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I've seen a lot of multi-page threads on this topic and I've read most of them.
My problem is pretty much the same as everyone elses: My foreskin is tight. But I am not circumcised and I don't want to be - I want to keep my foreskin. I can only roll back my foreskin about an inch. Is this serious enough to warrant circumcision?
Most sites say that circumcision is the last resort for severe cases, but what is a severe case?
Also, I've seen some exercises described that can be done at home with no specialist items needed. Is it safe to do this without supervision and with no doctor's go ahead (I haven't seen a doctor about this yet)?
The condition you describe is called phimosis, and can be resolved in a couple of different ways.
It sounds like your problem isn't severe enough to warrant a circumcision, but a lesser surgical procedure might suit you. If the frenulum (that bit of skin underneath you can see when you roll back the foreskin) is too tight then doctors can perform a frenuloplasty which essentially loosens it.
The best advice is generally to just stretch is gently. From norm.uk.org;
The vast majority of tight foreskins can be suitably loosened within a month or so by persistant stretching twice daily.
When possible start by warming the penis. Use baby oil, Vaseline intensive care hand and body lotion, Nivea or any bland cream as a lubricant. Pull the foreskin forward away from the body several times then pull it back as far as it will go and hold it in this stretched position for several minutes.Do this several times a day. When the glans ( head of the penis} becomes visible, grip it between thumb and fingers and roll the foreskin forward over the glans until the tight ring is white with stretching. Hold it in this position as long as you can at a time - say 5 minutes. Repeat as often as you have the time and enthusiasm for. Later you will find there is room for two or more fingers to insert into the tight ring to stretch it further.
Sometimes this simply won't work, and you can get steroid creams prescribed to resolve the problem.
Note that if you choose to try stretching it, you have to be careful not to get the foreskin stuck behind the glans. This is called paraphimosis and is supposedly quite easy to do. It pulls back alright but then you can struggle to get it back. If this happens you must seek medical attention. It's not urgent but if you leave it long enough you'll cut off circulation and I don't have to tell you that's not good, so seek medical attention immediately if this happens.
You can get steroid creams to help you relax the muscles around it and combined with stretching it should work
You can always have an operation to fix it as well, not a circumcision though.
By all means, I'm no expert in this field, but I believe what you're referring to is called a Frenectomy, which can only be performed to aid a condition known as Frenulum Breve, which isn't what the OP is referring to.
As far as I know, there's no operation to treat Phimosis nowadays, as far less drastic action can be taken.
On the other hand, circumcision is an option, but we're going to rule that out.
By all means, I'm no expert in this field, but I believe what you're referring to is called a Frenectomy, which can only be performed to aid a condition known as Frenulum Breve, which isn't what the OP is referring to.
As far as I know, there's no operation to treat Phimosis nowadays, as far less drastic action can be taken.
On the other hand, circumcision is an option, but we're going to rule that out.
There's an operation called the preputioplasty. It's on the wiki
Meh, to be honest, no matter what action you want to take you should just talk to your GP about it first to be on the safe side. Why the hell wouldn't you? Embarrassment? Mate, getting yer nob out for a medical professional and putting up with having a bit of a red face is surely preferable to potentially damaging your penis. I mean pretty much any other body part sure, by all means, see what you can do before you go to a doctor if you're sure it's nothing life-threatening... but yer nob? Stay on the safe side! If you get a bit too overenthusiastic with the stretching you could end up tearing the skin, or if you have a tight frenulum you could end up tearing that. I don't imagine either is particularly pleasant. So yeah... I'm thinking going and telling your GP that you have tight foreskin is slightly less embarrassing than running into A&E with a bloody stain on your jeans screaming that you've broken your willy.
Becareful with this though! I remember when I first started playing with myself (at like 10 or something) my foreskin was really tight, I actually think it was connected to the bottom of the head (weird? don't know)... As it started to come away (due to brute force XD) it was bloody painful. Be careful and take it slow. The pain is horrible, but it's well worth at the end of the day.. If it's really bad go to the doctor! They've probably seen much worse, don't be embarassed
Is this something I should practise when my penis is erect? I can retract my skin back enough to see inside but that's about it. I can't get the foreskin behind the tip of the penis.
P.S. would it really make any difference to the problem if I just retract the skin? Because I can't retract it, but rather I can only open up the skin to see inside.
Ignore people who say "dont bother with stretching", it doesnt take a genius to figure out something isnt right; you need to catch up with what you should have been doing years ago, pulling it back and stretching it by gripping it with your two index fingers from the inside and stretching the tight ring.
Worked for me. Do it in the shower, helps a lot. Or ask your doctor to get you steroid creams to help with the stretching.
Ignore people who say "dont bother with stretching", it doesnt take a genius to figure out something isnt right; you need to catch up with what you should have been doing years ago, pulling it back and stretching it by gripping it with your two index fingers from the inside and stretching the tight ring.
Worked for me. Do it in the shower, helps a lot. Or ask your doctor to get you steroid creams to help with the stretching.
I'm worried that because I've left the problem alone, it will be harder to fix by exercises because the skin is harder to "train" as one gets older.
I've read the wiki.
I'm also confused that if you don't clean, you'll have a build up of smegma but I've never had this. I do wash the head but by letting water through the small gap I can produce when not erect.
Because I haven't lost my v I've never noticed this problem. I was told I have this problem a few years ago but never did anything and due to lack of awareness of the implications, I didn't bother. Of course when I am in the shower I do clean said area when erect (when flaccid I can't withdraw the foreskin no way near as much as when erect). Hopefully this pattern of behaviour has made the situation slightly better.
Is this all normal (ie better results when erect as opposed to flaccid)?
Discuss matters related to personal health and relationships in this forum. However, please keep it sensible and remember that people of all ages can view these forums. Remember, all advice is unprofessional.
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