New Member Phimosis Advice

Men's health
1

Hello all, this may be a first for the forum but I'm a 44yr old male who has never been with a woman or had sexual intercourse.

​Just over a week ago I started experiencing minor pain in my left scrotum, left abdomen, left testicle and I had a stinging pain at the end of my penis with a mucusy discharge after urinating.

​I went to the doctor who sent me for an ultra sound scan and the scan revealed that I do have a Varicocele vein in the left scrotum.  tbh, this has given me a little trouble on and off for years now so it looks like it may need a small operation.

​However, on Monday of this week my symptoms were worse and so I headed back to the doctor who diagnosed an infection and gave me a week of strong antibiotics.  If it doesn't clear I have to go back so fingers crossed.

Anyway, I started looking into what might cause these infections as I've had this before a couple of years ago and to cut a long story short after viewing some Men's Health websites it seems that I have a form of phimosis.

​I mentioned this to the female doctor who saw me regarding the previous issues and she said she would like me to see a male doctor in three weeks time to discuss both issues, assuming I don't have to go back before then.

The problem with my penis is that although the skin on the shaft is nice and loose, the skin on the head is very tight and yet I still have 1.5cm of Prepuce when erected.  I have noticed a tightness on the head over the years when erected and had a hunch that something wasn't quite right.

​I can pull the foreskin/prepuce back a little to expose the Meatus and a little of the head but at the moment it's nowhere near coming back over the head or glans.  It might be worth mentioning that when nature takes its course(at night) the semen seems to come  out without any problem.

​As I say, I'm due to see the doctor so medical advice and help should be on the way but any thoughts would be appreciated.

​Thanks in advance.

 

2

If you're 44 and can only expose the meatus and a small part of the glans when soft, that sounds like quite severe phimosis.  I'd try gentle stretching and steroid creams first, but if that doesn't work, then surgery may be required, which could be preputioplasty, a dorsal slit, or circumcision.  Don't overdo the stretching.  Gentle is key, and even if it seems to be giving quick results, don't overdo it.

If you google "phimosis stretching" or search this forum, you'll find lots of information from people who have fixed phimosis, even when they were told they needed to be circumcised.  Some people will need surgery to fix it though, and some people choose to just live with it (personally I would want it fixed, even if it required surgery).

NORM-UK have a retired GP who specialises in cases like this.

This link is written for doctors, but may help:

https://patient.info/doctor/phimosis-and-paraphimosis

Which country are you in btw?

3

Thanks ml66uk, unfortunately I rather doubt that it will need some form of surgery.  I might be wrong but with the size of the Prepuce I can't see it stretching over the head, certainly when erect.

I'm still hopeful of finding a partner and would like a healthy sex life if it happens but I guess that means surgery is likely.  

​I must confess though to being increasingly uncomfortable at the prospect of circumcision not just because it would be a "big" operation but the after effects of loosing sensation in the head through it being exposed and rubbing against clothes.  I've read numerous comments about this happening to people and wishing they hadn't been circumcised.

Yes, I'm in the UK.

smile  

​  

4

You mean you think it will need surgery?  I'd try stretching and maybe a steroid cream first, but you may be right.  A urologist will be able to help, or you could contact NORM-UK and get in touch with the retired GP there.  It isn't the length of the foreskin, but rather how tight it is that determines whether or not surgery would be required btw.

Even if surgery is required though, it doesn't necessarily need to be circumcision.  Preputioplasty and a dorsal slit are more conservative options, and you could still get circumcised later if they didn't work out.  If a urologist's only suggestion is circumcision and they happen to be circumcised themselves, I'd seek a second or even third opinion.

There are definitely plenty of men who wish they hadn't been circumcised as adults, but there are also some who are very happy with the results and wish they'd done it sooner.  Some men are happy just to live with phimosis though.

Please keep us updated.

5

Ah, apologies, yes I was meaning my guess is it will need some form of surgery.

​The foreskin isn't tight when the penis is flacid and it's not quite as painful when I gently pull it back but again it doesn't want to come very far.

​When erect, the skin on the head is very tight and there is pain/discomfort from the tightness.  There's very little movement, as mentioned just enough to see the Meatus and a little of the head.

​This is the second "big" infection I've had but there are other times when I have a stinging at the end of the penis.

​As you say, they might feel that one of the other options can be done but obviously long term these infections are probably making the phimosis worse so it will need to be dealt with.

​Thanks again for your kind comments and I'll keep you updated.

6

I am not an advertiser and have no financial stake in Phimocure.  However, I have been using the Phimocure stretching rings for about 3-4 weeks now and they have worked.  There has been a notable difference.  Check out their website (www.phimocure.net), they are based in the UK.

7

I'm wondering why you have made a connection as if you think the Phimosis is a cause of your infection. Did you have any sense of feverishness or general unwellness when you started having the infection?

I'm intact, without phimosis, and the cause of my infections are much more internal and higher up within the body cavity. They originate in the bladder because I have a degree of urinary retention caused by narrowing of the bladder neck, in the Prostate.

I can imagine infections such as balanitis could occur under your foreskin if dead skin, (smegma) and bacteria collect there, but would expect the treatment to be more localised eg antiseptic creams. I'd also wonder 'why now?' if you haven't had many problems in your youth. 

Having said all that, apart from those queries, I totally sympathise with your wish to avoid full circumcision if at all possible. The foreskin isn't just a nuisance appendage, but a valuable source of pleasure and protection. Everyday I feel glad that I wasn't born American, Jewish or Muslim. Although I fully respect everyone's individual right to their beliefs, I wish male babies were universally allowed the right to choose whether their bodies are irrevocably altered.

