Hi I'm 45, fit, not smoking, very little alcohol, regular exercise. Few years ago I was diagnosed with lichen sclerosis by a leading UK expert in genital dermatology prof Bunker. I didn't have any severe symptoms just some small red spots but no pain etc. at least not visible to me but he was confident with his diagnosis (showed me a dry, thin skin etc) and prescribed some steroid cream and then some moisturizer afterwards. I had number of visits over the years and last time he said that the condition is not severe but not stable and recommended circumcision.On top of that I have a small spot on frenullum area which is barely visible when flacid but gets reddish and sensitive after masturbation. I feel some kind of sensation and that there is something in there. I was told is nothing serious, probably some blood veins. When I saw urologist he said this can be removed during circumcision.
I think that my lichen sclerosis is gentle and manageable with moisturizers etc but this reddish spot is driving me crazy. I think it lowers my confidence in my interactions with women as I think it would be unpleasant for me during sex or it would get worse. I consciously avoid getting into sexual relationships.
I got out from a long-term relationship nearly six years ago and haven't had sex since.
I'm now seriously considering circumcision in order to remove this spot and have peace of mind and not to think about this almost constantly. It would also help my lichen sclerosis I was told.
I'm not overly concerned about losing sensation as I have always had problems with premature ejaculation and couldn't last longer than few minutes.
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mikeABC
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Hi Mike. I think ultimately it's your choice having been recommended options by your urologist. Circumcision is a common practice for many reasons. I had to have it due to having irrecoverable Phimosi. Creams and stretching weren't an option. It's a journey and will consume your life for a few months but I would say if it solves your problem then on balance it is worth it. You are young enough to avoid recovery complications. If you do decide then feel free to ask questions on the process and recovery. Been through it 11 weeks ago and happy to help. Good luck!
Hello Mike! Let me answer you because I am in exactly the same situation as you. With the same disease Lichen Sclero Atrophica (LSA). Like you, I saw a urologist-dermatologist who also prescribed an antifungal cream and a moisturizer.
I am 60 years old, so 15 years older than you, and I definitely do not recommend circumcision which is useless in your case which is not severe LSA. On the other hand, you can usefully remove the frenulum. When the LSA touches the frenulum, it can become very unpleasant and cause small cuts on it that are very painful. For my part, I have not been circumcised, and I do not want to be because of the protective role of the foreskin for the glans, but also the possibilities for sexual play that it offers to a partner, or to yourself during masturbation. On the other hand, I had the frenulum removed so as not to suffer any more bleeding or cuts, always with the risk that such a cut would open further and cause a rupture during sexual activity. And I am very satisfied that way.
You can also act through your behavior. The doctor advised me to keep the glans bare at all times, day and night. If your foreskin goes back on the glans automatically when you are soft, you can use a glans ring to retain the foreskin. That's what I did. After a few months, the foreskin ends up remaining rolled up on its own without the ring. You should also remember to wash the penis and glans twice a day, when you get up and go to bed, and dry it well. When you urinate, make sure that the glans is well uncovered and dry the meatus after urination with toilet paper. Always have a little in your pants pocket. With these tips, you will see that things will improve significantly without circumcision. Sincerely,
I was diagnosed with this too and BXO with Phomosis. This can become cancerous so I made the decision, at 61 years of age, to be circumcised. After months of research I opted for a private surgeon who specialised in laser circumcision. My biopsy of the removed skin came back clear and I really haven’t looked back since. The only negative aspect is the that that your gland will be super sensitive for quite a while. Clothing and Vaseline will help though. Five months on now and I’m 90% good with the strange feeling and sex with my partner is amazing as I can last a long time, an added bonus for both of us. I hope this helps you.
LS/BXO _can_ become cancerous in due course (even though apparently under control now.
Personally, I wouldn't risk it and so would get a circumcision as soon as possible from the experts at one of the specialist circumcision clinics around the UK.
Guys, many thanks for your advice and support. While the professor who diagnosed LS advised circumcision, other doctors at one of the London's hospitals said that it is my decision and that that professor favours circumcision as a cure for LS and in their opinion a less radical solutions i.e. creams etc. can keep it under control.
I must admit that management of LS is quite exhausting as I constantly keep this in mind, have to find place to apply moisturizer as recommended etc.
One of you mentioned washing twice daily, keeping the glans exposed as often as possible etc. I do quite a lot of hiking, camping etc and there is often limited access to showers etc so it would be challenging to do all these things.
My thinking is that after circumcision my life could become easier.
Another thing is that red spot on my frenullum which is something the doctors are not concerned with but it is uncomfortable and makes me avoid sexual relationships.
In summary I'm leaning towards circumcision however it freaks me out when I think about healing and potential complications.
Also I know that doctors say that circumcision will highly likely cure LS but I can't understand how it works. LS makes the glans skin dry and after circumcision it will get even dryer.
Without doubt, you should get circumcised. You will have peace of mind, your problem will be permanently solved, and you will have a better looking penis that in time will last longer before ejaculation.
do it the way they did in the Bible not nowadays time of doing circumcision Friend of mine, had it done the Bible way, and he feels much better and easier to manage
A potent topical steroid should help. Clobetasol is the most effective.
