Phymosis and finding a suitable doctor

[khoal24]

I am a 33 year old male and about two years ago I noticed my foreskin tightening. After doing some research the self-diagnosis was phymosis. It's not a problem while flacid (where pulling it back is just tight) but while erect it's not possible to retract it without a lot of lubrication and gentle stretching. Once retracted in this state it is uncomfortable due to the tightness. I've not had pain during intercourse and cleanliness isn't an issue. As far as I know, I never had an infection. The phimotic ring is quite noticable and there is some scarring along the ring and below it in localized areas. On a side note I do believe that my frenelum is a tad short as well, which hasn't helped the situation.
I will say that up until 2 years ago I have had no issues retracting the foreskin in any state though while erect it didn't naturally want to stay that way.

I recently went to an Urologist and he diagnosed it as phymosis and the treatment to be circumcision. He did mention steriod creams but said that it was unlikely to help. I asked about alternative treatments that leave the foreskin intact but none were given. He seemed almost dismissive (exam and communication took about 5-10 mins tops) and pushed for circumcision very casually.

To put it blunt, I like my foreskin. Having moved to the US during my teenage years the notion of being circumcised has always been a consideration due to the fact that it is common, almost expected, here. However, having looked at both sides I've decided that I personally feel better off having it and do not wish to lose it.

Unfortunately, I have no health insurance so any treatment I pursue comes out of my own pocket, including simple exams as I had done. I didn't like the answers I received from this urologist because my phymosis problem seems mostly a cosmetic one (scarring, thick phymotic band) and circumcision seems overly drastic. In short, I can't afford to look for doctors who will consider alternative treatments (if my situation allows for it) in a hit and miss type of search and unfortunately there are no resources available (that I've found) that would help me with that. How does one go about finding a doctor that is more open to other options of treatment. Is this type of phymosis and the scarring even reversable?

Thanks.

[tlh777]

you have quite a few options that will allow you to keep your foreskin and treat your phimosis.they include stretching exercises in conjunction with topical steroids and a glansie.you could have a surgery called a z-plasty or a dorsal slit.and for your short frenulum a tying procedure would help.any plastic surgeon should be able to do these surgeries.here are links for more information.p.s. these are the names of the steroids.betamethasone and clobetasol propionate.

http://www.norm-uk.org/circumcision_alternative_treatments.html

http://www.glansie.com/

http://www.cirp.org/library/treatment/phimosis/south1/

http://www.cirp.org/library/treatment/phimosis/cuckow/

frenulum tying procedure warning this contains male genital nudity.

http://www.male-initiation.net/frenulum/frenuloplasty/frenulum_tying.html

[Trialanderror]

You can also find doctors against cirumcision by contacting www.nocirc.com. Mind you, once phimosis is diagnosed, to many circumcision still seems to be the only answer. I finally found a doctor for my son, not in the U.S. though, who promotes the use of steroid creams for phimosis in childhood. I came across him by googling "true and acquired phimosis". He was the author of a phimosis article. Anyway, the success rate with steroid creams seem to be pretty high, so definitely go that route first.