What are my options?

[afununiquenameisalreadytaken]

Hi good people,

I am a long time reader of the LPSG forums, and now I find it is my turn to ask for some opinions (specifically opinions - not advice!).

I am un-circumcised, and have mostly always been very comfortable with this given its all I have known. However at 35 years old, I am realising that my frenulum is probably actually far tighter than what would be considered normal. I have self diagnosed this as a Frenulum Breve given the manner in which my frenulum pulls down on my penis head when there is any 'activity'. I also have some of the other symptoms that come with this from what i understand such as some uncomfortableness during erections - where I find myself constantly readjusting to attempt to make it less bothersome (I will point out this is uncomfortableness rather than straight out pain at this point). My frenulum (and wider area) will also from time to time get rather sensitive and raw as my foreskin roles back and forth 'tugging' on the tightest bit of my frenulum. I am often somewhat sensitive and irritated post sex or other 'action'.

For the first time ever I mentioned some of these things to my wife who immediately pointed out - that doesn't sound right, surely there is something you can do to help with that? The internet has provided me some information about things that could be done, however I have not yet gone to a Dr to raise this (and I probably will no matter the opinions provided) however I thought that LPSG, and this forum in particular, may be a place where I can get some opinions from others who have experienced this or understand this, and whom may have done something about this (or not) and what they think of the options. the options as I see them (informed by mostly google at this stage):

1. try a minimal fix such as stretching the frenulum, perhaps with a steriod cream to loosen the skin. I have actually tried the stretching (no cream) part a few years ago before I had really understood what this might be. I found it hurt quite alot at the point I was pulling on the tightest bit, it left my penis sore and it didn't seem to do a single bit to help so I stopped after a week or two of trying. I am willing to try this again if its clear that it can help.
2. get a Frenulectomy. these look to be relatively minimal procedures that could help. I do have one bit in particular of my frenulum that is very tight which I imagine is causing most of the issues. I feel like if they could just 'nick' this bit, it might be problem solved.
3. Get a circumcision. Similar rationale to the above in that's a sure fix. I am broadly okay with the idea but it does seem like a bigger decision for such a small bit of skin causing the problem. I am well aware there is much debate on circumcision and for an against. I don't want to get into that, but I am just looking at whether I can be helped by this option, or whether it might be something I think 'I wish i just lived with it' about.
4. Do nothing. This is basically going to a position of - yes there are some things that you don't enjoy about your frenulum, but are they breaking your world? (no) and in reality, some of the things I have are probably somewhat normal for all (post sex sensitivity etc).

Opinions welcome

 

[Jon1971]

First of all see a urologist. It might be something that can be treated. Worst case get the frenulum cut to relieve the pressure. I see no need to get a circumcision.

 

[coolestguy]

Just doing option 3 may not fix it because circumcision can be done without touching the frenulum.

 

[AussieBroCurious]

So, there's a variation of frenulum breve where a bit of skin that should separate during development, doesn't. This is different than having a fully developed frenulum which is a bit on the short side. A frenuloplasty is the procedure to correct a tight fully developed frenulum and it usually involves a fair bit of cutting and stitching in a 'Z' shape to create some more length. Stretching can also work with the regular frenulum in a lot of cases, but it almost never works on the should-have-separated-naturally type.

When you hear guys talk about 'snapping' their frenulum, they are talking about the first type, that should have separated during development (like the foreskin spearates from the glans at some point). They certainly didn't snap their regular frenulum! That would be a significant emergency. As you suggest, this can in fact be 'nicked' and fixed very quickly. I snapped mine during my early teens so never had to get mine snipped, but I know a number of mates over the years that said they had theirs snipped by a doctor usually in thier early 20s. In Australia they can do it in a GPs rooms, by the same sort of doctors that does minor procedures like vasectomies or removing small skin cancers. Usually doesn't even require a single stitch.

You definitley want to investigate this as a solution before you look at anything else. All my mates who either snapped thiers like me or had the doc snip it all say it was the best thing to ever happen. It just releases the excessively tight bit without removing any tissue (i.e. nerves) and its a very minor procedure.

If you cared to post a pic I'd be happy to give you my opinion on whether this might be what youre dealing with.

Good luck with it.