What happens in the bedroom, whether you’re a couple or alone, is your business. But if you are a fan of solo pleasure, gentlemen, some information should reach you. Depending on how much pressure you put on your penis, you might soon regret it during your next experiences.
When manual work is a little too lively
This is what renowned doctors call today, “death grip syndrome”. Habitual, overly tight grip of the penis during masturbation which some believe leads to decreased sensitivity. This can include having difficulty achieving orgasm through any other form of sexual activity, experts say.
The term is not medically recognized, but it emerged as many men described the same problem whether on forums like Reddit, or to their doctor. Men notice that they have difficulty “finishing” with a partner, suffering from penile pain or numbness in the genital area and a complete inability to achieve orgasm. In short, that they are no longer sufficiently stimulated, outside of their solo session.
Nerve endings overly tested
Certainly, this syndrome is not the only reason that can harm male pleasure. It is estimated today that 6 out of 10 adult men experience or have experienced erectile dysfunction problems in their life. These can be associated with obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, or even treatment.
But this slightly too tight and abrupt grip of the penis during masturbation could complete the picture. On the Men’s Health website forhims.co.ukmedical advisor Dr. Mike Bohn explains:
“Masturbation can be a safe and fun solo sexual experience. Unfortunately, if you hold on a little too hard, your low-key solo session can have unintended negative consequences. Are they at risk of injury, desensitization of their penis, or even nerve damage? This is not excluded.” he explains.
A comment also mentioned by Dr Lawrence Cunningham, general practitioner at Metro UK: “Persistent use of a tight grip can condition nerves and tissues to respond only to that specific form of stimulation.”
A study dating from 2016, published in the journal Fertility and Sterilityalso suggested that “penile hyperstimulation could be one of the causes of delayed orgasm and anorgasmia”.
Have a lighter hand to regain sensations
So, what to do? Reddit is full of users offering their own tips, which often include using male sex toys as a hand replacement during masturbation. For Dr. Cunningham, it is already a matter of realizing where the problem comes from in order to be able to act on it.
Good news however, according to him, the situation is reversible if men change their masturbation habits “using a gentler touch and exploring different types of stimulation“. The integration of more conscious and varied sexual practices (with a partner) can also help. In short, it would be a question of aiming more for quality than intensity, even if it takes a little more time, for fulfilling relationships.
“In some cases, professional counseling can provide additional support and strategies to regain sensitivity and sexual satisfaction” says the doctor.