8

Hi, Pepasan, you may have a point about the origin of the infections.  I haven't had any fever or unwellness, it just started with these aches and pains.  I wasn't particularly thinking it started under the foreskin but it's spread to there and perhaps medically I'm wrong but I'm just guessing it doesn't help things.

​Sadly, although I shower every day because of my Phimosis I can't clean in there as is needed.

​I'll maybe need to also explore with the doctor where these infections are coming from or what might be causing it.

​ 

 

9

Hi james, I had phimosis caused by the more severe form of balanitis (BXO / Lichen Sclerosis) - this was when I was around 17 / 18 YOA, so I have had a lifetime of dealing with the need to stretch the foreskin.

At first, I never thought I would be able expose my glans - but I set out using Germolene (much stronger than the current formula on sale) and soon realised I was making good progress.  However, while I was able to expose the majority of my glans withing a couple of years it was not until the last 2 years that I was able to expose the glans in its entirety.

So with your situation, I would suggest sorting out your infection issues first and make sure these are fully cleared.  I can guide you through what worked for me, and the things to avoid doing, should you wish?  Simply update the forum discussion you have running here once the infections are sorted ....

10

Hi Wee Dugie, thanks for your kind words and offer.

​I'm on day 4 of antibiotics but still experiencing pain, in particular at the end of my penis but hopefully I'll start seeing a difference.

​I will certainly keep your offer in mind and if the doctor suggests trying stretching I'll get some pointers from you.

 Thanks again.

​

 

11

Hi james, most medical professionals will NOT actually recommend stretching - or, in fact, doing anything to sort this yourself.  This is for the simple reason that there is far too much that could go wrong: e.g. injury, skin damage, torn foreskin, further infection, etc.

Once you are on the road to healing and you have put the infection issues behind you, consider what it is YOU wish to try!

*At each stage in your journey on this, keep referring to this:

                                                     https://patient.info/doctor/phimosis-and-paraphimosis

... the thing you certainly need to work on is the hygiene practices with your penis that you are able to implement, and how these can be improved.  You can certainly take any medical guidance on that ......

 

12

Hello all, I thought I would update my thread because it might be of interest.

​To recap, I discovered just over a month ago or so that I had Phimosis but there seemed to be the signs of an infection too.

​Today after several trips to the doctor and various anti-biotics I went back again as the "infection" seemed reluctant to totally go.

​All the blood and water tests came back clear so it was just a case of see what happens but while there the Practitioner Nurse examined my penis because I had explained to him last time that I've been referred to the Urology department due to Phimosis.

​Anyway, I couldn't see what was happening but he(yep a male) started pulling my foreskin back until I gave a squirm/grunt which signalled "stop"!.

​It's worth pointing out that he's ex-Hospital Theatre but was better and more thorough than some of the doctors I've seen!.

​Anyway, as I got dressed again he asked if I'd ever tried pulling my foreskin back when erect, for example while in the bath.

​I said no as it just seemed to be a no-go and then he hit me with a bombshell that he'd just managed to pull my foreskin 3/4 the way back over the glans(in the flaccid state).    

​He also said there were no "things"(bits of skin, can't remember the name) attaching the foreskin to the glans which would means you would need circumcision and that there was no sign or tearing.

​In summary, he felt that with stretching exercises the problem should be solved with me being able to pull it right back over the glans.

​He said to take the foreskin between both fingers and thumbs(left and right hand) and pull back enough to stretch it and hold for one minute per day.  Obviously, it'll take time, probably months but I left the clinic with hope. 

​My only concern is that there's a sizeable difference between my usual flaccid state and erect so with stretching will the stretching work for both states?.

  

 

 

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13

Sometimes there are adhesions, so maybe that was the word the male nurse was using?

I'm pleased for you that you have at last had some encouraging information. 

Obviously there will need to be more stretching done for full freeing-up of your foreskin so that retraction when flaccid compared with erect becomes possible, but I would have thought both should eventually be successful.

14

Thanks Pepasan, hmm, yes, that could be the very word.  He said there are four of them and if still attached it would mean circumcision but they weren't there.

​There seems to be plenty skin on my penis, even the foreskin itself seems very loose.  I can pull a lot back before the strain starts at the end so that looks to be what's causing problems.

​Seeing as how he'd had the foreskin 3/4 of the way up the glans and I was still feeling tonight when I showered I didn't want to push things too far today but I did pull the(flaccid) foreskin back as far as was "bearable" while in the shower.   It revealed the meatus and the surrounding head  but the foreskin was all a bit red/purple looking with the strain so I left it there for today(I'm guessing it's still "recovering" from today's episode). 

​Based on the size of the prepuce when erect I think I have some way to go yet.

​In myself I'd been thinking over the years that there's no way the prepuce is coming back over the head but maybe 40+ years of no sexual activity has let everything tighten up in a bad way

But fingers crossed.......

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15

hi james .. , thanks for updating this discussion forum.  It is great to hear your have had a more than helpful medic to lend a 'helping-hand'!  So you have great progress.  As you state in your closing question, what we need to work on now is so that you can expose your glans to the same extent when both flaccid and erect.

You will need to continue the stretches for some months yet to make good progress on that front.

If you want to learn about other stretches - as I find I adapt to some better than others (personal choice for you I am getting at) - then I can recommend 2 sites to check out.

i.) wiki How and the section: " 3 ways to do phimosis stretching "

ii.)  A Phimosis Journey and the section " Guide to Treating Phimosis "

Once you are really comfortable with the exercises you are doing (after 5 or 6 weeks) you can start to increase the minutes you do the stretches - and you need to do these at least 3 times per-week.  Do these either when you get out of bed in the morning, or after a warm / hot shower.

If you experience any complications along your stretching journey, by all-means update your discussion forum on here..... Good Luck W.D.