Hey, thanks for this message board... Whoever set it up, it's a great resource for information... Thanks!

I have 3 questions

I'm 23 and was, quite frankly, unaware that not being able to retract my foreskin was "abnormal." Over the course of the years I have noticed that underneath the foreskin is extremely sensitive, and causes slight pain (Possibly not PAIN, but definitely great discomfort.) So whenever I would accidentally "touch there," it would remind me to NOT do it again. (lol)

Sex with a condom is fine, as I have always just put the condom over it and have had absolutely zero problems. However without a condom, there is definite pain (I believe caused by the forced stretching of the foreskin.)

And there was a particular time where a lady friend pulled it back in preparation for oral sex, and the entire thing was unpleasant (And I obviously made her stop.) She didn't pull it back very far.

So that leads me to 3 main questions

1. Is it necessary to have a retractable foreskin?

2. Is it completely abnormal to women, to not have a retractable foreskin?

3. Because this girl was able to pull it back (while flaccid, though,) does that mean that I don't really have a problem, and it's more psychological?

I know that if I try and pull it back it gets the edges of the head, sort of, and begins to slow down (and cause discomfort)

Anyway, answers to these questions would be greatly appreciated. I didn't know this was even a "problem" until recently. I would always just use a condom and maybe they were totally unaware that it was any different, or maybe didn't stand out.

Thanks!

Evidently, the problem is a matter of perception if I'm reading this correctly. You've had a successful sex life until you recently discovered your condition, right? Well, now it's a problem, but it wasn't before.

1. Retraction is not necessary, and you've proven that.

2. I have no idea what most women think, but I have an idea that most don't care. Unless you're American, most have no clue what a penis would be like without a foreskin, so my guess is that they just accept the situtaion.

3. If the skin retracts while flaccid, ideally, it should also retract while erect.

My advice is for you to stretch the opening to the point where full retraction is possible and comfortable.

Thanks for the response, Jim

It doesn't retract while flaccid right now, either, so I suppose I can do the stretches that I have seen on here detailed by you

I guess my only concern is for the far future, when/if I decide to have children (As it seems to feel uncomfortable, or painful, to have sex without a condom keeping the foreskin up right. Without a condom it stretches back and causes physical pain because of the tight pulling)

That really seems to be the only concern that I have because, as you've rightfully stated, there is nothing "wrong" with it at all

Thanks again

Now you're saying you cannot retract, but your girlfriend did it a while back, right? That's saying something. Ordinarily, this would not happen, so I'm suspecting a problem with yeast. Have you had unprotected sex with another person? That's a common way of getting a yeast infection. Another is the use of soap on the inside or near the opening of the foreskin. Do you use soap to wash inside, or does soap get inside? If so, stop doing that. Use condoms during sex.

Get some Lamisil or similar product and start applying it around the opening and as far inside as you can get it. That usually does the trick within a week or so.

Meanwhile, you can still do the stretching unless you develop some cracking (sure sign of yeast).

What makes you think I possibly have a yeast infection?

And sorry, yeah, it did retract once with my girlfriend (while flaccid, and I stopped it almost immediately,) which I suppose shows that it can be retracted while not erect. It just feels really, really strange (Enough to make me think it's a very bad idea.) This is probably cause I've never done it before?

I've never had unprotected sex by the way...

Thanks!

I might have misinterpreted what you said. So, are you now saying that the tightness hasn't increased? If that's the case, there is no need to suspect yeast.

Work on the stretching and the strange feelings will disappear to be replaced by good ones.