Glans Sensitivity Test: Measure Penis Nerve Stimulation & Symptoms

A glans sensitivity test checks how well the head of the penis feels touch, vibration or temperature. In a clinic the usual penile sensitivity test is biothesiometry, a quick, painless measurement of the faintest vibration you can feel on the glans, the penile shaft and a finger, while at home you can only notice areas of the penis that feel different and report them to a urologist (Source: J Sex Med, 2019).

When it comes to penile sensitivity, only the man himself knows how he feels. No one can know what kind of “feeling” or “sensation” other men have. In light of this, how can any man determine whether he has sufficient sensitivity in the head or glans of his penis?

When a penis is extremely sensitive to touch or stimulation to the point of pain or discomfort, doctors often describe it as “hypersensitive”. Penile hypersensitivity is one of the suggested causes of premature ejaculation (PE), although the evidence for it is limited, and it can also make regular activities and sexual engagement unpleasant (Source: EAU Guidelines).

Naturally, a guy can generally sense when his initial level of penile feeling is diminishing or changing. He may discover that he needs to go further to obtain the same response from masturbation or coupling as he did previously.

When the sensitivity goes down, the man could stop reacting to touches or stimulation quickly, which makes it harder to reach a climax.

Is the glans sensitive to touch? Yes: the penis has many sensitive nerve endings, especially in its head, and in a study that measured touch, pain, warmth and heat thresholds, glans sensitivity was similar in circumcised and uncircumcised men, and only the foreskin was more sensitive to light touch than other penile sites (Sources: Cleveland Clinic, J Urol, 2016).

Fortunately, some tests exist to compare penile or glans sensitivity with that of healthy men, although no single standardised method or normal range is agreed yet (Source: J Sex Med, 2019).

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Why You Need Glans Sensitivity Test?

You may need to undergo a glans sensitivity test to establish a baseline and spot changes as they occur. This test may be the first step toward choosing the right diagnostic test for further investigation.

In a study of 120 men with lifelong premature ejaculation and 66 healthy men, the men with PE felt vibration at lower thresholds on the glans and penile shaft, a sign of penile hypersensitivity, while in healthy men the threshold rose with age (Source: J Urol, 1996).

Your doctor may perform genital inspections in which you will remain awake and informed of the normal appearance and sensation of the whole area.

Early discovery of penile issues often enables your doctor to address growths, cysts, and other abnormalities before they cause more significant consequences, which is why a monthly self-exam of the penis is advised from puberty onwards (Source: Cleveland Clinic).

Experts in urology search for a wide range of conditions, including drug side effects, problematic or abnormal penile implants, chronic blood vessel problems, and injury at the base of the penis.

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Glans Sensitivity Nerve Test for Erectile Dysfunction

An erectile nerve test is used to check whether reduced penile sensitivity or nerve damage plays a part when you have trouble getting hard. In biothesiometry, mild vibrations are applied to the glans and to both sides of the penile shaft, and the results are compared with a finger, so the test assesses the nerves of the penis as a whole, not just the glans (Source: J Sex Med, 2019).

Warm and cold thermal thresholds can be measured on the glans too; in one study the warm threshold at the glans was the single best sensory measure for predicting erectile dysfunction (Source: J Urol, 2003).

The bulbocavernosus reflex test, sometimes loosely called a glans sensitivity test, is a different nerve test: it checks the reflex loop between the penis and the lower spinal cord. A reflex that is absent or delayed (latency over about 45 milliseconds) is considered a sign of nerve disease, but abnormal results were also found in men with normal night-time erections, so the test cannot prove that ED is neurological on its own (Source: J Urol, 1989).

This test involves squeezing or electrically stimulating the glans penis and watching or recording the contraction of the anal sphincter and bulbocavernosus muscles. Expert standards no longer recommend these nerve tests routinely for men with ED, or penile threshold testing for diagnosing PE (Source: ISSM standard operating procedures, 2013).

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Glans Sensitivity Self-Test Methods & Techniques

You can self-examine yourself to explore any visible changes and to get to know your genital area better. Indeed, a self-exam at least once a month is recommended, looking for blisters, discoloration or lumps (Source: Cleveland Clinic).

