I'm from Australia and am 17 and my foreskin still does not retract, so I began to research and read all about phimosis. Should I just contact my local GP and get him to prescribe me some of that steriod cream?

Yes, but be wary that he does not just fob you off that you need to be circumcised! Try the stretching with cream first, and if that has no effect after a good while then maybe you have to consider what the next steps may be -perhaps a dorsal slit.

It does also depend on what is considered to be phimosis - this actually means just "tight" whereas of course there are degrees of tightness some normal and some either painfully tight or just impossible to stretch, in which case surgery is probably the best bet.

For you, make sure that you try to retract your foreskin a little bit more every time you urinate, or shower so that you are doing this several to many times a day. Then your foreskin may have become loose enough not to need surgery.

As a previous suffer of phimosis I think you need not be too concerned. I was a similar age when I noticed I could not retract the foreskin over the head all the way. I went to a urologist and he gave me some cream and some simple stretching to do and it was all perfect within a couple of months. See a urologist. If it was anything like me I doubt you need to be circumsized.

Any questions welcome.

-Robbie-

did you read the instructions on stretching, on the sticky at the top of the forum?
you might not need to get the betamethasone cream.

I'm from Australia and am 17 and my foreskin still does not retract, so I began to research and read all about phimosis. Should I just contact my local GP and get him to prescribe me some of that steriod cream?

Definitely see a urologist about the problem. He may give you steroid cream and have you do stretching excercises or may recommend a circumcision based upon the severity of the problem.

I would personally stay away from the dorsal slit operation. Most people are unhappy with the result and end up going for a full circumcision.

of course, you should try the least invasive methods first.
the order would be:
stretching
stretching with betamethasone
dorsal slit
partial circumcision
full circumcision

you really don't want to do any more than you have to, to solve this easily fixable problem. most of what you need is consistency, in practicing the stretching daily.

Do remember that the Betamethasone on its own won't do anything. It only works if you do the stretching excercises along with using it (see my sticky at the top of this Mens Health board). Stretching may work without the Betamethasone but not visa versa.
Cheers,
Geoff

I will try stretching for a few weeks and if that fails I'll try the next step

Have a look at the thread "Adhesions" http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?p=2151222#post2151222
on this board. He has tightness too. The adhesions have gone now and the stretching is working. So keep at it and you should see improvement soon,
Geoff

Will do, and thankyou I'm very appreciative of your help.

Been stretching haven't made that much process... guess persistance is the key. I don't think I can really approach the parents over this either and that kinda elimates GP. Just keep at it?

The hole in the foreskin is still only like 1cm in diameter.. and also i noticed a join on the underside of the head...

the join on the underside of the head is called the frenulum. its purpose is to pull the foreskin back over the head, when it is not being used, and to tell a man when it is time to ejaculate.
persistence and consistency are absolutely the key. try it every day, or multiple times a day. you will see a difference.

Yeah keep at it. It's only been a little while.

I find it hard to do it often cause I'm hardly ever alone and usually in a rush. But I'll keep at it and post in a few weeks time

use the stall instead of the urinal.

good idea I'll remember to do that