Are phimosis-like symptoms normal for an uncircumsized teen?
January 5, 2010 5:49 PM Subscribe
I'm a 16 year old male, and my foreskin doesn't retract at all when erected. I would say I have phimosis except I'm not sure if this is normal for my age...help?
I only retract my foreskin in the shower to clean, and even then it's a little tight. When erect, there's absolutely no way to retract. I've heard that this might or might not be normal for a teenager, and I certainly do not want to see a doctor unless I know there's something wrong. First reason is our families lack of health insurance, second reason is general embarrassment that would come.
Thanks Mefi
I only retract my foreskin in the shower to clean, and even then it's a little tight. When erect, there's absolutely no way to retract. I've heard that this might or might not be normal for a teenager, and I certainly do not want to see a doctor unless I know there's something wrong. First reason is our families lack of health insurance, second reason is general embarrassment that would come.
Thanks Mefi
@curiositykilledthelemur, From looking at the PP website, it doesn't seem like phimosis/circumcision-related health is really focused on there. Am I missing something?
posted by Taft at 6:05 PM on January 5, 2010
posted by Taft at 6:05 PM on January 5, 2010
From Scarleteen:
posted by DarlingBri at 6:26 PM on January 5, 2010
Among boys who are 16, somewhere between 8% and 20% still can't retract their foreskins.So I would not sweat it. Here's loads more info, but basically at this point there's nothing to worry about and honestly, if it never retracts but functions fine without pain for everything you'd like to do with it, you probably never need to do anything about it at all.
posted by DarlingBri at 6:26 PM on January 5, 2010
taft, at pp he can at least start an affordable, accessible conversation with a professional who is allowed to talk to minors and who can point him in the right direction and reassure him. pp isn't just for girls, and what he is dealing with is tangentially related to sexual health.
posted by curiositykilledthelemur at 6:26 PM on January 5, 2010
posted by curiositykilledthelemur at 6:26 PM on January 5, 2010
But this isn't something Anon needs to see a healthcare provider about by default because his junk is perfectly normal.
posted by DarlingBri at 6:30 PM on January 5, 2010
posted by DarlingBri at 6:30 PM on January 5, 2010
of course he's normal - i said that in my original post, BUT he's also said that he's terrified of being embarrassed about discussing this with a doctor, which is important to acknowledge, and that if this embarassment can be dealt with earlier than later, is good. while yes, his issue is normal at his age, being comfortable discussing issues with medical professionals, and having a medical professional alleviate his worries, is a good thing for his sexual and physical future. as we are not doctors, it's one thing for all of us to say 'it's normal,' and throw out some hyperlinks, but it's another for the op to actually be able to discuss his body with a trained professional. because of his financial and age limitations, pp is an excellent resource for him.
posted by curiositykilledthelemur at 6:38 PM on January 5, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by curiositykilledthelemur at 6:38 PM on January 5, 2010 [3 favorites]
I had this exact issue when I was younger, mefi mail me if you want the gory details...
posted by Bron at 7:15 PM on January 5, 2010
posted by Bron at 7:15 PM on January 5, 2010
Anon, you've got nothing to worry about. well, except for pulling your foreskin back to wash. don't do that. your body's more than able to take care of itself.
you'll be in trouble if getting an erection hurts: that's when you should go see a doctor.
(and expect to have to explain to your sexual partners what your bits can and cannot do.)
posted by spindle at 9:11 PM on January 5, 2010
you'll be in trouble if getting an erection hurts: that's when you should go see a doctor.
(and expect to have to explain to your sexual partners what your bits can and cannot do.)
posted by spindle at 9:11 PM on January 5, 2010
Anon, you've got nothing to worry about. well, except for pulling your foreskin back to wash. don't do that. your body's more than able to take care of itself.
no, really, do do this. Make sure you wash under the foreskin, especially if it's tight. The friction builds up unpleasant stuff otherwise.
As for your q: yep, normal. I had it, it went away in late teens.
posted by bonaldi at 9:26 PM on January 5, 2010
no, really, do do this. Make sure you wash under the foreskin, especially if it's tight. The friction builds up unpleasant stuff otherwise.
As for your q: yep, normal. I had it, it went away in late teens.
posted by bonaldi at 9:26 PM on January 5, 2010
Spindle, you DO need to pull your foreskin back during a shower to clean it. If you don't you will just accumulate nasty white smegma (aka cheese) which you definitely don't want to have nor would your partner want to see it.
