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Death Grip Syndrome: What Is It, How Do I Cure it?

9 min read
Death Grip Syndrome: What Is It, How Do I Cure it?

Masturbation is a healthy and natural activity that offers numerous mental and physical health benefits. But did you know that too much masturbation can actually hinder your sex life? Over time, intense masturbation can lead you to develop Death Grip Syndrome (DGS), a common problem experienced by men worldwide.

In this guide, we'll be taking an in-depth look at DGS. We'll examine its symptoms, look at the main causes behind its development, and explore treatment options.

At a Glance:

  • Death Grip Syndrome (DGS) involves reduced penile sensitivity, often caused by frequent, intense masturbation.
  • Common symptoms include difficulty reaching orgasm during sex, delayed ejaculation, and penile numbness.
  • Main causes include excessive grip strength, aging, certain medications, and pre-existing medical conditions.
  • Treatment options include reducing or stopping masturbation, using lighter grips, incorporating sex toys, and seeking medical advice for persistent issues.
  • Prevention includes mindful masturbation habits and avoiding over-reliance on porn for arousal.

What is the Death Grip Syndrome?

Death grip syndrome is a non-clinical term used to describe reduced sensitivity in the penis. Men with DGS can usually orgasm easily during masturbation but struggle during sex.

What usually occurs in cases of DGS is that a man gets so used to his masturbation techniques that he finds orgasming during sex becomes a drawn-out struggle - or, in some cases, an impossibility.

DGS typically occurs when someone masturbates frequently using an excessively strong grip - hence the name death grip syndrome.

DGS isn't a medically recognized condition, although there is a wealth of anecdotal evidence to support its existence.

The concept behind DGS lies in sensory adaptation, a medically documented phenomenon. Sensory adaptation is a process by which the body adapts to sensory information - touch, taste, smell, sight, and sound. The more your body is exposed to certain stimuli, the less sensitive it becomes to them over time.

Some studies have tracked the correlation between hyperstimulation (extreme stimulation) of the penis and reduced sensitivity. These studies make it clear that sensory adaptation can affect your sexual function, especially if you're frequently masturbating with an overly strong grip.

People often class DGS as a form of delayed ejaculation (DE) as both conditions exhibit similar symptoms and have some similar root causes.

DGS has also been classed as a form of idiosyncratic masturbation, whereby people develop a sort of psychological reliance on a specific technique to reach orgasm - which often can't be replicated during partnered sex. This is common in both men and women.

Symptoms of Death Grip Syndrome

Since death grip syndrome isn't a medically-recognized condition, symptoms can be hard to narrow down. DGS primarily involves a decrease in penile sensation, which can directly affect a man's sexual function and overall sexual health. Depending on the severity, it may lead to both physical and psychological symptoms, including:

  • Difficulty reaching orgasm during sex
  • Anorgasmia
  • Delayed ejaculation
  • Erectile problems
  • Penile numbness
  • Difficulty feeling pleasure during sex
  • Depression
  • Performance anxiety
  • Struggles with intimacy
  • Lack of interest in sex

What are the main causes of Death Grip Syndrome?

Death grip syndrome can occur for a number of reasons - including the frequency of masturbation, the grip strength you use when you masturbate, your age, medical issues, medications you might be taking, and some other lifestyle factors. 

Let's take a look at each of those factors in more detail:

Frequency of masturbation

Numerous studies have looked at the link between excessive stimulation of the penis and reduced penile sensation, and although none explicitly mention DGS, they do provide some useful insights into it.

A 2013 study, which compared men with delayed ejaculation to a control group, found that the men in the DE group had significantly less sensitivity in their penis, masturbated frequently, and took longer to orgasm during partnered sex. Participants reported often stopping intercourse due to the time and effort it was taking for them to orgasm.

This is exactly how DGS is thought to work - a decrease in penile sensitivity due to frequent intense stimulation during masturbation.

What's important to note here is that 68.2% of men in the DE group could regularly achieve orgasm while masturbating - just like in many reported cases of DGS.


