Most guys know their penis really well, and as such they are probably sure they have felt almost every penis sensation possible. But what happens when their penis suddenly begins tingling? That’s a sensation that most men haven’t felt before, and for good reason - tingling can often mean something negative. In addition to keeping up with a great penis care regimen, a man should always be on the lookout for sensations that don’t make sense, like the tingling that might signal penis problems.

A tingling penis: Cause for worry?

A man’s penis might tingle from time to time, especially when he’s in the midst of a good masturbation session or playing around with a partner. As with most other penis sensations, it’s important to remember that if the sensation is fleeting, it’s probably nothing to worry about. It’s when the sensation continues unabated or comes back rather often that a man should begin to worry.

In the case of tingling, the usual issues include nerve endings that are severely irritated, inflammation of the penis, minor traumas or problems with blood flow. Here’s a longer breakdown of the potential problems:

1) Infections. The most common cause of adverse penis sensation is a sexually transmitted disease or other infection. The inflammation caused by many of these infections can lead to a tingling sensation. In addition, many infections irritate the nerve endings, which means tingling can be accompanied by pain, itching, a red penis and other problems, such as discharge. If a man is sexually active, a partner-shared infection cannot be ruled out; if a man isn’t sexually active, he could still be suffering from infections such as jock itch or a yeast infection. That means any tingling sensation of the penis deserves a check by the doctor.

2) Neuropathy. Men who suffer from various medical conditions might also suffer from neuropathy. This condition means the nerve endings in various parts of the body don’t respond as they normally would. Rather than feel pleasure, for instance, a man might feel tingling or even pain. Sometimes a man can feel strange sensations at all times, from tingling to itching to a sensation of heat or cold. Diabetes is the most common cause of neuropathy.

3) Circulation problems. As every man knows, proper blood circulation is vital to ensuring a healthy penis and proper function. But when circulation problems appear, they often come with a variety of symptoms, including difficulty obtaining an erection, a painful red penis, or even a tingling sensation. Poor circulation often comes on gradually, so a man might notice tingling for a short period of time then not deal with it again for weeks or months - but it eventually comes back. This frequent return of tingling sensations or other symptoms can mean that he has a heart problem on the verge of making itself known. Obviously this is a good reason to go to the doctor and get checked out, just in case.

4) Small traumas. Tingling sensations can often happen when a wound is healing. That tingling might lead to an itch. Any man who has ever had a serious wound or a surgery knows that feeling of itching and tingling that happens when the skin begins to mend. The same can actually happen inside the penis if a man has faced serious penis trauma, such as a hard blow during contact sports, or a smaller trauma, such as aggressive handling of the penis during masturbation. These small tingling sensations can indicate a healing wound on the inside, which might lead to scar tissue, which can then lead to other problems, like Peyronie’s disease.

The bottom line: When a man feels any sort of tingling sensation in his penis, he should make note of it. If it doesn’t go away, or goes away and comes back, it’s time to visit the doctor. In the meantime, a man can reach for a specially formulated penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) loaded with things a healthy penis needs, including antioxidants, amino acids and vitamins that are proven to keep the skin healthy.