[ ARC forum 2 ]
Written by Paul B. at 15 Sep 2001 12:16:20: Re: Discouraged
As an answer to: Discouraged written by AJ at 15 Sep 2001 00:15:53:
> Don't be discouraged by some of the people that post here
My sentiments entirely.
> they are anti-circ and will do anything to scare you out of having a comfortable working penis/ foreskin.
Now there was a "Freudian slip" if ever I saw one. The big concern is that there are a number of people here who are pro-circ and will do anything to scare you out of having a comfortable, working penis and foreskin. Did I emphasise this sufficiently? The penis and foreskin are integrated, working together to achieve through the "gliding mechanism", comfort in intercourse (and for that matter, masturbation).
One of the scurrilous verbal tricks used by these "pro-circ" enthusiasts, is to assert that the "intactivists" have some bizarre desire to prevent people such as yourself, Al, with foreskin problems, from having them rectified.
This suggestion is just so silly that it beggars the imagination. Why would anyone want to do that? On the other hand, if we ask why someone such as our friend "AJ" should be so keen to have you "happily" circumcised, the answer is crystal clear as he states it: That's what he elected, on the advice of his doctors, and it would be quite a disappointment to be convinced that this was less than the best course of action - that he might in fact have been wrong!
I could express this in psychiatric terms - "ego-defense mechanisms", but I am sure you follow the argument.
Do note that a circumcision might arguably be the quickest approach, though in fact a more conservative procedure (fraenuloplasty, a plastic surgical derivative of the traditional "dorsal slit") would most likely be faster to heal. Stretching of the foreskin using dilators (short plastic tubular pieces have been mentioned elsewhere) which you wear in the foreskin opening for a prolonged period (weeks), will achieve the same result without surgery, but eventually - you simply need patience.
Note that all these comments refer specifically to phimosis - the ability to stretch the foreskin to pull it back. Your particular problem, Al, appears to involve not just this, but adhesions of the foreskin to the glans. Separation of such adhesions would be painful without anaesthetic (though local anaesthetic can be used), and it is necessary to pull the foreskin back, stretching it as necessary, to achieve this.
You do need the expertise of a doctor to do this, and to determine at this point whether a procedure is needed to ensure permanent retractability of your foreskin which may or may not be the case, but it is not by any means the case that circumcision is appropriate. Unfortunately it is from the surgeon's point of view, more familiar and thus simpler, quicker, and more lucrative.
Few surgeons are trained for more conservative procedures (but take a look at posts here by jim22) because in the past, there has been little discernment amongst patients, who as Jim (the other) says, blindly accept anything offered, thus circumcision. Surgeons who use the line "in your case, it is the only thing possible" are declaring the very opposite, saying "I am not actually trained to do anything else - I do not know how to!".
> If your GP thinks a circ is necessary,
That would be a worry. That would indicate, as I said before, that he has a very, very limited diagnostic repertoire.
> he'll refer you to a Urologist that will best be able to determine if it is the case.
If it happens, you really need to ask the GP specifically whether the specialist to whom he proposes to refer you, is specifically skilled in preputioplasty - that is, plastic procedures. If not, it is your right and most certainly in your interest to find an alternative one that is. There is absolutely no reason to do what a doctor suggests if it is not justifiable.