wOw - as a 36 year old male, I can't believe I have not found out about these options until now...

I have grown up with a non-retractable foreskin. Never been able to retract it, but never had any problems with urination or sexually so never done anything about it. Always been fearful of mentioning it to anyone as I was convinced that would lead down a swift road to circumcision which has no appeal whatsoever!

Recently (couple of weeks ago), I visited my doctor because I had noticed a slight bloody discharge from my penis when shaking off after urinating (only spotted it as pink colour when dabbing with a bit of toilet paper). Thought I'd better get it checked out - no other problems (no pain etc etc) but better safe than sorry, and thought it might indicate a UTI. Just got the results of a urine test back today and its an all clear on the UTI so I am back to the doctor later this week to discuss 'what next'. Naturally I've been on the web trying to find out what the problem might be - and in doing so realised the topic of my tight foreskin might come up (and that circumcision might be raised as well). This internet investigation led to finding a wealth of information about tight foreskins, and perhaps no surprise I have started today with self stretching exercises as I had no idea before that a tight skin was something I have a good chance of fixing myself with time and patience!

I am know quite worried that the doctor is simply going to suggest circumcision before any other investigation and before I have had any chance to let the stretching run its course.

Has anyone experienced this kind of symptom before (no pain, no swelling, no problems urinating - just a very mild, occasional bleed)? Is it possible its related to some kind of hygiene issue from my non-retractable foreskin? Any idea what the doctor might (or should) do next?

Any help, comfort and encouragement welcome - as I am feeling a bit down, distracted and anxious right now!

No 36 year old man should allow himself to be circumcised if he doesn't wish that to happen. If the suggestions comes up, tell the doctor you won't let that happen. It's that simple.

As for the blood, if it was not bright red, it is probably totally unrelated to your foreskin, so circumcision should be a non-issue. Be careful, however, in consenting to any surgery, as oftentimes, collateral procudures are authorized in the consent papers. If the situation comes to that, be sure to have them write on the document that circumcision is not to be done under any circumstances. Get a signed copy.

What could it? Perhaps Paul has some ideas.

OK, let's look at the concepts involved here. A doctor does not tell you what to do. He may recommend and offer something based on his expertise in the matter which is very much a variable, and particularly when it comes to matters sexual. Certainly he may know more than you, but it is entirely possible that you know more than him on specific topics, and particularly in this case if you have researched it and he has not!

Let me put it bluntly - doctors are people and some people have deeply entrenched attitudes which influence - and impair - their sexual expression. Such personal attitudes can easily impair an otherwise professional response, in which case you must take responsibility and make the correct choice. Unless you have cancer (rather improbable though technically possible), there is no reason to lose your foreskin or indeed, have it cut at all. There is no consent form to be signed.

As you say you have grown up with a non-retractable foreskin, it is all the less likely that you have a particular skin disease (Lichen Sclerosis) but clearly something is amiss. The main "hygiene issue" responsible for irritations of the foreskin (at any age) is permitting soap to get into the opening. You should perhaps describe to us how non-retractable your foreskin actually is - whether you can see the tip of your penis at all or how much.

Actually, a rather different "hygiene issue" at the ripe old age of 36 is the possibility of diabetes which leads to Candida ("Thrush") infestation and irritation which can manifest in this fashion. If you are perchance, markedly overweight this becomes a serious risk and (in any case) you should be tested for this by a blood test (not having glucose in the urine is no reassurance).

What else? I can't say how common insensible irritation and blood-staining is, but I figure the number of men in the world who spend a whole lifetime with a non-retractable foreskin, just as likely not realising there is anything "wrong", to be anything up to a hundred million.