I can pull a bit of the way down very easily before it get's stuck, if I try hard for about 15-20 minutes I can pull my foreskin almost fully down before it hurts. I can also pull all the way back fairly easily when flaccid, but when I get an erection it is really painful, and i think the bottom of the head started to turn a bit purple. Does anyone have any advice to help me out? Thanks

Start by reading through some of the previous threads.

Then, start stretching. When your penis is flaccid and yor foreskin is forward, there is a circular opening. That's where the frenar band is located. It's the frenar band and possibly the frenulum (little web inside the foreskin under the peehole) which are causing the problem. They need exercising to loosen them.

If you are diligent and persistant, new cells will form and widen the gap, allowing full retraction.

Start by reading many of the previous threads.

Then start doing the "exercises" we have recommended, and come back and tell us what happens when you do them, what things work for you, anything you are worried about doing them, and also the "history" of your problem - how old you are, when you noticed it or when you found out it wasn't right, and so on.

We have already provided all the information. To help you more, you have firstly to start on the specific "program" we have outlined (because until you start, not much is going to happen, and there are reasons why what you might be doing now, may not be the most effective) and give us feedback, there is not a lot more for us to say.

Sorry this took my so long to get back to, the whole thing kinda wandered from my mind.

I've been stretching on and off, but have started everyday this week, and after a few minutes I can usually retract it (what I think) is fully back easily. However I still have the tightness problem once it's over. I was just pulling downwards, but this week I've been putting two fingers in and stretching outwards.

As for the "history" of my problem...

How old you are - 18 in a month and a half.
When you noticed it or when you found out it wasn't right - I never really thought about it before, but I was bored, and looked on Wikipedia (mature, I know, but as I said, a lot of free time over the summer) and noticed that it should retract there.

Not sure what other information would be helpful. As for the tightness after retraction, is this something that the stretching will also relieve, or is it something seperate?

Thanks.

Yes, the stretching will help the tightness after retraction. It wiil also prevent your foreskin from getting stuck when you have an erection. Keep using the two finger exercise, and you'll make some quick progress with two sessions per day.

Well like I said, it's at the point where it still takes a few minutes to get it moving past halfway, which i can do straight away now, and it is getting stuck once it's over the head, but it's definately getting better, and hopefully it should eventually get to something approaching normal :P I will keep going with that, thanks.

How long should I be doing it for twice a day btw?

Practically.

Now just to clarify here, you are saying that you can retract pretty much OK when flaccid, but not when erect and that is what you are working on, you were doing this by retracting over the erection, but are now using the fingers inside the opening?

Clearly, the whole point of the exercises, is to stretch to the point where it doesn't just retract, but does so easily and comfortably, and indeed, you don't even think about it. And that is the reason why the "two fingers inside" (for which you clearly do not want an erection as it makes it difficult to fit the fingers in,) is necessary because you need to stretch to more than the "just fits" diameter.

You sound at a very reasonable age to sort this out, as (unlike others who you will have seen posting here) you are not in a panic to "have things working" to "prove" themselves in a sexual relationship. I am always saddened when people see relationships in this fashion, because I see them as totally different, a matter of working together toward common goals allowing that one of those goals is mutual appreciation and enjoyment.

What I am curious about, is exactly what you discovered on the apocryphal Wikipedia? What was it you found wasn't right; that you didn't realise your foreskin should retract at all, or you didn't realise that it should retract while erect - what was your previous understanding of how the thing worked?

Wikipedia is dangerous when it comes to information regarding (particularly male) sexuality and physiology (the working of the penis and foreskin in particular), as it has fallen under the control of a number of (few) perverts who as the saying goes "don't have a life" - that is to say, they have far more time than we do, to devote to persistently bending the posts to their very peculiar point of view. This forum was at one time linked from Wikipedia, but that was promptly removed by one such fellow who really hates to see people find out the truth. You may however have found us through a more reputable site that he has not managed to suppress on Wikipedia, much to his chagrin.

And the obligatory warning. You may well find the stretching progress quite rapid at first, then to slow down substantially. Do not be disconcerted by this, it merely relates to the way the skin grows and responds to stretching, given persistence - that is, keep on with the frequent stretching, it will respond to whatever degree you wish - and you will have to stretch a month or so beyond the desired point of comfort for this same reason, in order to avoid it "shrinking back".

People who fail to do this, may become unnecessarily anxious that stretching has "failed" or is "not permanent" when it is simply the skin behaving in the manner you need it to.

