[ ARC forum 2 ]
Written by Rood at 25 Dec 2002 20:51:54: Re: Doctors Opposed to Circumcision
As an answer to: Tight foreskin - need suggestion on steroid cream written by Krish at 25 Dec 2002 07:26:04:
>Hi All
>My bottom line question is - Can I use Mycolog instead of Betamathasone to facilitate stretching of tight foreskin?
>If you can spare some time please read complete details of my problem below:
>I am a 39 year old intact Asian male with tight foreskin currently residing in USA. Until just a few years ago, I did not even know that the foreskin could be retracted fully. I can now retract fully when flaccid without any problem so am able to easily clean it every day. When erect, only with difficulty can I retract up to behind head but then it feels as if head is getting choked though it does not get stuck there and I can easily unretract. Until just recently I never had intercourse in my life and contrary to my previous worries, I have not been experiencing any pain or problem during sex.
>I decided to visit a Urologist for this problem and went to an Asian origin doctor under the notion that he would at least consider non surgical methods of treatment as compared to a US native doctor. But to my dismay, he told that the only way to treat it is to undergo circumcision and also tried to educate me regarding its benefits like less chances of getting penile cancer, cleanliness etc. etc. When I asked him if stretching exercises would help, he replied NO and gently pressed for an appointment for surgery to which I said I needed to think and decide. He also gave prescription for Mycolog cream to be applied on the head as he thought there might be some infection (may be because I have been sexually active only since a few days so there was slight redness on the head here and there which may have looked like an inflammation)
>I have been reading online about application of steroid creams along with stretching as being effective in treating tight foreskin so would like to try this approach as I don't want to go under knife. I have seen lot of references to Betamethasone-0.05% as the preferred steroid cream which is available only under prescription. Since I don't think that the urologist I went to would now give this prescription for stretching purpose, I did some research to see if Mycolog (for which I already have a prescription for, though not for stretching purpose but just for applying on the head) can have the same effect so that I can avoid another appointment along with the normal 2 week waiting period to get one. I found out that Mycolog is a combination drug of Nystatin and Triamcinolone which in turn is another name for Betamethasone. So Can I use Mycolog instead of Betamathasone to facilitate stretching of tight foreskin?
>I have some hope on stretching method because, I observed that since I have started having sex, the foreskin has in fact has got loosened to some extent by itself.
>I would like to know if there are any devises available for stretching the foreskin as a better alternative to using fingers. Is there a list of doctors who are practicing non surgical treatment for tight foreskin so that I can find one in my area.
As far as a list of doctors in your area...you might contact the DOC Home page:
http://faculty.washington.edu/gcd/DOC, but I wouldn't count on your finding one near you. Doctors seem fairly hesitant about taking an open stand on opposing circumcision in the USA, as it implies a criticism of their fellow doctors, most of whom view circumsion as just another source of income.
>Also I would appreciate any other advise/s related to my problem.
>Thanks in advance
>Krish