I cannot pull back my foreskin at all either erect nor flaccid and can only see a small part of the top of my glans when pulling it back. Oddly enough the degree to which I can pull it back is the same whether erect or flaccid meaning that the state of my erection does not affect the amount i can pull back. I have tried stretching for a few months in the bath to zero effect.
I will only consider circumcision as a last resort, what other options do I have, or is my case too severe to rectify in a timely manner. I don't want to spend years stretching anymore when it amounts to nothing. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Written by
protractor1
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I have never been to the doctors regarding this issue as it's extremely embarrassing for me and I'm fully aware that due to the severity of the issue that steroid creams will be next to useless. I don't experience any pain or issues with urination but I do occasionally get cracked skin and irritation which I find concerning.
I have avoided all sexual activity due to how visually unappealing tight foreskin is along with the worry of irritation occurring.
Hi. I was the same as you. It won't get better only worse unfortunately. Came to the stage where it was hard to pee. Had my operation on Thursday and the relief all ready is unreal. Any questions just ask me.
My main problems with circumcision are the operation itself, and my worry regarding the potential loss of sensitivity.
I don't want to be awake for the operation but at the same time I am afraid of general anaesthesia. Is the waking operation distressing or is it less horrifying than it sounds?
Also will my sensitivity be lower than it was before the operation. I already don't have much sensitivity at all there anyways as it feels very dull during sexual activity, but I don't want it to be worse.
I also worry about the visual outcome as I've heard there is a decent chance that my penis could look ugly if the circumcision is not done properly.
I'd appreciate any honest answers to these questions, thanks.
Hi. I was awake but had a spinal anaesthesia. Felt nothing. Also gave a small sedative thru the drip. I actually fell asleep for a bit of it. A screen goes up so you can't see. I could barely hear the surgeons talking. After the operation it won't look great. Like any operation but mine was on Thursday and looks better already. My phimosis was stage 4 and I felt awful. Feel better already and can't wait to get my sex life back whenever the little boy is all healed. My only regret is I didn't do it sooner.
A few things spring to mind on reading your post:1) beware of self-diagnosis - we are not urologists
2) we live in the 21st century - surgery has never been safer and after 3 or 4 millenia, they know a thing or two about circumcision (one of the most ancient surgical interventions known to man)
3) when we make health decisions, we have to weigh up pros and cons/risks and benefits
4) it is better to have a level of control over things like this rather than going through surgery as a medical emergency.
My learnings so far in preparing for my circumcision surgery include:
1) it is no walk in the park: it is a marathon and not a sprint;
2) the younger you are the easier the recovery is;
3) while there are lots of ways to make the recovery less uncomfortable, some discomfort for weeks (and possibly months) is just part of the process
4) I am not alone and there is support available from medical professionals, my health care team, and from this site
5) my results are highly likely to be good as most men, after varying periods of recovery, experience full resolution of their medical issues, and return to normal functioning.
While I choose not to weird out my family and friends with this issue, I quiz anyone who has had any surgery about their experiences. They comment that general anaesthesia presents no problems, apart from initial feelings of nausea in some cases on waking up.
Don't let temporary embarrassment about a body issue hold you back from leading a happier and fuller life.
Doctors and surgeons look at our bodies like a mechanic looks at an engine. They are keen to fix any problems and then move on to the next patient/ job.
Short term pain. Long term gain. That really sums it up for me.
Hi man. I had exactly this and after repeated infections circumcision was the only option. It's not possible to use creams to stretch such a tight skin. There is also an increased risk of penile cancer if left. I'd consider getting cut. I was 11 weeks ago and it's all great now. You must get a professional opinion of your own circumstance though. Good luck
Hi protractor, I'm uncut so can't comment on the benefits of C,but regards operations, having had a general for an op, coming round afterwards is no problem, you just very gently wake up, I've also had the epidural for a different op and that was entirely painless, and enabled me to watch the op on a monitor (though this may not suit). I would happily take this option again.But you won't be able to have any kind of op without seeing your Dr ( I think you know this) and then a urologist. As someone said we're not urologists here, I can't say enough that you should go to a medic. If you need to get past the Evil Gatekeepers From Hell (Drs receptionists) just say you have a private male problem. I've had my balls and penis felt (2 different issues) and the camera up the bum, none of it is pleasant but embarrassment is the least if it.
just say you have a private issue you prefer to discuss with clinical staff and they may be willing to pass the message to the nurses. But a medical professional working at a urology office has likely heard it all and should want to help as that's their job. They will probably not judge you.
