Penile numbness is a common condition that affects men of all ages. It can be caused by injury, tight clothing, cold temperatures, nerve damage or diseases like diabetes, multiple sclerosis or Peyronie’s disease.
Fortunately, the condition is treatable. The treatment depends on what caused the numbness. If it’s due to a bike ride, for instance, stopping the practice should reestablish feeling in the groin.
Poor blood flow
The good news is that the numbness you feel in your penis is not a sign of a serious problem. You might just be experiencing poor blood flow to the area, which can be caused by a number of different health issues. Some of the most common causes include diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain medications or recreational drugs.
If your numbness is caused by a medical condition, it’s important to seek treatment immediately. In addition, it’s important to drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated and healthy. This will help to improve blood flow to the groin and reduce your risk of numbness.
When you’re aroused, neurotransmitters in your brain promote nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation of the blood vessels that supply your penis. This engorges the corpora cavernosa, two spongy cylinders of tissue that make up most of your penis. The engorgement of blood in the corpora cavernosa helps you to get and maintain an erection. When you’re not, your penis becomes numb and tingles due to a reduction in blood flow to the area.
Nerve damage
The penis is full of nerve endings, which makes it one of the most sensitive parts of your body. This sensitivity is what allows you to experience pleasurable sensations during masturbation and sex, helping you to reach orgasm and ejaculate. However, your penis can feel less sensitive than usual due to a variety of conditions and diseases. Fortunately, most of these causes can be reversed or treated.
If your genital area feels cold or numb, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible to ensure that your condition does not worsen. If left untreated, it could lead to serious complications such as a loss of the tip of your penis (gangrene) or an inability to get an erection. Some of these diseases and medical conditions include traumatic injury, diabetes, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, Peyronie’s disease, certain cancers and blood disorders such as leukemia or sickle cell anemia.
Some medications can also cause a loss of sensation in the groin and penis as a side effect. If this is the case for you, changing your medication may help restore the feeling to your groin and penis. This is especially true if you take medications for Parkinson’s disease or other neurological conditions, such as seizure disorder and epilepsy. A change to a different drug may also be helpful for people taking antidepressants and certain blood pressure medications.
Exposure to cold temperatures
When exposed to cold temperatures, the blood vessels in the penis constrict and reduce blood flow. This causes the tip of the penis to become cold and may feel numb or painful. If the penis is exposed to cold temperatures for an extended period of time, it can cause permanent damage and can lead to erectile dysfunction and reduced libido.
Some medical conditions can also cause a loss of sensation in the genital area. These conditions include nerve damage, peripheral artery disease, and atherosclerosis. Other medications can also contribute to a loss of sensation in the genital areas, including some antidepressants and blood pressure drugs. Additionally, smoking and drinking alcohol can restrict blood flow to the genital area, causing coldness and a lack of sensitivity.
Although losing the sense of touch in the penis can be frightening, there are many things you can do to prevent it from getting worse. The best way to do this is to wear warm clothing and accessories, including insulated pants and thermal underwear. You can also use a genital heating pad or battery-powered warming device to keep the area warm. In addition, you should avoid excessively long exposure to cold temperatures and avoid tight clothing that can restrict blood flow. Additionally, it is important to stay active and eat a balanced diet.
Infection
Men may notice that their penis are a different color, particularly in winter, when the skin is dry. While it’s normal for the tip of a penis to be darker than the rest of the skin, if a new change is accompanied by pain and swelling, consult a doctor as soon as possible. These symptoms can indicate an infection such as a sexually transmitted disease like chlamydia or gonorrhea, or a condition called chill blains (perniosis), which causes inflammation in the elastic layers that surround erectile tissue.
It’s not uncommon to bruise your penis, and a little bruising goes away relatively quickly, but if dark bruising appears on your glans, it warrants immediate medical attention, as it may be a sign of an infection. If left untreated, infections can cause long-term damage to erections.
Various medical conditions can lead to coldness of the penis as a symptom, such as nerve damage, peripheral artery disease and Raynaud’s disease. Other causes include smoking, wearing tight clothing and sitting for extended periods of time, which restrict blood flow to the genital area. It’s also important to practice good hygiene practices and avoid rubbing the penis against rough surfaces, as this can also irritate and sting. The good news is that treating the underlying condition usually relieves the coldness and discomfort in the penis.