Anectodaly, there is a suggestion that clotrimazole/hydrocortisone might help. There is no evidence for this, but it can be bought over the counter. Don't tell the pharmacist where you want to apply it or they won't sell it.
If it lowers your confidence in your interactions with women and you haven't had sex in the last six years since your last relationship, then I'd say you have nothing to lose!
Worst case you might be unhappy with the way it turns out, but it doesn't seem like that would be much of a worse situation than now.
If it turns out well, which is predominantly the case, you will be much better off on all accounts!
Hi Mike, I also saw Professor Bunker in London for LS. I’ve seen him for about 3 years now. We tried using clobesterol and it seemed to work the first time but the LS came back again and again, eventually the clobesterol stopped working. My LS was painful and made sex very difficult. Prof Bunker recommended circumcision and I had it done a week later, this was just before christmas 2023. I am 10 weeks post circumcision and finally have no LS pain at all. I am so happy I did it, LS was slowly ruining my sex life and making day to day uncomfortable. In terms of sexual sensation I haven’t noticed a big change, in some respects it’s better as I’ve got more sensations around the whole of the glans, so probably do last a bit longer but it hasn’t been detrimental to my enjoyment. Masturbation is different but lube it’s still great. The only thing I would flag is how much longer the aesthetic result takes than is typically explained. I’ve had many concerns about what it looks like after surgery and how long recovery has been taking, but having spoken with plenty of guys on this forum it’s become clear that it takes many months and up to two years for it to get to its final result. So, if you decide to do it, just be patient.
Happy to try and help answer any questions from my personal experience
Many thanks for your reply. I've seen prof Bunker for circa 4 yrs now. My LS is rather mild. He prescribed some steroid cream first which helped then advised to use moisturizing cream twice daily. Last time I saw him he said my LS was not severe but not stable i.e. staying mild but not improving fully. That's when he recommended circumcision.I saw prof Bunker privately but also seen dermatologist through NHS at Chelsea and Westminster hospital. They confirmed that my LS is mild and in their opinion circumcision was not required. When I said about prof Bunker's suggestion they didn't say I shouldn't do that but said that prof Bunker is an advocate of circumcision to treat LS but in their opinion my condition is manageable without surgery.
Not sure what to do. I'm impressed how quickly you decided to go for circumcision! I'm now over a year after prof Bunker's recommendation and still not 100% sure what to do.
Surgery and the length of healing process seems really long! Doctors say it's a simple procedure but reading this forum it takes months or even years to fully recover.
Where did you have your circumcision done? Who did it?
I had it done by MrMuneer at The Princess Grace Hospital. I had tried to put off having the op for as long as possible, using multiple rounds of the steroid cream and keeping an exceptionally rigorous hygiene programme. But the pain/symptoms would not subside and I could no longer use that body part. So whilst I did not want the surgery it became clear to me that it was the only way I could get back to a "normal" life both physically and mentally. Just the mental side of constantly thinking about it, having to wash so regularly etc, it was a real struggle.
From my experience the recovery was not that long. I was back having sex after about 6 weeks (I waited a little longer than the minimum time to be sure), took a little while to adjust but I got there. I would say the thing which takes the longest, in my experience, is the aesthetic result - I am now 5 months post op and it has materially improved in the last couple of months. It took quite a lot of time for the stiches/stich line to soften and I was quite concerned about this but am pleased to say it has happened.
I think the thing to consider when reading other peoples experience is why did they have it done in the first place? If it is for LS then, from what I have read, they are typically pretty happy with the recovery as they were in pain to begin with. So if your starting point is pain and a disrupted sex life (and perhaps daily life with the management of the issue) then even the recovery stages are mostly better than what life was like beforehand.
Whilst I do miss having a foreskin a bit (its easier for masturbation), I am actually finding masturbation more fun (its just a little annoying to have to use lube). And sex is just as fun. I actually like what it looks like, as does my partner.
Hope that helps, everyone is different of course, but just my experience. Happy to answer any other questions.
I would avoid circumcision unless totally necessary but if its effecting your sex life then its a option but i think personally get the red spot dealt with (steroid cream or thymuskin possibly ..cut out all mastabation and alcohol totally ..stick to a more paleo diet cut out all the shit diet is key for lichen sclerosis and exercise then use your penis more if you dont use you will lose.you rhink a red spot is tough how you gonna react mentally with a fat tight scar and if your arousal levels are not high that will defo effect the lil fella
I can't get rid of that red spot. I don't think it's Lichen sclerosis. When penis is flacid is barely visible or not visible at all. It's only getting visible after erection or shower. Doctors say it's probably some blood veins area. They say if it was malicious it would be visible all the time. I tried creams, avoided masturbation for months, I'm fit but the spot doesn't want to go. I wouldn't say it is painful just from time to time give me some mild sensation, sensitivity maybe very light pain ( 3 in a 1 to 100 scale) after masturbation.My urologist said it can be removed during circumcision.
I (61 yrs) had a circumcision last october for Lichen PLANUS on the mucosal skin of the foreskin. Constant discomfort with red sore patches and often quite severe pain. Steroid creams were pretty uneffective and no amount of washing etc would help. Am so very pleased (no more pain and depression!) with the circumcision as all the mucosal skin on foreskin was removed. I regret not having it done years ago.
If the circumcision was recommended by the medical expert then it really should be a no-brainer concerning what to do.
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