Is there any way to determine if yeast is present if there is no pain/itching? and if there's pain/itching, is it always that there's yeast? I don't want to waste all of my time and effort due to the foreskin getting tight again from yeast.


And I know that soap is a cause of yeast infection, but while showering, soapy water might come in contact. Would this matter? And could I use soap for the outer foreskin/shaft?


And lastly, what are other causes? Eating too many carbs/sugar? Drinking alcohol?

Could lotion cause yeast as well?

You could have a lab do a culture I suppose, but it would be a lot cheaper just to treat it and see what happens. There may be itching and redness, or not. Conversely, itching and redness do not necessarily indicate yeast.

Soap does not cause yeast. It is the use of it which washes away essential bacteria which causes an imbalance. The yeast is always present, but when bacteria are sufficient, they keep the yeast in control. On the outside, it isn't quite as critical, but it is a latent possibility.

Diet and general health conditions may indeed lead to yeast problems. Diabetes is probably the most frequent cause. Poor diets generally cause intestinal yeast problems rather than problems with the foreskin. However, the proximity of the penis to the anus permits yeast find home where the conditions are right for habitation. In females, this is especially a problem.

If yeast is an internal problem, adjusting the diet is critical in treatment.

i believe i had a yeast infection 'outbreak' a few months ago as my penis was extremely irritated and a whitish discharge happened, but it dissapeared by itself after 3 days and all was well.

i have recently used lotrimin on my foreskin for a period of about two weeks.. just to knock off any possibility. I only used it on the foreskin. no changes have occured.


As of now, i'm still stretching my foreskin. progress has been made but its pretty damn slow so i tend to get paranoid if i'm doing something wrong or if yeast is present.

Do factors such as good diet and sleeping well affect the process highly? It is after all stretching for cells to grow right? Any recommended foods/vitamins?


And is a Preputioplasty really that bad? I heard its a 4 week recovery.. not that I'm really considering it but it's been hovering on my mind lately.

Yes, it takes a while. New skin cells must generate to fill little voids you create by stretching the skin. It doesn't happen overnight. If you've treated for yeast and there is no fissuring of the skin from the stretching, you're probably alright.

I personally don't like the idea of any surgery unless it's really necessary. Why bother when you can solve this without any recovery period?

A main reason is that my foreskin tends to retract by itself now during regular day movement. However, its too tight to cover the head again by itself, and it leads to pain, and constant fixing of the position of my foreskin. And after I fix it, it's close to full retraction and a little friction will cause it to move back again. It limits me in my everyday life :\.


I don't like the idea of surgery either, but a partial incision is looking more of an option

And apparently, the frenulum is supposed to pull the foreskin to cover the head again by itself? Is that true? Because this never happens in my case, i must manually recover it. Is it because the frenulum is too long that there's no pull? Or is it cause it's too short.. because I've been stretching it along with stretching the opening.

If the opening is tight, it is highly unlikely the frenulum is too long. Does your foreskin retract behind the sulcus (groove)? I think the difficulty is mainly related to the tight opening, although that would ordinarily be accompanied by problems in retraction.

Are you currently stretching? What exactly are you doing and how often?

Yes it does retract past the groove, sometimes even due to friction from my clothes. And as it retracts past the groove, it bunches up a bit.

If i move the foreskin back ever so slightly, it stays in that position, and if i move it to cover the head fully, it moves back by itself. It's like the frenulum does opposite of what its supposed to do? o_o


Yeah, I'm currently stretching 2 times a day, 20 minutes per session.. each set of stretching is about 2-3 minutes, with a few frenulum stretches here and there. When I stretch the opening, I have to pull the two opposites sides apart, insert my fingers as deep as possible, and then I have to grip on the outside with my thumbs to maintain the stretch.. So its a bit different from the illustration you guys post.

And if it matters, when i do my frenulum stretches, the frenulum isn't always directly visible like other pictures I've seen..


Thank you.

As long as you're pulling on the bottom side of the foreskin, you're stretching the frenulum. Try doing it after each time you pee.

I'm curious, how does the diameter of your glans compare to the diameter of your shaft? Also, when the foreskin is forward, does it fully cover the glans? Do you have any overhang?

