Question about the glans of my penis

[90Hello09]

So my(M18) glans is almost always at least half exposed. Consequently, when I wear underwear it can sometimes hurt when it touches the fabric, because the skin on the glans is really sensitive. Can this cause a loss or decrease of sensitivity on the glans? I have always been really paranoid about penis sensitivity and am not sure if this circumstance can have any consequences, because it is just not possible to prevent my gland from coming in contact with my underwear (logically). I also sometimes have pain exactly where „the pee comes out“, and I don’t know if this also comes from that (If you are wondering, it can’t be an infection because I never did anything sexual). I know this sounds strange, but I am just not sure if this is normal and am concerned about my sexual health, because it is really important to me.

[Ruby S]

Hi there!

Firstly, that sucks and I'm sorry you're sometimes in pain and feel concerned! Secondly, I'm wondering if you have contacted a medical professional about your concerns. It might be more challenging to go into the doctor's office as it would be without a global pandemic, but is there a primary care provider you could give a call to and ask if it's something they would be worried about?

Everyone's bodies are different. Some body parts are more sensitive than others, and it isn't abnormal for your glans to be sensitive - like you said, the skin on the glans is thin and more reactive since it's exposed less than, say, your hands or feet. That being said, if you're in a lot of pain, I'd reach out to a medical professional about it - some conditions, like phimosis, cause tighter foreskin than is comfortable which can cause more hypersensitivity in the glans. You might want to see if that sounds like something you're dealing with.

I'm not sure if your glans being exposed in the way you describe will cause desensitization over time. Some people with penises have experienced desensitization after masturbating in a specific way and needing to increase the pressure or method of masturbation in order to feel stimulated, but can take breaks to try and increase the sensitivity again. Penis sensitivity can also decrease with age, so it's tough to pinpoint one reason someone might experience desensitization.
If you're in pain when your glans touch your underwear and don't want to be, it might not be a bad idea to introduce some stimulation to your glans to help them feel less sensitive when they are in contact with your underwear. Does that make sense, or sound applicable for you? This could look like applying coconut oil or warm water to the glans regularly.