Hi Guys,

Phimosis has become a real problem for me lately, I used to get it once in a while, but i would just strech the skin over the head and it would become loose and easy to slide for weeks, even months... but now it just keeps tightening itself up and becoming very dry..

I have now decided to book an appointment with the doctor, im quite nervous about telling him about such a problem, in addition to maybe having to get circumsised...

If circumsision is the only thing that needs to be done, how long will i be in hospital for?

Any adivce/help appreciated. Thanks

Dave

These are classic symptoms of a yeast infection.
If you don't want to get circumcised, get the yeast infection treated (along with your partner). Once it is cleared up, follow the stretching exercises posted at the top of this board.
If you want to get circumcised, just get it done. It won't prevent a yeast infection, though.

whats the difference between a yeast infection and phimosis?

Phimosis is the tightness in the foreskin itself but when it happens to a foreskin that had been loose before the root cause is usually a yeast infection. Doctors often don't seem to realise this and sometimes reccommend circumcision or moisturiser. This sort of infection is easily treated with a cream designed for women's genitals and/or and oral pill. Yeast infections are common in females and males and can be picked up from daily life, but also can be sexually transmitted. Often the sexual partner has no symptoms but still both should be treated and condoms should be used to prevent cross infection during treatment.

See this thread http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=431381 called "Lacerations on foreskin" on the Sexual Health-Men Board as an example of a vey quick improvement after treating a yeast infection.

Sometimes a yeast infection can cause tears and scarring when not treated for and while a stretching with one is not a good idea. In that case after the infection is cleared up you may need Betamethasone to help with stretching if it doesn't just loosen up again. Circumcision should only be a very last resort but some doctors suggest it first.

Geoff

Hi,

It is done as an outpatient. I had it done at age 25. Everything was back to normal in a couple of weeks.

Hey Guys,

Well I went to see the Doc. he had a look and gave me some cream to take the dryness away and told me just to gently (while in the bath of shower) ease the skin back.

The problem is though i can get the skin back, but when i leave it forward, the skin tightens up again, even though i have tried the stretching exercises, its really getting on my nerves.

If I do get circumcised, how long are you in the hospital for? overnight?

Dave, a circumcision is performed on an outpatient basis so there is no hospital stay involved. It usually takes about an hour and you are a little sore but walking around the next day.

A circumcison will cure your phimosis and 99% of the yeast infections since it removes the environment yeast needs to survive.

First, you and your significant other have to cure the yeast infection. You both need to be treated, or the treatment is useless.
If you start stretching before the yeast is dealt with, it is just going to cause more tightness, due to scarring. Cure the yeast, then stretch.
Contrary to popular belief in here, yeast is an equal opportunity infector.
It is a myth that circumcised guys are immune, or even that uncircumcised guys get them more frequently. Women get them all the time, and nobody is suggesting surgery on their genitals.
Again, if you want to get circumcised, because you want to get circumcised, all well and good. But be forewarned, the average circumcision removes 50% of the skin from a penis. Otherwise, cure the yeast (whatever it takes), stretch, and you'll be fine.

Don't think circumcision is the easy option. Some guys heal up fine in six weeks or so but have to be very careful with sexual activity for a while. Some take longer. Others have lots of problems with sensitivity, bruising and swelling. Swelling can go on for six months or more because all the circulatory system is disrupted by the removal of all that skin (15 square inches in an adult) and cutting all those blood vessels. Sensitivity is due to the glans rubbing against the clothing constantly instead of being protected inside the foreskin.
Some guys like the end result but others report loss of sensation and hate losing the gliding action of the foreskin for masturbation and sex. Depending on how much loose skin is left after circumcision some guys have not enough to move at all and have no choice but to use lube or rub it dry. Some people find that exciting but others don't like it at all.
Circumcision is a big decision and there is no going back afterwards. I am almost certain you have a yeast infection and you just need to treat it and get your girlfriend to do so too.
Geoff

Hi Guys, thanks for your help on this matter. I have to go back and see the doctor on the 26th, how long does it take for a yeast infection to clear up? How will i know when its gone?

About a week? I don't really know. It's gone when your penis is no longer red, dry, and itchy. I would continue on with the treatment longer, though, to make sure it is really gone.