Is circumcision my only option?

Question

Hello, I've recently read up on a condition referred to as phimosis where the foreskin is too tight to retract, and believe I have that problem. I am 15 years old and cannot retract my foreskin all the way, however I can pull it slightly when I have an errection to reveal a small amout of the glans penis. My question; Is circumcision my only option, or will this simply fix itself by the time i reach 18, or are there any stretches I can try, and if so, how do I do them?

Thanks in advance for replies.

Just to clarify, there is no pain in the penis when I masturbate/pee, but I've heard that a non-retractable foreskin can cause problems during sex where the foreskin gets stuck and stops the blood supply?

Answer 1

"Stretching", so-called, can permit normal retraction. One good method is to pull out on the outer edge of your foreskin with your fingers, away from your body. Hold that "stretch" for up to five minutes and repeat at least two or three times each day. Pull firmly to the point of pain, but not beyond. Gradually, over time, new skin cells will grow.

When you are able to insert a finger or two, pull also at right angles to your penile shaft, as though you were holding open a sack.

A photo illustrating a similar procedure may be found here:

http://www.foreskin.org/46-33-03.jpg

Answer 2

Right, this is very important: Don't try to stretch it. That can cause damage and infection. A non-retractable foreskin is a normal variation of the penis, and not a medical problem, unless you actually have pain from it, which is very unlikely. Just leave it as it is, and enjoy it. You will have a better sex life than men whose foreskin retracts, and you certainly *don't* need to have the most sensitive part of your entire body sliced off.

No, I think you heard a myth there - sex with a non-retractable foreskin is just fine. I speak from experience :-)

Hope this helps...

Answer 3

Circumcision is most emphatically not necessary for phimosis. This is a common problem and not hard to treat without penis reduction surgery (circumcision).

You can get some good information at http://www.cirp.org/library/treatment/phimosis -- you'll have to skip over some stuff about babies' foreskins to get to the relevant portion. Sometimes all you need to do is change the way you masturbate: http://www.cirp.org/library/treatment/phimosis/beauge2/

I know of no reason for not stretching it if you want to. The previous answerer may be happy with a foreskin that does not retract completely, but most men prefer that it go all the way back. Full retraction makes cleaning simpler, for one thing.

Answer 4

You can try to stretch the foreskin yourself by masturbating slowly and gently at first. If that doesn't begin to correct the situation and it is causing you health problems, see an urologist for help.