[ ARC forum 2 ]
Written by Paul B. at 23 Jan 2002 14:27:52: Re: Frenulum Breve
As an answer to: Re: Frenulum Breve written by Steve at 23 Jan 2002 01:15:51:
> It clearly pulls the glans downwards if I roll the foreskin back while its flaccid.
OK, that's the criterion for fraenulum breve all right, but you did refer to the foreskin becoming "stuck" behind the glans, which indicates some tightness of the foreskin as well, so stretching the foreskin opening may also help it a lot. And the suggestion you will note made further down in the main page (in many places, actually), of using a plastic film canister to stretch the foreskin open, could also be used to apply continuous pressure to the fraenulum if the foreskin on the underneath is taped onto it. Do you follow this?
> The doctor suggested spreading vaseline all over it, but I was too nervous to ask him what he meant.
I think he expects the Vaseline to keep the skin soft. That will not however cause the skin to stretch, that you must do by actually pulling on it somehow. Steroid ointment (fluorinated, such as betamethasone), which has a Vaseline base, can help by making the skin more susceptible to the stretching.
> I'm really not certain about anything.
Well, stretching will take a while whichever approach you take, so there is some danger that if you go see a doctor you will be railroaded into a surgical procedure on the presumption that you don't have the patience to try stretching a while. Particularly a specialist - I'd suggest putting it off for six months or so while you stretch.
In regard to stretching, note the need to keep stretching for a month or so beyond the stage of getting what you want, because it does tend to "spring back"!