Let's start...

[Anisto]

I only joined today, but I have some problems that I wanted to ask you guys about before I see a doctor (he's hopeless but I can't find a new one). Firstly, I am uncut, I have always had a slightly tight foreskin - in one thin ring - but it has recently gone slightly white and has become so tight it does not retract naturally over the head, but I can force it over, however this does affect the blood flow to the head so I do not do it for fear of the head falling off (maybe I am a little paranoid). I am guessing that by getting circumcized, that area of skin could be removed, but I a whimp and would only like to do that as a last resort...plus, does circumcision leave a bad scar? Here's a picture anyway:

Thanks in advance, and I'll pop back again to get your opinions.

Oh, and if anyone knows if this...'conditon' let's call it....has a name, could you please give it to me because my doctor will have several large encyclopaedia's out and will leave me standing naked while he reads them without me having told him what is wrong. Ta!

 

[SpoiledPrincess]

An inability to fully retract a foreskin is known as phimosis, however you mention it having gone white recently and that could point to balanitis xerotica obliterans where a ring of scar tissue prevents the foreskin retracting as it doesn't stretch. I'm not an advocate of circumcision and I'm not a doctor so you'd have to consult your own doctor but I believe with this condition circumcision is the best option, if it was just a matter of a tight foreskin you could stretch that, but you can't really do that with scar tissue. However, I'm only going on the information you gave and a photo but you could look on the net and see if this condition fits in with yours.

 

[Anisto]

Thanks for your reply. I don't know how much you know on the subject, but is the scar tissue caused like normal scars are from a healed cut? Thanks for the info, I'll look into it.

 

[LouisVauban]

Take a look at this:

Balanitis xerotica obliterans - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Better get to the doc. If this IS the cause of your problems, it is progressive and can be dangerous if left untreated. Don't panic. And don't forget, you always have options... If you don't feel completely comfortable with your doctor, tell him you appreciate his all his medical advice, but since this is so intensely "personal" (eg: YOUR COCK!), you'd like him to refer you to a specialist. This is YOUR body. You have the right to explore options.

 

[Anisto]

Wow, I really like the last treatment idea: glansectomy...woohoo! I'll just live with a blunt penis for the rest of my life! Thanks for the info. I guess circumcision is the answer. Thanx!

 

[aristarchus]

If it's any help, Anisto, I have a friend who many years ago had the same or a similar problem--his foreskin was too tight to retract behind the head, and when forced to do so, was painfully tight. When he was drafted, the military required that he be circumcised. That of course solved the problem, but if you're concerned about how things will be afterwards, he told me that sex afterwards was actually better because the remaining loose skin could move more freely--which was pleasurable and there was no longer the discomfort of having the foreskin stretched around the head on every thrust. There are probably folks on this site who have more direct experience, but I thought I'd offer this second-hand info.

Also, in response to your introduction: Life begins at 30! Don't worry!

 

[earllogjam]

Also, in response to your introduction: Life begins at 30! Don't worry!

I always thought that it started at 40!? You mean I lost 10 years somewhere?

I had a friend undergo a similar proceedure because fucking was painful for him and it appears that the proceedure worked fine. I don't know what his dick looks like however but he is very sexually active now, more than before.

 

[Anisto]

Thanks guys. I don't know how in God's name I can go through with it though! Can someone else get circumcised for me?! I may pass out.

 

[LouisVauban]

There was something in that article that said that a small percentage of men reorted excellent results with antibiotic treatment as well as steroid and testosterone creams... don't "jump the gun"... get some well-rounded medical advice....

And if you do have to take the knfe... tell them to leave as much as they can... so you'll still have something to play with!

 

[SwingDriver]

IF regular treatment with antibiotics and steroid creams don't work, then, maybe, you should consider the procedure.

However, you should definitely look into partial, or "loose" circumcision, so that you keep as much skin as possible. (You may have to search more carefully for your doctor.)

From what I've heard, the sensation is never the same afterwards because so much of your most sensitive skin is GONE.