It does not fully cover the head no, and absolutely no overhang. it seemed to have been longer when my foreskin was very tight, but now it seems shorter? but i dont believe there is any foreskin stuck.

When I retract the foreskin past the groove, its as if a part of it folds underneath because when i return it over the head, its shorter and proceeds to pull down a bit to expose more of the head.


Progress is slow to the point where I doubt if any further progress is happening.. the ring of the groove is purpleish if that matters.. and the skin of my penis past the head is whitish pink.


when erect, i can pull the foreskin right past the head, but it is very tight. when i masturbate and the foreskin is moving, it never completely covers the head.


I noticed that before I read more about betamethasone, I used to apply the cream first instead of afterwards and then proceeded to stretching, and i believe progress was optimum at that point. Is it wise to try that again?


And lastly.. are there any consequences of preputioplasty besides the two week recovery period? i heard it does not alter appearance much, and the foreskin is still intact, it's just a minor incision? I'm not very fond of the idea of getting my foreskin cut even a little bit, but complications are proving to interfere with my every day life and self esteem. It sucks to have to always be weary of how far my foreskin is retracted underneath my clothes.

There is always a possiblity of problems, but the odds are pretty low. I still think you can fix this yourself. Be patient with it.

Your description indicates the foreskin is being held back from returning by the edge of the glans. While part of it rolls back, the tight ring is getting stuck. This is shouting for stretching.

The betamethasone should be applied only to the tight part after stretching. Once applied, you should leave your foreskin alone.

Damn, my bad about replying over and over. but..

"A frenulum is found on the ventral side of the penis. The frenulum serves to tether a movable structure to a non-movable structure. The penile frenulum returns the foreskin to its normal protective forward position."

I'm a bit concerned about that, since my frenulum does not do that, if anything, it does the opposite and further retracts it. When I pull the foreskin back allll the way while flaccid (until the skin is flat/veins show), the frenulum dosen't seem to limit it, so i assume its not short.

I'm also not 100% sure how my phimosis came to be. I'm 17 years old, I discovered about about the foreskin having to retract around May this year.. so I never retracted it since birth fully that I know of.. until now. But my masturbation technique for the past 3 years till May involved rubbing the 'groove'/frenulum area only.. I didn't think it was wrong till recently and I highly regret it. Could this have been the cause of the phimosis? Perhaps that technique damaged the frenulum or tissue? Many questions haha. Sorry.


Still stretching, but I'm thinking of maybe stopping frenulum stretches? Would there be any benefit in stopping stretching for a while and see how the frenulum react? I would like to have a normal functioning foreskin ASAP.

You have a tight ring at the end of your foreskin, and that is the major problem in getting the skin to recover. Get that sorted out and you should be fine. Being seventeen is no big deal in learning about this.

I asked about the diameters of your shaft in relationship to your glans. Is the glans larger or not?

And my past masturbation technique may explain why the coronal sulcus is purple.. damaged tissue?

"Using these techniques (especially the first one) does 2 things. Firstly, rubbing the top of the foreskin and manipulating it in an unnatural manner creates scar tissue. This scar tissue is inelastic. Normal foreskin tissue is pliable making it easier to retract.

Secondly, the large pressure applied to the penis means that the 3 spongy arteries that make up the penis may be damaged (see diagram above). Consequently, the penis doesn't fill up with blood properly and doesn't stretch the skin from the inside-out in the normal manner."

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090702010815AAGUrXn (ANSWER 10)

The description about the masturbation technique/possible damage to foreskin/tissue sounds pretty dead-on to what could have caused my phimosis.. I just wish I knew that 4 years ago. I use proper masturbation technique now, but should I perhaps stop?


I'm sorry, I'm stressing about this right now and just writing about it comforts me a bit, as this is the only place that allows me to do that. Human psychology I guess.

You're getting way to obsessive about this. Most of the people on yahoo don't know a lot. Very few young men have caused any problems by masturbating.

It is quite normal to have purplish colors around the glans.

The glans and the shaft diameter are about the same.


And even if I have a tight ring, shouldn't the frenulum at least be recovering the foreskin over the head slightly when its not all the way retracted? Do you think stopping frenulum stretching for a bit will yield any results?


