[ ARC forum 2 ]

New blood

Written by Paul B. at 26 Sep 2001 12:21:19:

As an answer to: New here written by Richard at 25 Sep 2001 16:52:03:

> Just wanted to say how pleased I am to have found this forum.

Yes Richard, it's pretty good. However, have you seen "Fathermag"? It's a bit, shall we say, more vigorous!

> This didn't seem to be a physiological problem, but it was frightening at the time.

You mean perhaps "This didn't seem to be pathological"?

> ... referred me to a consultant andrologist at the local hospital. This was a disaster.

Which country? Sounds like the UK.

> it was either circumcision or nothing, he was ignorant of the alternatives ( ... I had read up in advance on the internet)

As you have said, such specialists are busy people, time is money, and essentially, surgeons make money by cutting so ... Basically, this sort of problem is considered trivial since foreskin function is considered trivial and in a wider perspective, sexual function in general is considered trivial even by doctors - people just "do it", roll over and go to sleep - that tends to be the medical paradigm! People who are really concerned about the "nitty-gritty" details of having sex are considered perverts, "maniacs" or similar.

> and I never pursued the matter medically.

Again, as Jim says, while a competent doctor in this somewhat specialised field is or would be of great help, they are a rarity and difficult to locate (perhaps, by reputation), however the real fact of the matter is, and I stress this, that circumcision is most unlikely to be required as you have realised, and in any case where circumcision is considered, a more conservative procedure would almost certainly remedy the problem and retain foreskin function.

Thus my consistent answer to most questions: In order to find a solution, first forget circumcision. Similarly, and as you have correctly determined, consider a suggestion of circumcision by a doctor to be an admission of almost complete ignorance on the subject, necessitating a courteous farewell, a prompt exit, and further careful enquiry for another practitioner with competence in this area.

This is the mindset required to approach the subject.

> but before you do, make sure that you read up so that you can have confidence in what your doctor tells you.

Or more accurately, confidence in your own ability to assess what the doctor tells you.

> Hope that's helpful

Admirably!


Answers: