SEX EDUCATION (from a 16 yr. old)
"As for how to raise awareness I recon a good way is to make it a standard
check on videos in year 6- when they first learn about child birth, growing
up and sex education in junior school. I think it should be a very clear
message "does your foreskin come all the way back" and I think parents
should be wary of it too. I don't think there is anything that can be done
to raise awareness apart from keeping up sites like yours (after all like I
did, if you want information on health and embarrassing things- the internet
is the place!)"
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Dear Robin,
You may remember about a year ago I got in touch saying I think I have Phimosis. Since birth I have not been able to retract my foreskin over the glands of my penis and I was recommended by you to tell my parents or see a doctor. After being embarrassed for a few months I decided to tell my mum who took me to the doctors. After attempting to stretch my foreskin, I still couldn’t retract it and so I knew I had to do something.
After visiting the doctors last year he sent me to a specialist for advice. After speaking to a specialist he offered me 3 solutions: Leave it, circumcision or some partial surgery which leaves the foreskin on but fully retractable. Of course I decided to have the partial one and nearly a year later I finally have my operation date. I am undergoing general aesthetic and hopefully I will be sorted out. I have never had an operation before, and because this is my first and on a weird place, I am very nervous about it.
I have sent this email to thank you for persuading me to tell someone and visit a doctor.
.... edited Steve
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Hello Steve,
Im sorry I dont remember you, But if I advised talking with your parents then it sounds like I reponded like a responsible person (my parents would be proud of me :) ... Im 53! ) and you must be around 16 yrs. old or so ... Glad you at least tried stretching ...
Partial surgery, a partial circumcision, is generally the best option,
ie I believe there is more chance of you being happy with the results.
Yes, I remember the night before my operation I dreamt of a doctor
wielding an axe ... Seen practically this is an incredibly simple
operation - seen emotionally it is sure to bring out all the old
Freudian fears of castration etc ...
What actually interests me is how did you find out you had a problem
and what it was? ... I think you can be happy that you live post
internet ... previously there was no information ... I took till I was
43 till I discovered what I had and how to cure it!
The point of writing your experience for my site, is not so much to
help other teenagers or adults to get treated ... it is to make it
obvious to the medical profession that these problems must be checked
and sorted out before puberty.
anyway god luck for the big day ...
cheers
robin
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Hi Robin
Thanks! I found out from simple diagrams in science etc that they were all
the same and I never seen one like mine. I thought about it and I figured
out that just by looking at the 'mechanics' of it, it wouldn’t work properly
during sex!
Steve
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Hi Steve, so it wasnt even in sex education, but how interesting, even
the science books these days have diagrams of things which 20
yrs. ago were very private and tabood ... hummm the education system
is slowly improving !!
rob.
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Hi Robin,
......edited
Whilst I have been resting at home I have been browsing the forums to do
with male parts and I didn't realise how common it is in people between
the ages of 13-23 or so. The people/lads have had exactly the same
experiences as me. I think something should be done to raise awareness earlier
because I'm really quite shocked!!
Anyway thanks for your help il keep you informed
Steve
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Hey Steve,
....edited
And youve been browsing the forums. And I feel thats the spirit Steve,
get shocked by it, at 16, glad to see a social conscience developing ....
Boys must be monitored before puberty, once you are of school age they
check if yer balls are hanging properly, at the same time they should
check the foreskin. This would not only be a practical measure, but
simply because its done, it would raise awareness of the problem.
You say ages 13-23 ... this is only after internet!!! previously it was
ages 18-30 ... Im guessing, but for example I have a real hard case, I
discovered I had a problem first when I was 43 yrs. old. The
information was simply not available before internet was there. I
experienced a lot of sexual confusion in my life with all my intimate
relationships ... I believed it was a psychological problem ...
The doctors, the medical studies etc. show no awareness (except in
perhaps 3 studies among 200) of sexual problems developing because of
phimosis, the medical profession see phimosis as a purely practical
problem.
Whereas in my experience it started being a problem right at the
beginning of puberty, when I couldnt masturbate normally.
Hummm theres lots I could write ... what dya wanna do?
What do I need to do to get young people supporting this project??
cheers
and I hope you soon start feeling happy
robin
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Hi Robin,
... edited
As for how to raise awareness I recon a good way is to make it a standard
check on videos in year 6- when they first learn about child birth, growing
up and sex education in junior school. I think it should be a very clear
message "does your foreskin come all the way back" and I think parents
should be wary of it too. I don't think there is anything that can be done
to raise awareness apart from keeping up sites like yours (after all like I
did, if you want information on health and embarrassing things- the internet
is the place!)
... edited
It has been traumatic for me so far but I know that its nothing compared to
cancer and everything and I know it can only get better!
Thanks
Steve |