, this indicates in favor of hypersensitivity. When pathological symptoms are detected, laboratory tests are prescribed.
The basic study is smear microscopy. If a large number of bacteria and leukocytes are detected, ELISA or PCR is performed to exclude specific infections, microbiological analysis to determine the nature of the microflora and sensitivity to antibiotics. They prescribe tests for syphilis and HIV infection. With dermatitis, allergy tests are performed, the level of immunoglobulins is assessed.
Treatment
Conservative therapy
Men with a congenital sensitive penis are recommended to use special anesthetic gels with lidocaine, thick-walled condoms or an anesthetic as part of a lubricant. Patients with allergic reactions are advised to wear natural underwear, choose hypoallergenic hygiene products and household chemicals.
Patients with balanitis, balanoposthitis are prescribed local medications with antibacterial or antifungal action. Irrigation is carried out with antiseptics. The need for the use of system tools is determined individually. Depending on the type of infection, antibiotics, antiviral and antiprotozoal drugs can be used. In candidiasis, general therapy is indicated for patients with immune disorders.
Creams and ointments with corticosteroids and antihistamines are recommended for the allergic genesis of hypersensitivity. The bubbles are opened, extinguished with aniline dyes. In case of erosions, cracks, wetness, antiseptics, phytopreparations with anti-inflammatory and tanning action are treated. In cases where the changes extend not only to the penis, but also to a significant part of the body, detoxification therapy is carried out.
Surgical treatment
With pronounced erectile dysfunction, insufficient effectiveness of anesthetics, unwillingness of a patient with a congenital sensitive penis to constantly use special means to ensure normal sexual acts, microsurgical selective denervation of the penis is performed. With a short frenulum, a frenulotomy or frenulectomy is performed. Patients with phimosis receive circumcision, if they refuse circumcision, prepucioplasty is recommended.