— And can it harm your penis?
Masturbation isn’t something any of us should be shy about, but when the mood strikes, some of us seize it a little too tightly.
To put it plainly, if you’ve got a penis, grabbing it too hard while pleasuring yourself could leave orgasms further out of reach.
It’s what is known in slang terms as Death Grip Syndrome (DGS), though there’s actually no official medical name for the condition.
Some credit sex columnist Dan Savage with coining the term back in the early 2000s, but it’s also popped up in various Reddit threads over the years. It even got a formal Urban Dictionary entry in 2010.
But we wouldn’t put your physical health in the hands of public forums, so we had Dr Lawrence Cunningham tell us just how real (or not) it is.
What is Death Grip Syndrome?
‘DGS refers to the phenomenon where habitual, overly tight gripping of the penis during masturbation can lead to decreased sensitivity, and difficulty achieving orgasm through other forms of sexual activity,’ Dr Cunningham tells Metro.
The UK Care Guide doctor believes many men are unaware their masturbation habits could impact their sexual health, and let’s face it, none of us want any lingering problems just because we went a little too hard.
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Death Grip Syndrome may sound alarming, Dr Cunningham explains, but it doesn’t do any physical damage to the penis in the traditional sense.
The issue, he says, is when it comes to sexual stimulation: ‘The persistent use of a tight grip can condition the nerves and tissues to respond only to this specific form of stimulation.
‘This can make it challenging to experience pleasure and achieve orgasm through more typical forms of sexual activity.’
What are the symptoms?
The primary symptoms include decreased sensitivity in the penis and difficulty achieving orgasm, unless you’re gripping your member very tightly.
It goes without saying that this is going to decrease your levels of sexual satisfaction, which no one wants.
According to men’s health website Hims and medical adviser Mike Bohl, other symptoms include penile pain and anorgasmia.
The latter is a condition where you experience delayed, infrequent or absent orgasms — in other words, it’s a form of sexual dysfunction.
Dr Cunningham adds: ‘Years of consistent, tight-grip masturbation usually doesn’t lead to complete anorgasmia, but it can certainly lead to delayed ejaculation or reduced pleasure.’
The physical effects can result in anxiety and relationship issues too, so the doctor believes addressing the issue is crucial.
Is DGS common and is it reversible?
While there’s limited scientific data to say just how prevalent Death Grip Syndrome is, Dr Lawrence thinks he’s got a handle on it.
‘I believe I’ve seen a number of men who experience these issues. It’s common enough that sexual health professionals encounter it regularly, but many men may not realise it’s the root of their difficulties,’ he explains.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, don’t be stressed because it’s generally treatable and ‘often reversible’.
How? Well, Dr Cunningham suggests: ‘Start with a change in masturbation habits; using a gentler touch and exploring different types of stimulation.
‘Incorporating more mindful and varied sexual practices can also help. In some cases, professional counselling or sex therapy can provide additional support and strategies to regain sensitivity and sexual satisfaction.’
Complete Article ↪HERE↩!
I promised that I’d respond to your questions. This I do with my traditional Q&A sessions; like today’s podcast.
This is our special end of the year show. We’ll be taking two weeks off for our well-deserved annual holiday break. Today we have a bunch of Q&A, a little sexual enrichment programming and my 2009 tribute to all the wonderful guests that have graced this year’s podcasts in 
Oh, and to make things really interesting, as well as satisfy a friend suppressed desire to dole out sex advice. (Apparently he thinks this gig is a cakewalk.) I’m gonna let him have the first words of advice on today’s questions. My friend, who wishes to be known as Uncle Iodine, claims to enjoy the sadistic Samaritan rush of helping people. Well we’ll just see about that.
All depends, Stefanni. Most jurisdictions, particularly there in the Golden State would probably wink at a couple making out in public. I suppose you’d be pushing the envelope if the make-out session included heavy petting. And as to full-on sex in public…CumOn, honey, a 28 year-old female who can’t discern if fucking in public is illegal or not, needs to be in supervised care 24/7. You’re not sick, dearie, you’re retarded.
Reminds me of the old joke about two guys sittin’ around shootin’ the shit. When they notice a dog over yonder lickin his balls. One guy turns to the other and says; “I wish I could do that!” And the other guy says, “Gee, I hope the dog doesn’t bite!”
At the same time I am a furious proponent of genital integrity. So you see my conflict.
First, every site I visited advertises their product as a miracle medical breakthrough. Often there is a testimonial or two from some doctor (MD) or doctor (Ph.D.) who substantiates the claims being made. We never really discover who these professionals are, but we are encouraged to take their words as gospel…well because we all know that professional types would never knowingly try and hoodwink us. Exactly! And if you buy that we have some swampland in Louisiana for you too.
The truth is, Nick, you can probably do just as well with a modest daily intake of zinc and lecithin supplements. For some, these nutrients have a noticeable effect on the volume of ejaculate. And they’re a whole lot cheaper and easier to get then the trumped-up stuff you see online.