[ ARC forum 2 ]
Written by Paul B. at 09 Aug 2002 15:06:22: Next step.
As an answer to: Re: My concerns, advice needed written by andrew at 09 Aug 2002 03:14:21:
>It's even worse than that, the bottom side of the foreskin is still attached litterally to the glans right below the "meatus" i believe,
So, with respect to the photo, in your case, you cannot see the fraenulum at all as the foreskin simply folds away from underneath the meatus? Or are the positions just a little different?
> its attached so high up that when i retract as far as possible, the top of my glans are revealed and the bottom part isn't.
The edge of the glans is called the "corona" (crown). You are suggesting that that edge in your case, is covered by the skin underneath. So can you see the fraenulum at all as in the picture?
> When flacid, the foreskin can be fully retracted, however with a little bit of discomfort,
So, can you see your fraenulum in that circumstance?
> also contributing to this is the fact that the foreskin has been seldomly retracted and the glans are very sensitive.
Then the two prescriptions for this are to make sure you retract your foreskin often, and that you do not try and touch your glans unless it is lubricated. As I always say about touching the glans, you can't comfortably touch a girl's glans (clitoris) unless it is lubricated, why would a guy be different?
> When erect, the the foreskin can be retracted about 35% before it cannot retract any further.
But with constant practice, it will be 40%, 45%, 50% etc. . . .
> Now I'm not sure whether it's my frenulum that is extremely small or could it be that my foreskin has not separated?
Clue: The fraenulum runs fore-aft, from front to back. If that's what it looks like (similar to the photo), then your foreskin is tight (and you therefore need to stretch it), but if what is visible is a fold that runs side-to-side, where the foreskin folds away from the glans, then it is an adhesion - which would need to be peeled away (whether by the doctor, or yourself). But stretching will most likely achieve the "peeling" if necessary, anyway, so stretching is appropriate in either case.
> ( i thought in the latest cases the foreskin separates around age 10)
It's pretty arbitrary. Should happen by age four, a few not fully separated at age ten may sort themselves out, but if they do not, well that is where you are and whether you are one in ten or one in five hundred doesn't help you.
> ... the doctor ... said just wait and you'll eventually be able to retract fully, but it seems ... that this is what is told to many patients with this kind of problem.
Yes. Bad advice. What should be told to anyone of any age who complains of this problem, is to start stretching (or even "peeling") it right then and there
