This site discusses phimosis in its specific forms of phimotic ring, frenulum breve, adhesions or skinbridges. During erection these conditions inhibit the relationship between foreskin and glans. This functionally restricts the erection, and thus has an effect on the sexuality. With our culture's attitudes on health care, it would be appropriate to encourage early prevention. Jan 2021 : Please read the new summary.

SEX IS STRESSFUL - I DONT HAVE IT NOW. Hi Robin, I hope you dont mind me writing to you, but the nature of my condition embarasses me greatly. I'm 40 and married. My foreskin has been tight for as long as I can remember. I do remember once (about13 years old I think ) being taken to my doctor about it, and the outcome I think, or his opinion, was - "it will stretch". When my penis is soft, my foreskin does retract all the way - very easliy in the shower, but not so easily when dry out of the shower, and I've always been worried that it may get stuck when dry. When erect, its not comfortable to retract the foreskin all the way. Maybe about 75% but beyond that it feels as if the skin will rip. In the bath, I can retract it whilst erect. Sex has usually been stressful (rather than uncomfortable) to the point where I dont have it now. I found wearing a condom (with the forseskin about 75% retracted when i placed the condom on ) has reduced stress. Recently, each morning, I have been gently pulling the foreskin back further in the shower and after a month now, it does seem to have responded by being easier to retract and it goes back further. I have also noticed that it seems to travel back further when erect too, but not (comfortably ) all the way. If I do get it back all the way, the head looks big and I tend to return the foreskin. I have looked at your www site, and I dont appear to have this "ring" you speak of. This has been going on so long now, I DO want to to something about it - if only to talk through what has happened to me, and discuss my options. However, the thought of a doctor tugging at my penis and examining me - fills me with dread. --------------------- My first suspicion is that it must be frenulum breve ... the ideas on "comfort" and "stressful" are typical for frenulum breve ... Hummm now ... I«ve read your letter 2 or 3 times, and I«d like you to check out if its frenulum breve before we go any further https://www.male-initiation.net/frenulum_breve.html >I've always >been worried that it may get stuck when dry. but it never did get stuck? .. I think its a short frenulum, if not I promise I«ll think again first things first and good luck robin -------------------------------- Thanks so much for your reply. It was a big step for me to actually write that first letter to you after living with this for so long, and I very much appreciate your reply. On to business... > My first suspicion is that it must be frenulum breve ... the ideas on " > comfort" and "stressful" are typical for frenulum breve ... > https://www.male-initiation.net/frenulum_breve.html I've studied this page and the related ones and taken a good look at my penis, here's what I find. Honestly, I find it difficult to "diagonse" but here are some points which may help. My foreskin, when fully forward, does not entirely cover the glands - ever. The Uretha is always exposed as is a small area of the surrounding glands . If I gently pinch the forsekin and pull upwards with a finger and thumb, I can see my frenulum - a thin strip of skin. It looks short - perhaps from the glands, about 2-3mm before it gets thicker and joins to the foreskin. This area has ripped before during intercourse a couple of times. Small amount of blood, a lot of worry, and a quick heal i seem to remember. When erect, and my foreskin is back about 75%, the frenulum looks very stretched and shiny, but the foreskin is not fully retracted. A feeling of tension where the frenulum is? YES !! It "feels" as if I want to "roll" back (as apposed to pull back ) the remainder of the foreskin over the glands without stretching the frenulum any more. When erect, if I do attempt to retract the foreskin further (during masturbation), I have had a couple of re-curring results which may, or may not be relevant. 1) My penis softens (perhaps cos I'm thinking "this is gonna rip! and 2) I become very aroused and have a experienced a short dry orgasm where the glands appears to be pumping like a regular orgasm but no semen is expelled. After this, I can continue to masterbate and orgasm normally, but with the foreskin going back to its more "comfortable" position. During masterbation, my foreskin slides back and forth over the glands - rarely retracting more than, as I have said, about 75%. > >I've always > >been worried that it may get stuck when dry. > > but it never did get stuck? .. I think its a short frenulum, if not I > promise I«ll think again No - its not ever got stuck as I recall. Just the feeling that it will. I have to be honest, i know it will take much courage to breeze into my GP's surgery and let him examine me. Knowing more about the procedure and options will help me with this. --------------------------- >If I gently pinch the forsekin and pull upwards with a finger and thumb, I >can see my frenulum - a thin strip of skin. It looks short - perhaps from >the glands, about 2-3mm before it gets thicker and joins to the foreskin. this sounds like a skinbridge - is the thin strip of skin above or below the glans? >This area has ripped before during intercourse a couple of times. Small >amount of blood, a lot of worry, and a quick heal i seem to remember. This is typical ... the frenulum sometimes heals and rips ad infinitum >1) My penis softens (perhaps cos I'm thinking "this is >gonna rip! I wouldn«t be suprised very interesting 2) I become very aroused and have a experienced a short dry >orgasm where the glands appears to be pumping like a regular orgasm but no >semen is expelled. again interesting, a bit like premature ejaculation also typical for frenulum breve, >This area has ripped before during intercourse a couple of times. Small >amount of blood, a lot of worry, and a quick heal i seem to remember. This is typical ... the frenulum sometimes heals and rips ad infinitum -the frenulum op. >Please tell me... your op.... how did they numb you up? Did you have a >local or general? And, did it hurt? How long to heal? In Germany its easy 1 week waiting for the op., no pain local anaesthetic, two weeks healing, very blue and bruised for 2 days after the operation ... >I presume to see a urologist I will have to be referred by my general >practioner?? He is always rushed and not particulary approachable. Do you >have any thoughts on this?? oh dear the UK national Health system, .. in some areas it can be a good idea to ring your local hospital ... urology department ... the operation is simpler than circumcision, the only mistake I often hear is that the docs cut any remaining "dissolving" stitches ... this is probably a rather silly habit among surgeons after ops. on legs and arms etc. ... however it gets rather itchy under a foreskin ... anyway if he starts snipping around 2 weeks after the op. then probably best not to disturb him, just get a pair of tweezers out afterwards and pull the sharp bits out ... cheers Robin