OP you should be able to easily pull your foreskin back in the shower while flaccid. For me, my foreskin doesn't always retract when erect by itself, but it can be pulled down easily. When erect if you are unable to retract at all, then there is a problem and you can take care of this. You will need to gradually pull your foreskin back but be gentle about it. Don't force it all at once because that would be just painful but you need to try and do it regularly so that it will open up more. If you go to a doctor they will tell you the same thing or just offer an alternative of getting circumcised.
posted by spacesbetween at 9:35 PM on January 5, 2010
OP you should be able to easily pull your foreskin back in the shower while flaccid. For me, my foreskin doesn't always retract when erect by itself, but it can be pulled down easily. When erect if you are unable to retract at all, then there is a problem and you can take care of this. You will need to gradually pull your foreskin back but be gentle about it. Don't force it all at once because that would be just painful but you need to try and do it regularly so that it will open up more. If you go to a doctor they will tell you the same thing or just offer an alternative of getting circumcised.
posted by spacesbetween at 9:35 PM on January 5, 2010
First reason is our families lack of health insurance, second reason is general embarrassment that would come.
First reason is solved by planned parenthood, second reason is a non-starter; nothing's "wrong" with you, most likely, except possibly a correctable medical condition you shouldn't neglect -- and I know at sixteen it feels like something to be embarrassed about, but it isn't. It's the kind of thing doctors deal with every day. Go.
posted by davejay at 9:44 PM on January 5, 2010
First reason is solved by planned parenthood, second reason is a non-starter; nothing's "wrong" with you, most likely, except possibly a correctable medical condition you shouldn't neglect -- and I know at sixteen it feels like something to be embarrassed about, but it isn't. It's the kind of thing doctors deal with every day. Go.
posted by davejay at 9:44 PM on January 5, 2010
it was my doctor who told me that washing under the foreskin is not necessary. granted, my doctor could very well have been wrong, but I have not been having any cheese-like problems.
OP: perhaps, in the name of science, you could try it both ways and see if there's any difference?
posted by spindle at 10:47 PM on January 5, 2010
OP: perhaps, in the name of science, you could try it both ways and see if there's any difference?
posted by spindle at 10:47 PM on January 5, 2010
Anonymous, I have some really good news for you. While right now this particular problem you have may seem like pretty much the worst and most mortifying problem you could possibly have, borderline end-of-the-world, so bad you can't even really think about it, it is in reality an example of a problem that turns out to not actually be a problem at all, physically (probably) or, let us say, socially.
I had it, and I did some very basic stuff that I won't go into here but that any doctor will probably tell you to do, and the problem was easily solved. A good friend of mine also had it, and not only is he now a proudly functional member of sexual society, but earlier this year he delivered a 15-minute lecture on the subject to a bar full of beautiful hipsters, and everyone loved it. He's 30; I'm 27. Once you get to be this age, it's about as embarrassing as talking about a stubbed toe. Good luck, you'll be fine.
posted by skwt at 1:26 AM on January 6, 2010
I had it, and I did some very basic stuff that I won't go into here but that any doctor will probably tell you to do, and the problem was easily solved. A good friend of mine also had it, and not only is he now a proudly functional member of sexual society, but earlier this year he delivered a 15-minute lecture on the subject to a bar full of beautiful hipsters, and everyone loved it. He's 30; I'm 27. Once you get to be this age, it's about as embarrassing as talking about a stubbed toe. Good luck, you'll be fine.
posted by skwt at 1:26 AM on January 6, 2010
It's normal and it will go away, and you don't need circumcision. Read spacesbetween's answer, stay calm, be patient.
posted by fake at 3:49 AM on January 6, 2010
posted by fake at 3:49 AM on January 6, 2010
Just want to add to the chorus here anon: it's normal and I also had the same problem, bit of a pain/psychological barrier to both literally and figuratively pull yourself through (but take it slow). Nothing to worry about it. (And yup, you do need to get in there to scrub it clean.)
posted by HopStopDon'tShop at 4:18 AM on January 6, 2010
posted by HopStopDon'tShop at 4:18 AM on January 6, 2010
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posted by curiositykilledthelemur at 5:59 PM on January 5, 2010