The study noted that the DE group's Intravaginal Ejaculation Latency Time (IELT) - the time it takes them to orgasm during vaginal intercourse - was significantly higher, at 20 minutes, compared to 5.5 minutes for the control group.

Researchers theorized that men in the DE group had less feeling in their penis as a result of masturbating frequently, leading to the penis shaft becoming less sensitive.

Grip Strength

Using excessive grip strength is often a direct consequence of frequent masturbation. If you're masturbating too much, you may find yourself with a numb penis. This often turns into DGS, as many men with reduced sensitivity in their penis begin gripping harder during masturbation, which further reduces sensitivity.

This can quickly turn into a cycle in which a man is constantly increasing his grip strength in response to diminishing sensitivity, making his DGS even more severe. Repeatedly masturbating with a strong grip leads to habituation, reducing the arousal from this type of stimulation, which leads to an even firmer grip, and so on.

Eventually, anything that doesn't match the intensity of masturbating with a death grip may no longer be arousing.

For many people, this means oral and vaginal sex no longer cuts it, making it difficult to climax during sex or even become aroused. This often leads men to believe they have ED when, in reality, they have DGS.

Age

Age is another cause of DGS. Research has proven that as humans age, our sexual function decreases, but what many people don't know is that penis sensitivity actually decreases in men as they grow older.

As people age, nerve function naturally starts to decline. Our nerves conduct impulses slower, meaning our bodies react at a slower rate, our reflexes slow down, and sensitivity decreases. This can occur anywhere in the body, including the penis, and can make sexual stimulation less enjoyable.

On top of this, the body's cardiovascular system slows down, leading to reduced blood flow. Less blood flow can affect erectile function and penile sensitivity.

Changes also take place in the body's hormones as it grows older. Testosterone levels gradually fall as men age, which can lead to a reduction in sexual function and penile sensitivity.

To compensate for this reduced sensation, a lot of men may start using a firm grip during masturbation to achieve the same level of stimulation they're used to.

This habit can develop into the death grip syndrome cycle.

Medication

Certain medications can cause ED or ED-related symptoms, like delayed or absent orgasm, inability to maintain an erection, decreased libido, and reduced penile sensitivity levels.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) - a type of antidepressant - are notorious for impairing sexual function in men and women, although the severity of symptoms typically depends on dosage. Some studies have shown a direct correlation between SSRIs and delayed orgasm.

Many name-brand antidepressants also come with similar side effects, although it's tough to narrow down exactly how much of the population on antidepressants suffer from side effects, as sexual dysfunction is a known symptom of depression.

Prescription opioids, which many people use for pain relief, have been linked with erectile dysfunction symptoms and genital numbness, and they can also lower testosterone levels.

Certain beta-blockers can reduce blood flow to the penis, which can result in decreased sensitivity and other symptoms of ED - although more modern beta blockers don't tend to have that effect.

The side effects from these medications can result in men using an overly firm grip during masturbation to compensate for their inability to maintain an erection and reduced penile sensitivity.

Medical Conditions

Pre-existing medical conditions, particularly those that cause nerve damage, can increase the risk of some men developing DGS.

When nerves become less sensitive, men often compensate by applying more pressure.

Studies have noted how conditions like diabetes can damage the penile nerves, resulting in reduced sensation in the penis. Other conditions, like thyroid disease, can impair penile function, cause delayed ejaculation, and lead to a loss of sensation in the penis by lowering testosterone levels.

Peyronie's disease, a condition in which scar tissue builds up within the penis, causing it to curve abnormally, can also lead to a loss of sensation in the penis.

Other conditions like multiple sclerosis, prostate cancer, and metabolic syndrome can result in decreased genital sensation, which can lead to DGS.

Lifestyle

Studies suggest that men who masturbate daily or every other day are at a higher risk of developing DE - which puts them at higher risk of DGS.

Porn consumption might also play a role in DGS. An unhealthy relationship with porn can affect people's attitudes and behavior during sex and potentially encourage more aggressive masturbation.

Interestingly, certain forms of exercise can actually put you at risk of developing DGS-like symptoms.