"Now just to clarify here, you are saying that you can retract pretty much OK when flaccid, but not when erect and that is what you are working on, you were doing this by retracting over the erection, but are now using the fingers inside the opening?"

Yeah, that's pretty much right. I can retract when flaccid, but still get caught once I'm over the head, just like when it is erect.

"What I am curious about, is exactly what you discovered on the apocryphal Wikipedia? What was it you found wasn't right; that you didn't realise your foreskin should retract at all, or you didn't realise that it should retract while erect - what was your previous understanding of how the thing worked?"

From Wikipedia, I pretty much found out that it should retract all the way back at all, I never realised this was intended. I also vaguely remember being told to do it and put some cream on when I was younger (somewhere between 4 and 6) but for whatever reason the doctor stopped getting me to do it.

Before now, I've been doing it for about 2 minutes once a day, but I'm now doing it for about 1-2 minutes twice a day.

See if you can extend the length of time for each session. If not, do it more frequently during the day.

Went for about 5 minutes today, getting there, I was able to retract fully with free movement afterwards when flaccid, so it's a start.

You're on your way now.

Pretty much the same today, got 5 minutes in tonight, and a couple earlier in the day.

Problem though, when stretching, not only did it seem to have less of an effect, it was more uncomfortable than before. Should I be worried?

You may have plateaued for a few days. You've had some progress, so the skin needs time to generate new cells. Don't let up on the tension during this crutial time. However, you must also be careful not to increase the tension in hopes of hurrying things along. This takes only mild tension which should not hurt.

But I want to make sure I'm doing things right.

So was fine tonight, maybe it was the bath, but it was much more comfortable. Anyway, afterwards, when flaccid, got full retraction again, and what I think was proper movement, I'm not really sure what that entails, but there was definate movement after retraction over the head, so it wasn't getting caught.

When erect, I noticed (well I knew it was there, but had never paid much attention to it) a string of skin connecting the head to the foreskin, it was normal skin color when the foreskin was at/near the top of the head, but as it got towards the bottom, it turned white, just before the skin would go over the ridge and get stuck usually. Is this a seperate problem, or not one at all?

We want you to communicate, so keep writing.

The frenulum is turning white because you are squeezing all of the blood from it when you place tension upon it. That's normal.

Keep doing what you're doing without fail. Even if you get to a point at which there seems to be no progress, keep going. Always remember the most important rule---no pain.

Just making sure I wasn't going to break it or anything :P

It's not so much painful, as a bit uncomfortable (the stretching). It seems to be going fine though.

• If you don't make it hurt, and don't do anything suddenly, you are most unlikely to break anything.
  
  
• If you do break your frænulum (the only bit that is really likely to be broken), put a clean folded tissue on it firmly and hold it there as long as necessary to stop the bleeding. Up to half an hour.
  
  People frequently come in to see me with a story of "terrible" bleeding when they cut themselves or whatever, and just as often when they take off the towels, hankies and such, it is no longer bleeding - at least until I have to disturb it to stitch it up or whatever. That's how your body works.

Please note the "warning" I mentioned before about this not being a continuous process - it will appear to be "easy" at times, not so easy at others. It's all about the skin growing into a larger size; give it time and it will grow. Jim knows a lot about this, particularly about helping men who have used techniques to stretch the skin into a "new" foreskin after they have had the misfortune to be circumcised.

That's really impressive - it is do-able, but as you would expect, takes a lot of time.

If you do break your fr�nulum (the only bit that is really likely to be broken), put a clean folded tissue on it firmly and hold it there as long as necessary to stop the bleeding. Up to half an hour.

:/ Sounds bad. If it breaks, is it really bad, beyond the bleeding?

Well it would hurt, but a whole lot less than a circumcision!

If you're using mild tension, just enough to make the skin taut, you shouldn't have to worry about doing this.

The usual occurance is during wild sex.

Sounds bad. If it breaks, is it really bad, beyond the bleeding?

Have you heard of a thing called a "hymen"?

Yep. It it basically the same thing, non-essential if it does break?

Yes indeed, non-essential but has some sort of purpose. People might wonder what the "purpose" of the hymen is - in many societies there is an expectation that it will be ruptured (which will in turn be apparent from the bleeding) at first intercourse, but that hardly seems a likely "evolutionary" basis for its presence.

The best one can hazard a guess, is that it keeps stuff out until puberty at least, until it needs to be open to facilitate intercourse.

