The tight foreskin: A psychosomatic phenomenon

Abstract

Patients use different words to express their sexual concerns. Some problems will be presented as dysfunctions, some as physical complaints, some as a disturbance in sexual feelings and emotions. Men, in general, tend to emphasize the dysfunctional and the physical aspects, rather than the emotions. A tight foreskin will be experienced as a purely physical condition by most patients. Yet quite often the medical sexologist will find a psychosomatic explanation. At birth, almost all boys will have a tight foreskin. During childhood and early puberty, sexual experiments and masturbation will be effective in stretching the prepuce to its adult size. If a man at the age of 20 still has a tight foreskin, it will often be a sign of sexual inhibition. Genital manipulation has been avoided, because this activity has been linked to guilt feelings or fear of doing damage to the genital organs. In adulthood the problems related to a tight foreskin in the absence of organic disease can be solved by the patient himself, by doing stretching exercises. Circumcision can be avoided, if the consulting physician only recognizes the psychosomatic nature of the problem.