I will continue stretching the opening. Thank you so much Jim.

Generally, the job of the frenulum is as you describe, but I think in your case, the tightness of the opening and the shortness of the skin is contributing more to the problem. If I were you, I'd consider lengthening the foreskin by stretching. Check this out: www.foreskinrestore.com

OH, and if its important, it seems the diameter of the head is larger than the diameter of my shaft.

is it possible that there is constantly a piece of skin stuck underneath the foreskin? Because my foreskin used to be longer, before my first retraction over the head. Maybe perhaps that was because it was extremely tight though.

I noticed that when I first started stretching, results were much quicker. But i guess that was only the beginning stages?


And would there be any harm in putting first aid tape or something to prevent the foreskin from retracting?

Back in 1985, when the foreskin restoration movement began, pulling available skin forward and taping it was a method of stretching the skin to generate growth. It works. I think it might be a good idea.

This skin inside could be part of the foreskin which isn't returning when you try to recover the glans. There is no logical explanation for a shortening as you say. It has to be stuck inside. Have you tried digging it out?

I have tried, but when i cover the foreskin again, its the same. However, after 2 minutes or so of stretching the opening, the skin appears to be longer/tighter. If I don't retract, it stays like that, until I retract it/friction moves it/erection occurs.

Also, the frenulum isnt very visible when i pull the bottom part of my foreskin, its like its attached to a lowerpart of the foreskin. Is it possible that my foreskin is bunched up weirdly or something haha. When it got 'shorter', I didn't really think of it as anything and thought it would be a good way to fight oversensitivity of the glans first exposure. Could it be possible that the long period of time made the foreskin stay 'trapped'?


It would be real helpful if my frenulum did its job :\, could this happen due to a short or long frenulum? I can retract fully while flaccid, although opening is tight.


I'm considering seeing a urologist to see if they have any ideas, since they can observe my penis first hand. I'm just hoping they won't be pro-instacircumcision.

I think the tight part is actually hanging up in the sulcus and that's why the foreskin appears to be shorter. If you get that tight ring out, don't retract until you get the diameter larger. As Paul suggests lower down on the thread, tape the opening to prevent retraction.

You will simply be wasting time and money to speak to a surgeon about this.

Where are you?

And when I stretch the opening, i just stretch the left/right side. But do I have to pull the top and bottom as well? or is stretching from the left and right enough (more natural), because its to widen the diameter generally.

And should I moisturize the foreskin with lotion after stretching routines?

The idea is to enlarge the opening, basically a circle with no side.

Lotion won't hurt.

I'm the one who voted "no best answer" to that Yahoo! Answers question. Unlike "Connor", I do not vote from two identities to clinch "Best Answer". It would be merciful if someone else voted the question down because essentially all the answers given are pretty much bunkum (though most of the references given are generally appropriate).

Incidentally, the answers are randomised in the voting process so unless and until the vote is resolved, there is no "answer 10".

There is a site - I presently forget which and it is not one of those cited - which details supposed "harmful masturbation habits". While you can certainly abrade your penis (like getting your feet blistered on a long march), there is no actual evidence for these masturbation techniques causing (permanent) harm though becoming habituated to a particular practice (and finding difficulty adapting to alternatives or intercourse) may occur - sometimes. What is particularly useful about having a foreskin and especially one that will not retract, is that it protects and preserves the sensitivity of the glans. I give reasonable credit to the pain sensitivity of the penis - you are pretty unlikely to persist in stimulating it when what you are doing is genuinely painful.

Similarly, and more so when the foreskin is present, there is plenty of variation in the vascularity of the penis and by and large the blood vessels are simply doing their job - supplying blood to the various parts. The real ways you may cause vascular damage - at least in the long term - would be by smoking (foolhardy indeed) and having excess fat (and sugar) in the diet leading to cholesterol build-up. Those are the all-too-common cause of erectile dysfunction.

