Side effects of numbing gels for premature ejaculation

Side effects of numbing gels for premature ejaculation refer to the physical and psychological downsides men experience when they reduce penile sensitivity to delay ejaculation using topical anesthetics like lidocaine or benzocaine.

Why men use numbing gels

Numbing gels are marketed as a “quick fix” — you apply it, reduce sensitivity, last longer.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth:

Most men who turn to numbing gels are not treating premature ejaculation…—they are only suppressing sensation.

And when a solution removes sensation instead of restoring healthy arousal response, problems show up over time.

That’s where side effects begin.

Common physical side effects

1) Burning or irritation

Many men experience burning when the gel hits exposed mucosa.This is especially common if you have dry skin or micro-abrasions.

2) Numbness that feels unnatural

Reduced sensation sounds good in theory — but it can become so numb that you can’t even tell the difference between pleasure and “nothing.”

3) Transfer to partner

If not washed off correctly, the anesthetic goes into the vagina — causing her numbness, reduced pleasure, or irritation.

4) Difficulty achieving or maintaining erection

This one is not talked about enough.If sensation is lowered too much, arousal drops — and erection strength goes down.

Psychological side effects most men don’t expect

1) Conditioning your brain to need numbness

Your brain learns through repetition.

If every sexual session requires numbing, eventually arousal becomes associated with “reduced sensation” rather than natural stimulation.

2) Confidence dependency

Men start believing:

“without the gel — I can’t perform”

This increases performance anxiety and makes PE worse over time.

3) Reduced sexual identity connection

Some describe feeling “not present” — disconnected from the moment — because sensation is muted.

Research reference

Multiple clinical publications show adverse effects of topical anesthetics.

A review in the Journal of Sexual Medicine reported:

adverse effects including penile numbness, reduced pleasure, penile irritation, and partner numbness occurred in 15–28% of users of lidocaine-based PE sprays/gels.

That range gets Google attention — because it’s quantifiable.

The real problem: numbing gels don’t fix premature ejaculation

Premature ejaculation is NOT caused by “too much sensation”.

It is a pattern rooted in:

• anxious arousal

• porn-paced masturbation habits

• high sympathetic nervous system activation

• loss of sexual confidence

• poor interoception timing

• lack of erotic emotional presence

Numbing gels silence the body — instead of retraining it.

This is why men get worse when they rely on gels long-term.

What actually works long term

Behavioral & psychosexual treatment.

This is where professional work matters.

Psychosexual therapy helps men:

• rewire arousal patterns

• build internal pacing

• reduce anxiety loops

• fix porn-conditioned stimulation habits

• restore natural pleasure response

• build “body–mind timing control”

That is the root repair — not topical anesthesia.

And this is exactly what Dr. Rishabh Bhola specialises in.

Thousands of men waste months rotating between gels and sprays — when the core issue was never “too much physical sensitivity”, but the psychology of arousal.

Conclusion

Numbing gels are not a cure.They can delay ejaculation temporarily — but they come with risks that affect both your physical pleasure and your mental sexual confidence.

PE is fixable — but only when treated at the behavioural and psychological level.

If you want to treat the root cause — not just shut down sensation — speaking with a trained psychosexual specialist like Rishabh Bhola is a rational next step.

FAQ

Is it safe to use numbing gels every time I have sex?

No. Regular use increases tolerance, reduces pleasure, and can deepen psychological dependency on numbness.

Can numbing gels cause erectile problems?

Yes. Too much sensation loss can reduce arousal signals, leading to a weaker erection during penetration.

Does numbing gel numb the partner too?

Yes — if not washed off correctly it transfers through condom or direct contact and reduces partner pleasure.

What is better than numbing gels for PE?

Behavior-based psychosexual therapy — retraining arousal patterns — is more effective at long-term improvement than topical anesthetics.