Phimosis and Steroid Creams - Not working? What next?!
Question: I've had phimosis for as long as I can remember. I talked to my Doctor who suggested using steroid creams. I've tried two without any success:
fluocinonide cream usp, 0.05% 2x day every other
Clotrimazole and Betamethasone Dipropionate Cream USP 2x/day
I've been applying to foreskin and rubbing it in. I've also tried stretching. It's been a few months now with little improvement. I've only been able to retract fully a couple of times, usually by accident during sex, but it feels extremely tight and uncomfortable. The head is also extremely sensitive... what should I do? Is circumcision my only option now?
Answers: I've had phimosis for as long as I can remember. I talked to my Doctor who suggested using steroid creams. I've tried two without any success:
fluocinonide cream usp, 0.05% 2x day every other
Clotrimazole and Betamethasone Dipropionate Cream USP 2x/day
I've been applying to foreskin and rubbing it in. I've also tried stretching. It's been a few months now with little improvement. I've only been able to retract fully a couple of times, usually by accident during sex, but it feels extremely tight and uncomfortable. The head is also extremely sensitive... what should I do? Is circumcision my only option now?
Circumcision is certainly not the only (or even necessarily the best) option.
Maybe you weren't stretching it properly; see link 1 for some good instructions. It could also take 1-3 months for the stretching to work.
Maybe you should switch to a different cream, as there are many different kinds. It's still the most cost-effective method for treating phimosis (link 2).
You can even try combining the stretching and the cream. Together they may work quicker and better than either one separately, though it may still take about a month. Just be patient.
But if all else fails, there are still other options (link 3). See the other links for some helpful info. Look at the last one in particular, it's a blog by a guy who had a problem similar to yours and how he dealt with it.
By the way, the glans (penis head) is supposed to be really sensitive. But you can get used to that once you're able to pull your foreskin back and wash under it and such. Good luck with everything you try!
It sounds like you're one of the few with such a bad condition. That cream works in over 95% of cases.
There's a minor surgery called preputioplasty if you'd like to avoid circumcision. Google it and you'll find plenty of links on it.
of course ... consult your urologist before applying any advice you develop from here...
well... since the precautionary measures are not effective to you ... (or you may try to wait a few more months before doing anything ... something might improve...) but if not .. then the last resort is circumcision...
the dorsal slitting is ... hmmm... something... but it even looks more unappealing...
make sure that you have several feedbacks for the professional who will do the circumcision for you (do not go to any non professional) ... this is a simple nonlethal procedure...
but it depends on your locality.. in some places... the doctors have performed several circumcisions already ... and thus they are more experienced in doing this...