Q:  I think I may have a problem.  I am 18 and can’t retract my foreskin.  Will this be a problem?

A:  Dr. Harry McDermott, a physician at the Campus Health Service, was asked to give some advice on your question.  According to him, the problem you describe may be a symptom of a condition called phimosis.  Phimosis is a condition whereby it is impossible to retract the foreskin.  There could be a couple of different reasons for this condition:

  • you may have an infection under the foreskin which could be causing   the condition, or
  • it could be due to a circumcision where too much skin was left behind.
In any case, it’s important that you have this problem evaluated by a physician.  Depending upon the cause of the condition, a referral to a urologist may be necessary for definitive / corrective treatment.

Q:  Recently, I am feeling burns from my penis.  Who should I go see?  What physician in general?

A:  Burning sensations in the penis are commonly a sign of a urinary tract infection or a sexually transmitted disease -- both of which should be seen and treated by a physician immediately. Campus Health Service has physicians who specialize in men’s health issues.  If you are a student enrolled in one or more credit hours at the UA, you are eligible to be seen at Campus Health.  Insurance is not required to receive services. To make an appointment, call (520) 621-9202

Q:  I'm concerned about the small size of my penis.  Is size really important?

A:  It is common for men to be concerned about penis size.  In the same fashion, women often worry about the appearance of their breasts.  In reality, men and women come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.  However, penis size and breast size have little to do with personal enjoyment, pleasing partners, or performing well sexually. 

You may be comparing yourself, unfairly, to the penises you've seen in movies or magazines where there is a tendency to show male genitals in "bigger-than-life" dimensions.  Men who pose naked are often selected deliberately because they are bigger than average.  When comparing yourself to other men, remember that there is a visual difference between the view you get of your own genitals (they appear shortened because of your viewing angle) and the view you get of someone else's penis in the locker room or on the movie screen.  More important than size are the ways in which you use your penis (and the rest of your body and mind) during sexual activity.  Sex can be enjoyable, no matter what size you are.