Introduction
This year Prince Harry dispelled a popular myth that has been circulated for decades: the myth that he had been left intact from a traditional non-therapeutic circumcision. Interestingly, Prince Harry went into detail on a difficult issue – an issue affecting his manhood.
“I don’t know why I should’ve been reluctant to discuss my penis with Pa, or all the gentlemen present. My penis was a matter of public record, and indeed some public curiosity… There were countless stories in books and papers about Willy and me not being circumcised. …All of the stories were false. I was snipped as a baby.”
Often, discussing issues on men’s health can be difficult when it revolves around the manhood. Harry has publicly shared his health ailments, which brings attention to issues around men’s health.
Abrasion and sensitivity
“I described the cascading dysfunctions. – ‘Everything’s difficult, Doctor. Sitting. Walking.’ – Sex, I added, was out of the question. Worse, my todger [British slang for penis] constantly felt like it was having sex. Or ready to. I was sort of losing it, I told him. I’d made the mistake of googling this injury, and I’d read horror stories about partial penectomies [removal of the penis], a phrase you never want to come across when googling your symptoms.”
Prince Harry’s account discussed the abrasion, pain and discomfort he experienced following his arctic expedition. Frost-nip is a warning sign before frost-bite sets in, and this affected the head of his penis.
Is this common?
Whilst frost-nip and arctic expeditions are unlikely for the average man, discomfort, pain and hypersensitivity of the glans are common complaints from some men who receive circumcisions. Men who undergo the procedure in adulthood can often notice a drastic change in sensitivity, and discomfort is one of the problems that these men are faced with.
In his memoir, Spare, Prince Harry details suffering frostbite on his penis in which he describes its lack of healing compared to other areas of his body.
‘Upon arriving home I’d been horrified to discover that my nether regions were frost nipped as well. And while the ears and cheeks were already healing, the todger wasn’t.’
Prince Harry, also details how suffering frostbite nearly caused his penis to become permanently damaged. Notably, those who suffer from frost bite of the foreskin are at risk of a circumcision, whereas those who have frost bite of the glans (the head) are more likely to require a penectomy – partial or total removal of the penis. Needless to say that Prince Harry was incredibly lucky when faced with some of the worst case scenario’s –
‘My penis was oscillating between extremely sensitive and borderline traumatised.’
How does this affect other men?
Frost bite is not a common concern for many, however the issues that Prince Harry discussed are experienced by some men that have been circumcised.
Exposure causes some men to suffer from abrasion, causing discomfort, pain and hyper-sensitivity during everyday activities and sensitive reactions to whatever the glans comes into contact with it: from the fabric of underwear to sexual intercourse.
Abrasion (rubbing)
Circumcision causes the penis to become more sensitive and vulnerable to issues like abrasion, because the foreskin of the penis prevents the exposed glans (the head) from rubbing against clothes. This Over time, this can actually diminish sensitivity during intercourse as the skin keratinises on the glans.
For intact men, the protection granted by the foreskin avoids the unwanted over-stimulation of the glans, as it is covered and therefore protected by the foreskin. One of the primary functions and utilities provided by the foreskin is this protective quality for the glans.
How Can Abrasion be Treated
For Prince Harry, as noted in his memoir, a friend recommended that he apply a topical moisturising cream to help with healing the damage done to his penis as a result of the mild frostbite.
There are multiple ways and methods to treat abrasion at home without the need of consulting a medical professional, such as:
- wearing soft breathable clothing.
- avoiding the penis coming into contact with coarse materials and underwear.
- moisturising the penis with a topical moisturiser, aloe, coconut oil or petroleum jelly to the affected area(s) to allow it to heal.
- making sure to avoid sex, masturbation and other forms of physical contact with the penis, again prevent durther damage and to allow the affected areas of to heal.
If the complications are severe, or these methods don’t work, we recommend seeking the support and consultation of a medical professional for guidance and treatment, and causing further damage to the affected areas.
More information
For more advice, support or information regarding circumcision and issues affecting the foreskin, you can contact 15 Square. Information on this website does not substitute professional medical advice.
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