<-- Victim of infant circumcision, but wishes for all the world that I wasn't. (My folks said they heard me scream from the waiting room 75 yards from the operating room where I was, and "almost" wish they hadn't subjected me to involuntary genital mutilation.)

 

[SteveHd]

Anisto, if your doctor is "hopeless" then you need to put a big effort into finding another one. If you were to go the surgery route, you'd want a second opinion anyway. So another doctor should be your next step.

 

[kalyst]

Anisto,
as a pharmacyst, i can tell u that creams and ointments with any corticoids (betametasone, clobetasone), some local antibiotic (gentamicine), and a antifungic drug (miconazole, econazole). have great effects on that.
U´ll have to apply the cream at least twice a day, and do some stretch to loosen it up a bit.
If the skin gets red or u have small cuts due to stretching it too hard, u will have to use a vitamin A based cream.
I dont know what u have available on the market there, but here u can get a very good skin regenerator whichs formula has:
- Vitamin A
- Lidocaine 1% (local anesthetic will take away the pain or sore)
- Silver sulfadiazine ( an antimicrobial agent, dont use if u are allergic to sulfas)
U might have to use the corticoid cream twice a day, and the vitamin A cream at night when u go to sleep. so that the skin can absorb all the vitamin a and regenerate better, that will help to stretch the skin.

Huge Hugs From Argentina,
Your Trusty Pharmacyst,
Javier.

 

[Anisto]

You guys have been fantastic. Javier, thanks for the info: Huge Hugs from the UK!

Cheers guys, thankyou.

 

[benderten2001]

Anisto, don't forget too, that corrective surgery for your tight foreskin doesn't have to mean a complete circumcision!

MDs can perform a dorsal slit which is basically just enough of a cut to allow movement over and behind the glans but still leave lots of foreskin. The actual procedure can be done rather quickly (surprisingly) and pain-free initially with topical anesthesia. The recovery period is a couple of weeks. Yes--there will be a few stitches and some soreness!

As a clinic administrator, I've heard about a few of our patients having phimosis "problems" and the MDs generally get pretty concerned for these men's conditions and will next ask me to arrange referrals to urologists. I've had MDs tell me that an extremely-tight foreskin (generally somewhat rare) can actually lead to eventual strangulation of the penis--an outright blockage of bloodflow. The clinic patients I've heard back from (men in their thirties/forties generally) say their surgery was well worth their courage to get it done! Some has said they only wish they had done it sooner!

The main thing I stress to men considering any kinds of foreskin procedure is to just be bold enough to speak up when discussing a plan of action with the physician and specifically spell out what you want. If you want to save most of your foreskin ....TELL HIM! It can be done.

 

[hairyman101]

i have forskin and vasoline has always soften my forskin and helped me make it loose. this is with alot of time using it of course. im glad i saved my skin.....thats just me.

 

[STYLYUNG]

Anisto,
From one that underwent circumcision at age 34 because I wanted to be circumcised, for gosh sakes don't be afraid of the pain because I don't recall any hurting type pain after the surgery----maybe a stinging sensation for a day or so. And with today's wonderful anesthetics that would put you to sleep, you wouldn't be witness to the surgery. Find a competant specialist that does circumcisions, usually a urologist, and let him decide what is right for you. Make sure that the incision would be below the fremulem though. In my case, it is almost impossible to see the scar---just a slight color difference where the skin was rejoined. Not that it was my problem, which it wasn't, if you are troubled with being a premature ejaculator during intercourse, this operation will extend your "working time" by giving you much more control. The glans will not be as sensitive, is the reason. I have never been sorry about my decision to have this surgery.

But hurry to see a doctor! Stylyung

 

[SteveHd]

... if you are troubled with being a premature ejaculator during intercourse, this operation will extend your "working time" by giving you much more control. The glans will not be as sensitive, is the reason.

Many cut mongers say there's no loss of sensitivity in the glans. Thank you for affirming that they're wrong.