I'm sorry but I was told by my doctor, that circumcision is the end result, I was already prepared after looking into this myself, I'm currently waiting for a first assessment from a urologist
I was in the same situation - tried stretching and steroid creams for ages to no effect. Eventually I had a sore underneath the foreskin (despite being scrupulous about hygiene) and finally sought medical advice. I went ahead with circumcision in mid '22 and it turned out that the 'sore' was cancer. As someone said phimosis is a leading cause of penile cancer which is something I was completely ignorant of. Luckily - after a further operation for a biopsy and an infected wound (great!) it turned out the cancer had not spread. Your situation may not be the same but I can only echo what others have said - get medical advice asap. Best wishes
from what I understand there could try steroids, stretching, and/or dorsal slit procedure. You may be able to ask for some kind of surgery that doesn't remove the foreskin. I noticed you said you sometimes get irritation. If you're having other symptoms, you should make sure to let a doctor know. I understand it's a sensitive subject. Doctors, especially urologists have seen it all. They likely have seen this many times because it can happen sometimes and they should be interested in helping. If you don't feel comfortable with them find another one. Do you have an underlying condition that's causing the irritation? I was thinking if there's inflammation, it could be making the skin tighter
It's been like this since I was a small child, my foreskin has never gotten tighter or more loose. I don't have any underlying conditions but sexual activity does result in said irritation.
I was similar1zoon, my phimosis got tighter and tighter till at 24 I had pinhole phimosis, ie no chance whatsoever off getting the tiniest part of my little finger in come out so I started stretching with tiny objects, eventually maybe a few months later that ear gauges/tapers etc, exist to expand totally unnatural holes ripped in a part of your skin to huge sizes, and as many others pointed out this must therefore surely work for expanding a completely natural hole that is supposed to be there. So inserted those, and sure enough it expanded to a size where I could urinate normally. would have loved to carry on expanding to whatever size I wanted, but sadly had to then start working 16 hours a day six days a week, so no chance to wipe my...... nose😀, let alone do all the things I wanted to do, luckily it stayed at that size and did not start shrinking again and I am now 58, just hoping I will get the chance in the future to start stretching it further.
Don't wait. See a doctor. I waited 5 years too long, and now, I am suffering due to my lack of attention to a problem that had a simple fix. The surgery was a breeze with general anesthesia. I've now had four surgeries with general, and I have never had a problem. Because I waited so long to to see a doctor, my inner foreskin was stuck to the glans, and the surgeon had to scrape the skin off of the glans, thus creating problems. Steroid creams destroy the skin, so that's only a temporary solution as is the stretching if you are an adult. Good luck! See a doctor ASAP.
I've read many reports, on sites like this, from folk who have had phimosis and spent many months, or even years, attempting to cure it with steroid creams and stretching exercises. In the majority these proved futile and they had to resort to circumcision after all this wasted effort.
My advice therefore is not to waste time, effort and money on trying creams but to go straight to circumcision which is the only proven, immediate and guaranteed permanent cure for phimosis, paraphimosis, frenulum breve and recurrent balanitis. It will also greatly facilitate any direct medication for the LS – which will not come back if circumcised but may do if you still have a foreskin for it to hide under.
There are many highly skilled specialist circumcision clinics where you can get the circumcision done within a week or two rather than face the NHS's waiting lists of a year or more.
I know what you mean about embarrasment. I remember as a teenager going to the doctor with an issue with my penis. To be honest, it's over 40 years ago and I can;t remember the actual issue. On my first visit, i was nervous, extremely nervous about discussing something so private. I had a couple of backup ailments in case I didn't have the courage to mention the real reason. Needless to say, I didn't bring up that reason. My second visit went in a similar fashion, I had backup ailments and discussed them instead. On my third visit, I walked into the room and blurted out the problem before i even sat down. The doctor asked me if that is why I had been to see him three times in a row. I admitted the truth and he reassured me. He examined me, carefully explaining each step before he touched me. It turned out to be a minor complaint which he suggested treatment for and I went home relieved.
