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Re: Is this likely to be a problem?

Written by nick at 14 Jun 2004 22:59:14:

As an answer to: Re: Is this likely to be a problem? written by Ralesk at 13 Jun 2004 13:08:49:

>>Hmm, it returned overnight again. :(
>>My frenulum is attached right under the urethra's opening, rather than the bottom of the glans, and so pulls on the glans when erect as I ease the skin foreback and forth. I'm wondering if it's this that might be causing the slight swollen discolouration (it's a slightly darker/greyer colour, less pink than the rest of the glans).
>It would be more reddish coloured if it were such a physical “annoyance” to the glans or the frenulum. That you say it’s great, makes it sound a bit suspicious.
> But I just had a careful feel and (very!) gentle poke of the surface of the glans with my thumbnail, and the texture is different in the affected area. It's slightly harder. Whereas my thumbnail smoothly glides everywhere else on the surface of the glans, on the affected area it gets stuck, as it's slightly rougher and harder. The affected area is very small, no more than a few millimetres across, just to the right of the urethra.
>I’m sure there are people who’ll snap at me, but a grey patch that is harder sounds like yeast.
>>For all I know, it could just be the glans surface drying out overnight where the opening in the foreskin is, especially if I get a hard-on during the night? Or is it the sign of something more serious?
>It could be that, but not too likely — I would expect the result of that to be a bit bigger in area and less distinct.
>>It seems to be just coming and going as it pleases. It disappears upon erection, wasn't there at all yesterday, and is worst first thing in the morning. I can't feel or detect anything else wrong, or any other symptoms.
>As others (I recall) have suggested, let’s see what happens in the next few days.
>From what you say, it doesn’t sound as serious as to jump and dash to a doctor as soon as possible, and it could help a bit in the (self-)diagnosis to see what it does in a few days.
>Good luck!

Thanks for the reply Ralesk. I'm still trying to work out whether it's something to be concerned about, or simply some kind of natural change my glans mightbe going through. If one were to take an initial look at the glans, it would appear fine. There's nothing overt or obvious about it. It's only when i stare at it in bright light that you can begin to detect a couple of areas that are fractionally darker. I don't know whether that's normal or not - it's barely enough to notice; the only reason I noticed is because it didn't used to be like that.

The texture on the glans also appears to have changed fractionally. It looks a tiny little bit more crinkled and leathery than it used to - previously it simply looked soft and smoothed, and now there are a few more lines especially around the opening of the urethra. Having looked through some images on foreskin.org, there are glans on there that have the slightly crinklier look that I have, and some that just look smooth the way I remember myself looking.

The differences are subtle enough and slow enough that I'm having a hard time working out what has actually changed and merely what my own brain is imagining through the inevitable anxiety of it. I s'pose the obvious solution is to make the appointment with the GP, and (hopefully, assuming they're competent) find out one way or the other, but I'm otherwise perfectly healthy and have never had to see a doctor for something like this, so it's a big (and terrifying) step for me to make. :(

So any thoughts or opinions that are offered are MUCH appreciated.


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