Are genital desensitizers safe to use?
The bottom line
Genital desensitizers contain local anesthetics and are designed to numb the genitals to enhance sexual activities. When used in excess or too frequently, genital desensitizers can cause severe toxicity. Antidotes and medical treatments are available in hospitals. Delays in seeking medical care can result in more severe symptoms or even death.
Prevention Tips
Use genital desensitizing products with care and only according to the directions on the package labeling.
Know that even over-the-counter medications can be poisonous when used too frequently or in larger-than-normal amounts.
This Really Happened
Case 1. A 47-year-old woman went to an ER with shortness of breath, fatigue, low oxygen saturation, and cyanosis (blue-tinged skin). A blood test confirmed that she had methemoglobinemia. She was given an antidote and was admitted to the hospital, but the methemoglobinemia persisted. She eventually admitted that she had been applying topical Vagicaine (benzocaine and resorcinol) cream to her genitals, both at home and while she was in the hospital. She reported using a “quarter-sized” dab of the cream every 2 hours. The use of Vagicaine cream was stopped, and her skin was cleaned with soap and water. She was discharged after a 5-day hospital stay (from Heiger et al., 2017).
Case 2. A 48-year-old man went to an ER with chest pain of 2 days’ duration. He reported that he had sprayed a “large amount” of lidocaine solution on his penis prior to sexual activity over a 2-week period. He had an abnormally slow heart rate, which was due to overuse of topical lidocaine. He was monitored in the ER for several hours, and his heart rate remained slow over that time. He was eventually discharged home with instructions to follow up with a cardiologist (from Lin et al., 2008).
What are genital desensitizers? How do they work?
Genital desensitizers are over-the-counter products that numb the genitals. They are used to prolong sexual encounters and delay premature ejaculation. Genital desensitizers come in spray or gel formulations. They contain local anesthetics, including lidocaine and benzocaine, that act as the numbing ingredient.
Can using too much genital desensitizer be harmful?
The package labels usually recommend the application of a “small amount” of product prior to sexual activity. A small amount of lidocaine or benzocaine on the genitals is unlikely to be harmful for most people. Use of larger amounts or repeated use can result in significant toxicity. Lidocaine and benzocaine are absorbed through human skin and can cause toxicity when spread through the bloodstream to other organs.
What are the signs and symptoms of using too much genital desensitizer?
Lidocaine poisoning has occurred after the application of lidocaine to the skin before and after cosmetic surgery procedures. Lidocaine toxicity can cause tremors, dizziness, and abnormal heart rhythms. When high concentrations of lidocaine are in the bloodstream, low blood pressure, seizures, and death can occur.
Toxicity from lidocaine or benzocaine can cause a dangerous condition called methemoglobinemia, which prevents human blood cells from carrying oxygen and delivering it to body tissues. People with methemoglobinemia often experience shortness of breath, headaches, and cyanosis (blue-tinged skin) from the lack of oxygen. Severe methemoglobinemia can result in seizures, heart problems, and death. The symptoms of methemoglobinemia can occur within an hour of exposure to lidocaine or benzocaine. Many local anesthetics can cause methemoglobinemia, and benzocaine is responsible for more than half of the methemoglobinemia cases related to local anesthetics.
What should I do if I experience side effects from a genital desensitizer?
If you experience an adverse effect from a genital desensitizer, stop using the product immediately. Use soap and water to wash off the remaining product to reduce further exposure.
There is an antidote for methemoglobinemia called methylene blue, but it is only available in hospitals. There are also specific treatments for lidocaine toxicity, but to be most effective, they should be given within a short time after the poisoning. Most people are unaware that the use of over-the-counter products such as genital desensitizers can result in severe poisoning, or they might be embarrassed to seek medical attention after use of these products. Since delays in treatment can result in more severe poisoning or even death, it is important to seek medical attention immediately if any adverse effects occur after the use of a genital desensitizer product.
If you have a question about a poisoning or an adverse reactions related to use of genital desensitizers, use the webPOISONCONTROL® online tool to get help, or call your poison center at 1-800-222-1222. Whether online or by phone, expert guidance is always free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.
