Foreskin Stretching vs Circumcision
I was born in a community where circumcision was the norm. My mother would not allow the hospital to circumcise me at birth as they did not use any form of anaesthesia. She was of the belief that my foreskin would loosen up and automatically retract as I developed such that my glans would be completely and permanently exposed at puberty. At age 12 my mother found that I had a rather tight and lenghthy (1" beyond glans) foreskin. She explained to me that it was important for my glans to be completely and permanently exposed for hygienic reasons and for procreation to occur. She commented that the doctor would have to "snip the tip" so that the remaining foreskin could be slid back. It sounded painful to me. But she reassured me that "it will be just these wrinkly puce colored folds that the doctor will cut off". "Just a quick and simple snip and it will be over". "It will be only a minor amount of pain". "But it needs to be removed". I was reluctant but agreed to have it done.
My mother and I went to the local clinic. I was rather anxious in the waiting room but soon my name was called. My mother explained to the doctor that my foreskin was tight and would not retract. The doctor had me remove my pants and underwear and then get up on the exam table. He proceeded to examine my foreskin and agreed with my mother that my foreskin was tight. A "stetching" was in order. The doctor grasped my foreskin and inserted a probe into the tip. He slid the probe back to the sulcus (groove) and then worked the probe all the way around my glans. Though I found this to be very uncomfortable, I was able to tolerate the experience. The doctor then inserted a hemostat into my foreskin. Upon reaching the level of my sulcus, the doctor opened the hemostat. OUCH! This was PAINFUL. The doctor stopped and concluded that a nerve block was in order. The doctor gave me 3 or 4 injections into my penis and foreskin. OUCH! again. The doctor left the room with me still laying on my back and my genitals exposed. I said something to my mother and she commented me that it would soon be over.
The doctor returned after 20 minutes and checked my penis and foreskin by poking with the needle. I could not feel any pain. My penis and foreskin was numb. The doctor reinserted the hemostat into my foreskin to the level of my sulcus and then opened the hemostat. The hemostat was opened to a point whereby my foreskin was stretched to about twice the diameter of my penis. Slowly, the doctor pulled the hemostat out of my foreskin with the hemostat still open. My foreskin distended away from my body in a stretching motion. I could feel a tugging in my groin but did not feel any pain. After my foreskin fell off the hemostat the doctor checked to see if my foreskin would retract over my glans. It was still tight. More "stretching " was required. The doctor repeated the stretching exercise with the hemostat 4 or 5 more times, checking the retractability of my foreskin after each "stretching". Finally the doctor was able to fully retract my foreskin such that my glans was completely exposed. This was the first time that I had seen my glans exposed. I was bleeding as a result of the procedure.
The doctor comment to my mother that he could not complete the circumcision that day and that she would have to make an appointment and come back. The doctor retracted my foreskin and bandaged it up to stop the bleeding. He told my mother that I should keep my foreskin retracted such that adhesions between my foreskin and glans did not form. I got dressed and my mother and I went home. Later that day, my penis and foreskin began to hurt as the nerve block wore off. The second day, my mother took the bandaged off where upon my foreskin slid forward covering my glans. She pushed it back and told me to keep it back so that adhesions did not form. I found it uncomfortable to have my glans exposed so I slid my foreskin forward to cover my glans when my mother was not looking. That was the last time she seen my penis and foreskin. She would ask me about it and I told her it was fine. About two weeks later she announced that I was going back to the doctor to have the circumcision completed. OH NO! not again. I told her that my foreskin was totally retracted and that my glans was completely and permanently exposed and that there was no need to go back to the doctor. She accepted my statement. Fortunately, she did not ask to see my penis and foreskin. (Actually my foreskin was fully covering my glans and had tightened back up). Even as an adult today, my foreskin is somewhat tight.
If someone else has had an experience such as this I would appreciate hearing from them.