Two weeks ago I found out that I suffer from a case of severe phimosis. I'm 20 years old and none of my parents told me about cleaning the penis from underneath the foreskin or pulling back the foreskin while i pee. My skin wont retract over my glands whether they be flaccid or erect. I saw 4 urologists and all of them said that there was no way that my condition could be solved without circumcision and refused to prescribe me any type of tropical steroids. As I searched the Internet, I got the same response. That was until I found this website. I've been stretching for 2 weeks and 2 days now and have seen a TREMENDOUS difference. When I began, my opening was that of 2mm. I couldn't fit any of my fingers to stretch it. Therefore, I have everyday gotten erect and have pulled the skin back once daily using this technique. While in the shower, i stretch my skin back while it is flaccid. Now, my opening is about the size of a penny and my glands can now come out 1/4 of the way while flaccid. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HOwever, i've looked around the forum and wanted to stretch my frenulum. However, it is VERY sensitive. Do i just have to keep stretching it until i get used to it, or should i try a different method. I usually stretch it while i am flaccid and pull the lower part of my foreskin forward. I am going to keep streching it until i recieve full retraction and i am going to pay those so called experts a visit after my success and basically say "doctor my @$$". And again, thanks alot.

Time will eventually take care of the sensitivity issue, just as it does when using contact lenses the first time. The frenulum is a hard little rascal to grasp, so for the time being, the method you're using is probably the only thing you can do. Once you are able to retract more fully, perhaps you'll be able to get hold of the frenulum at both ends.

Thanks for telling us the story of the doctors. I'd love to be there when you tell them that!

I think the method to which you refer, illustrated in this picture is almost certainly the best for stretching the frænulum at any stage. It's very easy, can be done with one hand, so you don't even need to undo your pants - you can do it anywhere where you have enough privacy to let go if there is anyone approaching, so you can do it often and you do it in addition to the other stretches.

If it's becoming uncomfortable, then "back off" a little but do not stop it. Just don't pull as hard, but keep doing it as long as possible.

Regarding the stretching in general, you will hopefully soon be able to get the two fingers inside for the more effective method. I warn you in advance of the possibility of reaching a "plateau" as others have described, where it doesn't seem to be working any more. Give it time and keep at work, and things will happen again.

You've been going along for twenty years now not realising anything was wrong? Well, a few months or even a year to get it fixed will not hurt you. If it happens faster, then that's a bonus.

Have you had intercourse yet and did it work out OK? Obviously you know it "works" when you masturbate, and that's much the same story.

Okay, so I have been on and off with the exercises because I was busy with university and just wanted to keep you guys updated on the progress. For the first month, the opening was too small for me to put my fingers through and therefore i got fully erect and pulled the skin back until it got wide enough to put my fingers through. For the last three week, I have been able to put my finger threw the opening and have been stretching it twice daily since then. Today, i have finally been able to retract while flaccid without any issue. I was probably able to retract it last week but didn't take the risk because of the fear of paraphimosis. I can also easily slide it back. While fully erect, i can retract about half way. Thanks again to this site for the help. BTW, the frenelum exercise helped alot. Also, I've cleaned the smegma build up and have gotten that awful smell away.

Now you understand the value of regularity and persistance. Keep it up.

I don't want to be excessively smug and I remind you again that there may be periods where the stretching process seems to hit a temporary "barrier" and you must just be patient for a while continuing the stretching with less apparent effect, but I think you really are beginning to see and understand the difference between ourselves and those so-called "urologists".

The only reason I can see that you will not be paying them a visit, is the absurdity that they might expect you to pay them for the privilege, whereas ethically speaking, they should be prepared to pay you an amount similar to that they would pay to attend a "training" conference!

In any case, do remember also the need to keep up all "exercises" for no less than a month, preferably six weeks after you achieve the status that you desire, in order to "fixate" the growth.

Thank you very much. I am finally able to retract my skin while fully erected. It took a while, I guess I was facing that "wall", but it finally happened. From earlier this year to not even having the opening of a dime to now being able to retract my foreskin while erect, thanks to everyone on this board. I will continue to keep stretching so that my skin does not get tight again.

First, I apologize for not seeing your post earlier. I try to look at these back pages weekly.

Congratulations for sticking it out and doing what needed doing. Wouldn't you say that anyone could do this?

Yes, by all means, continue stretching for at least another six weeks or two months. Don't try necessarily to make the opening larger, but keep a slight tension on it so new cells can generate.

I'm curious where you are located.

February 6th ... May 20th - 3½ months (no, actually 4 - still, what's that compared to a lifetime?) from "pinhole" status to full "normal" function. Sounds like it's almost time for that doctor visit (non-chargeable, unless they offer to pay you for the CME - as they rightly should)!

I would like you to tell us how much of the problem in your case, was your frænulum; whether you are able to pull your foreskin back "smooth" or whether it still "bunches" substantially, and whether your present mobility facilitates easy movement in both directions or even spontaneous retraction on erection?

And I suspect it may have been a little while since you actually achieved this, before you came back to tell us about it - you were "going great guns" back in March, just how long did that "wall" delay you; did you run short on enthusiasm?

Clearly, you have the "tools" to make your foreskin do whatever you expect it to.

Now of course your situation was "primary" phimosis where there was no disease affecting the foreskin, and someone whose foreskin was functioning fine and subsequently tightens, will need to get whatever disease is causing it, under control as a preliminary step and will more likely require the steroid therapy and may be expected to take longer.

Yeah, the wall really depressed me at first but after a while i got used to it. Here is what I observed. 2 weeks of the wall followed by 1 week of the skin actually stretching. I have the visit with the doctor for next month and will let you guys updated. The frenulum actually didn't cause any problems (thankfully) and that is the only part now which is still sensitive but I believe that it will go away with time.

PS. I'm in Redmond, WA.