A home glans sensitivity self-test cannot measure thresholds like a clinic test, but it can help you notice and describe changes to your doctor. Below are some techniques to try in your home:

Technique One

You can begin either seated or standing. Start by stroking fingertips over your penis, beginning at the base and moving toward the glans or penile head, while keeping your eyes closed and your penis erect.

Any place where the touch appears a little "less" or does not give you the same sensation as other places should be noted by now. Make a note of any areas that are numb or have minimal feeling, because loss of penile sensitivity needs further medical investigation (Source: EAU Guidelines).

Technique Two

Proceed in the same manner now, substituting a little ice cube wrapped in a thin cloth and touching each spot only for a second or two. The goal is to ascertain which penile regions react most well to temperature variations.

It is okay if there is a region where the ice is way too delicate to touch! The goal is to locate areas where the cold does not register on your skin as it does elsewhere. Note any locations that have this feeling, especially in the glans.

What Can Cause Glans Sensitivity?

Penis sensitivity is one of several suggested causes of premature ejaculation (PE), together with anxiety and serotonin-related factors, and the evidence for each is limited (Source: EAU Guidelines).

About thirty percent of men answered yes when asked whether they ejaculate too early in one large US survey, but true lifelong PE is far less common, about 2–3% in two large surveys that used stricter definitions; doctors diagnose PE from the time to ejaculation, the lack of control and the distress it causes (Source: EAU Guidelines).

If ejaculation happens sooner than you or your partner wish and it troubles you, see your GP (Source: NHS).

Penis sensitivity may have its roots in underlying medical disorders, many of which are curable in principle. Among the potential reasons might be:

• Phimosis: Men who are not circumcised may develop this condition. The foreskin is stiff and tight, so it cannot be pulled back from the glans (Source: Cleveland Clinic).
• Penis trauma: Among other things, you might hurt your penis via falls, contact sports, or vigorous sex or masturbation; sudden pain or a snapping sound during sex needs urgent care (Source: Cleveland Clinic).
• Urinary tract Infection (UTI): Penile discomfort can also result from a UTI, particularly during ejaculation or urination. Thankfully, UTIs can be cured with prescribed antibiotics, and genital infections such as prostatitis should be treated before PE itself (Source: EAU Guidelines).
• Age and diabetes: reduced glans sensitivity is more common with older age, and diabetes was linked to higher vibration thresholds in a study of 1,239 men (Source: J Sex Med, 2019).

Glans Sensitivity Test Results: What Is Normal?

There is no single normal value for glans sensitivity. Biothesiometry compares the glans with your own finger, and in 1,239 men tested this glans-to-finger ratio was the only measure that differed between men who reported reduced penile sensitivity and those who did not; it rose with age (Source: J Sex Med, 2019).

A lower threshold than usual (you feel very faint vibration) points to a sensitive glans, as seen in men with lifelong PE, while a higher threshold points to reduced sensation. The result is always read together with your history and examination, because penile threshold tests alone are not recommended for diagnosing PE (Sources: J Urol, 1996, ISSM standard operating procedures, 2013).

Does Circumcision Change Glans Sensitivity?

The best-quality studies say no. A systematic review of 36 studies with more than 40,000 men found that circumcision had no overall adverse effect on penile sensitivity, sexual sensation, premature ejaculation or satisfaction; only lower-quality studies reported impairment (Source: J Sex Med, 2013).

Treatment Options for a Sensitive Glans

If a sensitive glans leads to premature ejaculation, the EAU recommends treating erectile dysfunction or genital infection first, then using a lidocaine/prilocaine spray or dapoxetine as first-line treatments for lifelong PE. Numbing sprays reduce glans sensitivity without dulling the sensation of ejaculation (Source: EAU Guidelines).

Self-help steps such as the squeeze technique, a thicker condom or masturbating an hour or two before sex can also help, and numbing creams may transfer to a partner, so use them as directed (Source: NHS).

Hyaluronic acid injections into the glans reduce sensitivity in studies, but they are an off-label procedure with limited evidence (Source: EAU Guidelines).

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When to See a Urologist About Penile Sensitivity

See a doctor if you notice new numbness, a sensitive glans that makes sex painful, persistent early ejaculation, or changes such as lumps, sores or discoloration. Loss of penile sensitivity needs further investigation, for example for diabetes or nerve damage (Source: EAU Guidelines).

Sensitivity problems often occur alongside erectile dysfunction, which should be assessed at the same visit.