Gadzooks! My non-retracting foreskin!

December 2, 2008 3:55 PM

Why can't my foreskin retract when I have an erection?

When I don't have an erection, my foreskin can retract. I've tried stretching it back when I have an erection, and it just won't; it's painful. Is this a problem worth fixing? And if so, how do I go about fixing it? What procedures are used? Should I talk directly to a urologist? (I'd rather not talk to a general practitioner about this issue).

Thanks for your help on this somewhat embarrassing problem!

posted by anonymous to Health & Fitness (6 answers total)

The googleable term for this is phimosis and it's pretty normal. You can get it surgically repaired very simply. Googling for information, because this is the internet, is going to get you a LOT of information from people opposed to circumcision for various reasons so make sure you're checking medical sites and not penis-info type sites.
posted by jessamyn at 4:03 PM on December 2, 2008

I got mine corrected by circumcision, mainly because I was unaware that stretching was a workable alternative. Had I talked to a urologist instead of a GP, I would probably have found that out. If I had a do-over, I'd go to a urologist. Depending where you live, you may need a referral to a urologist from your GP. Don't let embarrassment stop you talking to a GP about this - GP's have seen it all before.
posted by flabdablet at 5:40 PM on December 2, 2008

You can talk to your GP about this. You will probably be referred to a specialist, but your GP is not going to point and laugh - as flabdablet says, they've seen it all before.

If it helps ... I had a similarly embarrassing situation once, with an infected human bite wound in an interesting location. I started the conversation with the doctor by saying "Now I need everyone to be really professional about this. Here's the situation ..." and we all got through it.

Good luck! As jessamyn says, this is fixable.
posted by shiny blue object at 5:46 PM on December 2, 2008

If it helps ... I had a similarly embarrassing situation once, with an infected human bite wound in an interesting location. I started the conversation with the doctor by saying "Now I need everyone to be really professional about this. Here's the situation ..." and we all got through it.

Heh; when I have somewhat embarrassing things to discuss with my doctor, I usually beat them to it and go out of my way to be the one to crack all the jokes first (my favorite was when a particular antibiotic that had been prescribed for an infection I had in a delicate location wasn't working, and I told my GP that the"Kinder, gentler" prescription hadn't worked and we need to "escalate to 'shock and awe' now").

But. shiny blue object and flabdablet are right - doctors have seen everything. You may need to go to a general practitioner first just for the insurance purposes -- your insurance company may make you jump through the hoop of "I need to see my GP to get a referral to a urologist" -- but eh, your GP won't think it's weird. They collect people's pee in plastic cups on a regular basis, remember, they're used to weird body stuff.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:08 PM on December 2, 2008

Absolutely worth fixing. Speaking from experience, the difference is night and day. A urologist is who you need to talk to. I had a circumcision as an adult, but other options are possible.
posted by idb at 6:43 AM on December 3, 2008

Agree with idb. Worth fixing, and easily fixed. I had it done the very enjoyable way: with a patient and fascinated significant other, who was endlessly amused by his job of flexing and stretching my foreskin so that it would eventually retract. It could take a while (took me about six months of...uh...constant...uh....hard work....).
posted by greekphilosophy at 11:59 AM on December 3, 2008