My "take-home message" remains as before - persist with the stretching to get a foreskin which retracts and re-covers easily when erect, if there is any doubt whatsoever that the frænulum is tight, stretch it as well. If your foreskin seems now to prefer to retract even when flaccid and you do not want it to, just tape it forward like the foreskin "restoration" practitioners do, in between stretching sessions.

okay, but do you have any idea of why my frenulum dosen't recover the glans with my foreskin even a bit, despite me being able to retract fully while flaccid.

And I can get it just over the head while erect, although very tight.


And will lotion on the outer/inner foreskin have any ill effect? To keep the foreskin moisturized

My theory is that the tightness of the end is stronger than the tug of the frenulum. The lotion should have no effect if it has nothing which irritates. Of course, that's the idea of lotion. However, under normal circumstances, your body has builtin moisturizing agents. If you're young, you are still producing sebum through special glands inside the foreskin. This is an ingredient in smegma. If you are not militant in its removal, your penis will take care of itself nicely. The particular glands are thought to disappear with age, an interesting arrangement which thoughtfully meets the needs of the younger man whose penis is seeing much more "action" and perhaps needs the tender loving care of "lotion." Older men generally (regretfully) lose the need for such care as their "action" subsides and the smegma would be more of a hassle.

Alright thanks a bunch, i'll continue stretching like i usually do.

When I'm stretching by pulling apart with two fingers and still gripping with my thumb.. If I simultaneously pull away from the glans, will it be lengthening the foreskin while stretching the opening?

Whatever way you tug the skin, it will eventually grow. So, if you are pulling longitudinally, it will get longer. Having a longer skin should ensure coverage.

I don't know if my stretching is making any progress anymore. It's getting really irritating that my foreskin retracts in my clothes, causing discomfort and pain while potentially squeezing the glans when it retracts past the groove. I'm struggling to get it loose to retract and also struggling to keep it covered when out. The foreskin still does not pull it back forward.

I was wondering if preputioplasty leaves any visible marks after the two week recovery period? And if you guys know of any capable surgeons in the NYC area.. If no visible progress is made by thanksgiving, I might resort to this. It's difficult to be patient when this causes problems in my every day life.

It is normal to encounter period of time in which no progress is occuring. Under the surface, your body is generating new cells. It is important not to give up. Continue to apply tension daily.

You're being very impatient with yourself. What's the big hurry about anyway?

the big hurry is that it affects my every day life :\. I can't be active for a whole day without the foreskin moving back and getting stuck uncomfortably. And psychologically, it impedes me from things I want to do. I think partying/dancing is out of the question for now too. Still continuing stretching, but do you guys know of any reliable doctors in NYC that can perform this or just take a look at the foreskin..? Because I've noticed the bottom side to be more sensitive/raw. And the frenulum does not recover the foreskin over the glans.

Did you try using a ring of tape at the end to prevent retraction? What about exercised to lengthen your foreskin? Have you tried?

I don't know any doctors in New York.

How would this ring of tape be applied? And what would happen if I get an erection?

I've incorporated sets gripping the upper and lower part of the foreskin with both hands into my routine.

Take a one inch wide piece of first aid tape sufficint in length to go around your shaft and overlap. Pull your foreskin forward as far as it will go, applying the tape just forward of the end of the glans. Tape the ends together, securing the skin comfortably tightly, thus preventing the skin from retracting. If you get an erection, the foreskin will stretch to accommodate it. You'll need to carry a roll of tape around during the day, as the adhesive doesn't stick well after being released.

And i notice that the underside of my foreskin is usually red. Could it be that its irritated from over stretching, and that's why it's not recovering the foreskin over the glans? I've used Lotrimin so I don't think it's yeast..

Should I refrain from stretching/masturbating for a few days, if I do that, will progress be slowed substantially?

How long have you been applying Lotrimin?

I would continue stretching, but perhaps not so aggressively.

I did so for two weeks or so.. then stopped, and now started doing it again. For about 4 days.., it dosen't show any noticable effects. I think i'm gonna stop applying betamethasone. I've been on that for a good 3-4 months.. Maybe it's the reason.

When I go to pull on the underside to stretch my frenulum, I don't actually see it. Am I still stretching it from pulling the underside? It's only noticable when I retract the foreskin a bit

By following what the picture illustrates, you will stretch the frenulum.