If a man is in his late 20’s or older, the chances are that his penis may have already lost some of its sensitivity. A study has shown that by the age of 39, as many as 87% of men experience some loss of nerve sensitivity in their penis. While this issue occurs naturally as men get older, factors such as lifestyle may hasten the effects. In order to maintain a healthy nerve function, men can follow some simple lifestyle steps, and if numbness or loss of feeling in the penis is experienced, check with a urologist or neurologist for testing.

Causes:

Age — no one can stop aging, but men can have a big say in how they age. Poor lifestyle choices such as smoking, high alcohol intake, little exercise and lots of stress all contribute to an increased aging rate in the body which may affect nerve health. Loss of penis sensitivity, penis size and libido is considered normal with growing older. However, one study shows that as many as 67% of men between the ages of 70 and 80 are still sexually active. If men want to have a long and healthy sex life well into their 80’s, looking after their body through good lifestyle now is important.

Sexual activity – excessive masturbation, dry masturbation and aggressive sexual intercourse are both related to reduced sensitivity in the penis nerve endings. Rough treatment may cause friction on a man’s penis and have damaging effects on the networks of capillaries required for feeding blood to the penis, cause nerve damage over time and create scar tissue. Men who are circumcised are especially at risk of this, as the removal of foreskin already increases the loss of penis sensitivity.

Circulation – if there is no blood making it to the penis, an erection is not the only thing that can diminish. Nerves require a constant flow of oxygen and nutrients in order to function. A variety of factors contribute to poor circulation and blood flow to the penis. Major causes include heart problems, diabetes, obesity, wearing tight underwear, damage or trauma to the penis, insufficient exercise, malnutrition, smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol.

Nerve damage: The body is filled with thousands of nerve fibers that relay sensory information back to the central nervous system, telling us when we feel pleasure, pain, hot and cold. Nerve damage, referred to as neuropathy, can be experienced as tingling, numbness, or loss of sensitivity to temperatures. The cause of this sort of nerve injury can be local, due to trauma on the penis tissues, or stem from trauma or damage in the spine. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease and deficiencies of vitamin B12 and folic acid are also frequent causes of neuropathy.

Treatment:

Exercise – physical activity is one of the single most useful things for a man to do regularly, as it protects against heart disease, diabetes and obesity, and improves energy levels significantly. Nerves rely on a healthy blood supply to ensure that they are sensitive and functioning optimally. Men need to make sure they get plenty of cardiovascular exercise, both in and out of the bedroom. It helps to ensure that blood moves easily and freely around the body, and protects the heart from cardiovascular disease which can contribute to sexual dysfunction.

Nutrition – nerves, muscles, blood vessels and hormone balance all require regular vitamins and minerals to do their job every day. Having a plate of toast and a cup of coffee in the morning simply does not provide adequate nutrients for nerve function and sexual health. Vitamin C is an important nutrient that protects circulation, enhances testosterone levels, and protects against the negative effects of aging. Vitamin B12 and folic acid are essential for nerve sensitivity, energy and stamina. Vitamin E protects the entire cardiovascular system, ensuring a healthy supply of blood and nutrients reach nerves. Vitamins B3 and B5 supports nervous system function, increase stamina, increase circulation and may reduce erectile dysfunction.

Health cremes – moisturizing your penis regularly with penis health cremes (most health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil) is a beneficial habit that may support nerve sensitivity. Applying cremes daily to the penis tissues increases circulation, and supplies nutrients (vitamins C, B3, A, E and D) for nerve function directly into the local area, and encourages sensitivity to return in men who are experienced reduced feeling in their penis.

Source by John Dugan