The frænulum appears to function to "flip" the foreskin back over the penis at the end of an erection. There is a mythology that it is particularly sensitive and even quintessential to sexual function as this area is considered to be the most sensitive part of the penis.

Personally, I disagree; I think the sensitivity of the area relates to the underlying urethra and the frænulum itself probably has no more sensation of itself, than the adjacent skin but what it does do, is to transmit movement of the foreskin to the urethral area and meatus (pee-hole) which is within reason, pleasurable. So if it is broken, this effect would be less noticeable, though some people might actually find it an improvement.

I advise against surgical interference with the frænulum simply because I consider it unnecessary as with (albeit considerable) patience, it should be possible to stretch it if necessary.

It doesn't seem to be causing me any trouble, so I should be fine, I think. Thanks for the advice though.

Another night of good results :P

One thing I don't understand is why when erect, the foreskin gets stuck after going over the head? I mean there not that much size difference between shaft and widest part of head :S

There is just enough of a difference to make it stick. The skin also has enough elasticity to allow you to work it back over.

Keep it going now. You're on a roll.

Doing OK... still need stretching to retract over the head when erect, and still getting stuck at the top, but when flaccid, it seems fine, free movement and such.

You're going to get there, so don't let up now. In fact, once you get there, continue on for another month or two to ensure cell growth.

Thanks :D

It's quite frustrating having it stuck so close, but I'm determined enough to keep going now i've started.

Another thing I've noticed... the head is really sensitive.

I know it should be sensitive, but it's painful to touch. Presumably, this isn't good?

Actually, this is good. It's quite normal for your glans to be really sensitive at first. Just give it time to adjust to the outside world.

Ahh, good, I was worried this was another problem to sort :P

We're already up to 32 messages in one thread! Congratulations for whatever it's worth.

Your problem is another man's wish. When you feel the pain, think of the poor chaps whose parents weren't so considerate as yours, and how they wish they had feelings of any kind besides those of contempt for those who stole what they should have had.

:/

Poor guys. I guess I'll get used to it.

Anyway, no stretching required anymore to get foreskin over head when erect, still no shaft movement, but hey.

Actually, it is good - it's telling you "don't touch me" because it isn't supposed to be touched with dry hands.

You don't mention any experience with the young ladies. I'm not telling you that you have to, that's your business, but if you had experience of a young lady and her intimate parts - specifically her clitoris - and you were reasonably observant, you would know that she would have exactly this reaction from touching her clitoris dry.

Touching her clitoris after she became "wet" on the other hand, and using some of that wetness from the vagina to stroke the clitoris, is with due care, quite acceptable and in fact, then desirable. It is simply not supposed to be touched until it is ready (because it is hidden by default) and for what it is worth, your glans is essentially the same - it is only supposed to "come out to play" when there is a nice wet vagina ready for it.

Of course, there are practicalities to this - unless and until you are ready to have children, that isn't really an option so we have to consider condoms, manual stimulation and such. Well, the foreskin is a good surrogate for lubrication; if you wish to stimulate your glans otherwise, use a good lubricant such as the "artificial" ones sold for the purpose.

To be honest, I've been pretty slack with this recently, so decided to get back on it.

At the moment, retraction over the head is no problem at all. Further than that however, is not possible when erect, but I'll chalk that down to my laziness.

Couple of questions: 1) How far down the shaft should the foreskin retract?
2) Probably unrelated, but I've noticed that when I'm erect, some spot like bumps appear on my shaft, any advice here?

Normally, the foreskin should retract to expose the corona of the glans. The corona is the rim. Some guys can retract to expose the entire sulcus, which is the groove, and others have the ability to retract far enough that the foreskin actually flattens out over the shaft. All are normal variations which depend upon your anatomy and your frenulum.

I think the frenulum probably has the greatest effect upon the distance of retraction. You could work on that area too if you wish. However, once you can retract while erect, it may already be done.

I have no idea about the bumps, and can not see a relationship with what you're doing. Have you been shaving your pubic hair?

If you reply, would you please start a new thread on the first page which appears? I try to get to these back pages often, but I am often limited in time, so they go unanswered for a few day.

When you post here, it won't show until I approve it. Once you press the respond button, I'll get it, so don't get frustrated because you don't see it right away. I'm sorry I have to do it this way, but in the beginning, we had a few clowns visiting here to tried to disrupt what we were trying to do. In the interest of keeping things on topic and on a professional level, I had ot keep them out.

Understand that Paul and I are open to criticism and being educated on new ideas, and we don't always agree with each other, but we do have a pretty good grip on what works.