Cycling, for instance, has been linked to genital numbness and sexual dysfunction in some men.

In an older study into the effects of cycling on male sexual function, researchers found that 61% of cyclists experienced genital numbness, and 19% of those also suffered from ED symptoms. Excessive stimulation of the penis, scrotum, and perineum had negatively impacted their sexual function.


Other studies found
that cyclists suffering genital numbness were more likely to cycle frequently and for longer periods - much like in cases of DGS.

While cycling doesn't cause DGS directly, it does demonstrate how repeated intense stimulation or pressure on the genitals can decrease sensitivity. Plus, it could lead men suffering from numbness to adopt a tighter grip during masturbation.

Stress, anxiety, and other psychological factors can also contribute to the development of DGS. Stress hormones, namely cortisol, inhibit the body's production of testosterone, which could lead to a lack of sensitivity in the genitals - alongside other sexual function issues.

What to do to improve or fix it

Luckily, death grip syndrome isn't the death knell for your sex life. Although there's no official cure, as DGS isn't a medically recognized condition, there are various tips and techniques available to help improve and restore your sexual function.

1. Stop masturbating

The easiest treatments are sometimes the most obvious. Death grip syndrome is the result of habitual intense masturbation, so taking a break for a couple of weeks can help reduce your body's reliance on this specific technique and bring sensation back to your penis.

At the end of the day, the penis - despite being an organ - shares many similarities to your muscles.

You wouldn't work out the same muscle group every day, so why do the same to such a sensitive part of your body?

2. Form new masturbation habits

When you do finally go back to masturbating, try not to mimic your old habits. Ease yourself back into it - use a light grip, go slowly, and incorporate some lube to help things glide smoother. It might also be beneficial for your partner to help with this as a way of forming new habits that will benefit your sex life.

Have them masturbate you, and try and focus solely on receiving pleasure. Mindfulness has been proven to improve men's sexual function and increase their sexual satisfaction. Practicing it regularly can help reduce your reliance on intense masturbation techniques.

It's useful to try and view masturbation as an experience, not just a race to orgasm. This mindset allows you to focus more on the physical sensations, alleviates any pressure you've put on yourself, and will help you enjoy the experience more.

3. Use sex toys

Strokers or Fleshlights are incredibly useful for combatting DGS. Opt for one that has a ribbed inner texture, or that's designed to replicate a vagina. These sex aids offer less control than manual masturbation and require minimum grip from the user, helping you get reaccustomed to the sensations of sex.

This will help you reframe your attitude toward healthy, fun sex and should help recover erectile function. With repeat use, you can retrain your body and brain to enjoy lighter physical sensations.

4. Stop watching porn

If you find that your DGS is a symptom of excessive pornography consumption, then try and phase out porn - at least for a few weeks. It's very easy for the brain to learn to associate porn with arousal, so if you watch too much porn, you might start finding it tricky to maintain an erection without it.

Many guys combat this by masturbating with a tighter grip - which causes DGS. So, for the sake of your sexual health, try and go cold turkey. You might soon notice an increase in penile sensation, as well as a boost to your libido.

5. Seek medical advice

If you've tried other methods and you're still struggling with DGS, then we recommend you seek out a medical professional. Chronic DGS suggests that you might be suffering from an underlying health condition - like low testosterone or ED.

Physicians can also help if you're worried that the medication you use is causing a loss of sensation in your genitals.

They'll be able to recommend different medications and offer advice on alternative treatments and how to manage side effects.

How to Find the Right Edging Tool for You

Summary

Death grip syndrome, while not a medically accepted condition, is prevalent in men all over the world. Excessive masturbation can cause the penis to lose sensitivity, and this can quickly develop into a cycle of DGS which can be hard for people to break out of.

Luckily, treatment for death grip syndrome is relatively straightforward - just stop masturbating.

DGS sometimes points to an underlying issue, like illnesses that can damage nerves or psychological conditions. In these cases, seeking a medical professional is the best thing you can do.

If you're worried that you have DGS or that you may develop it in the future, following our guide will help you understand what to avoid when masturbating and what to do if you develop symptoms.

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