For decades now, my doctors have primarily been female. I have no hesitation in explaining issues to them. I have been examined by so many doctors, helped to shower by nurses, been poked and prodded by students that nothing phases me. These people are extremely professional and treat you with the utmost respect.
I noticed a change to my penis last year and, through this forum, reckoned that it was mild phimosis. I spoke to my doctor, she examined me and prescribed steroid cream. I have an appointment with her again today and I'm expecting her to insert her finger in my anus to check on my prostate. I will also ask her to check my penis as I am running out of steroid cream.
I realise that steroid cream might not be the answer for you, however, neither you or I are qualified to diagnose that. To be fair, there is no-one capable of giving that diagnosis without examining your penis.
Please try and speak to a doctor. These people are here to help you.
What kind of steroid cream? Bethamethazo ointment is what you want and only if you are on a stretching routine. It breakdown the skins matrix Allowing for more effective stretching...otherwise,STAY AWAY FROM STEROIDS, IT MAY HELP TEMPORARILY BUT WITHIN A SHORT TIME IT WILL RUIN YOUR SKIN. IT WILL CAUSE SHE SKIN TO BECOME PAPER THIN, YOU WILL LOSE ALL SENSITIVITY AND AND FLEXIBILITY AS WELL. THIS HAPPENED TO ME AFTER JUST A COUPLE WEEKS OF USE. FORTUNATLY ONLY ON THE UNDERSIDE OF MY PENIS. BUT IT HAS NOT REGAINED ANY ELASTICITY OR SENSITIVITY IN 20 years
Definitely time for you to talk to a doctor; preferably a urologist. I used steroid cream for a year and a half with some success but as has someone stated, it is not a permanent solution. When I finally decided to get circed I had it done under local anesthetic and it went fine.
From your description, I'd say that a circumcision is the way to go (after talking to a urologist, of course). Phimosis this extreme must be affecting your life quite a bit!
If you've been avoiding all sexual activity, too, then you have nothing to lose, only potential to gain a lot.
While sensitivity would normally be lower after circumcision in most cases, it might actually make you more sensitive instead if I've understood your situation well. The reason there is normally a loss of sensitivity is because the glans is generally covered and protected from touch/rubbing and gets uncovered during sexual activity, so touch and rubbing stimulates it more. In your situation, if you can't actually pull back the foreskin at all, then you are already getting the lowered sensitivity. You cannot uncover the glans to get more stimulation. So after the circumcision, at worst it will stay the same it is now, but likely might improve.
In short: from covered to uncovered glans -> high sensitivity, from covered to covered -> low sensitivity, from uncovered to uncovered -> lowered sensitivity too, but still more direct stimulation than always through the foreskin, so likely an improvement.
Just stumbled on this thread and was struck by how many responses matched my own experience.
I also had severe phimosis from my teens, with absolutely no retraction possible either soft or hard. I also had a fear of all things medical, so avoided seeing a doctor, as I knew that circumcision would be the only option given. So I left it alone for a few years, then started stretching attempts on and off, by inserting small cylindrical objects into the opening in my foreskin. This made only a slight improvement but would make my foreskin sore, so I would leave off for a week or so and the tightness reverted to how it was before.
By the time I was 30 I had become very frustrated at the lack of progress, I was avoiding sex with partners because of embarrassment, I sprayed everywhere when peeing and sometimes got annoying itches under my foreskin, no doubt due to the impossibility of cleaning under there.
I overcame my fears and had a circumcision when I was 31, under local anaesthetic. What a relief! Like many others, I wish I'd done it sooner. Although I regard a cut cock as inferior to one with a healthy foreskin, I soon got used to my new state.
If your phimosis had been less severe I would say it's worth trying stretching for a few months, but it sounds to me that circumcision would best for you.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
What can i do after circumcision sexually
I want to have a circumcision, which style would be the best?
Phimosis, i've always had it, do I need it resolved?
Short frenulum (what should I do?)
Phimosis untreated leading to circumcision
