This requires a minor surgery called circumcision
Viru was howling in pain. His wedding night was not what he expected it to be. Trying to consummate his marriage brought him no pleasure, only agony. The problem was his foreskin.
The foreskin is a layer which covers the head of the penis. It consists of an outer layer and an inner one. The foreskin fits over the head of the penis like glove on a finger. A band of tissue called the frenulum holds the foreskin in place, connecting it to the head of the penis. During intercourse, the frenulum slides back and forth.
Ideally, a man should be able to pull the foreskin back and expose the head of the penis, so that it can be washed. A white waxy secretion called smegma develops from the under the surface of the foreskin. This has to be washed off regularly, as otherwise, it can be a good breeding ground for germs and emanate an unpleasant smell.
In some men, due, to a congenital anomaly or an infection, the foreskin and the frenulum cannot be fully retracted to reveal the head of penis. So, these can tear and may cause pain and bleeding during sexual intercourse. The inability to pull back the foreskin is called phimosis. This condition cannot be treated with medicines. It requires a minor surgery known as circumcision.
Among certain religious groups like Muslims and Jews, circumcision is done on religious grounds irrespective of whether a man has phimosis or not.
It is advisable that every man gets his genitals checked by a doctor before marriage. Ideally, every male child should be examined by the family doctor/school doctor/college doctor to rule out phimosis. This simple preventive check will make the first night memorable — for the right reasons.
The writer is a sexologist. Mail him at dr.narayana@deccanmail.com
