Frenulum breve is a penile condition characterized by a short band of tissue that connects the foreskin to the head of the penis. This anatomical tightness often results in significant tension during an erection, potentially causing the skin to tear or bleed during physical activity.
Common symptoms of frenulum breve include localized pain and a noticeable downward pull on the glans when the foreskin is retracted. These issues can make sexual contact uncomfortable and may be easily confused with other conditions like phimosis that also restrict foreskin movement.
A urologist can treat frenulum breve through non-invasive methods like steroid creams or a simple surgical procedure known as a frenuloplasty. Correcting this condition effectively restores flexibility to the skin and prevents long-term complications or recurring injuries.
What it looks like
In most cases, it's easy to identify whether the frenulum is shorter than normal, as it's not possible to pull the foreskin completely without feeling a slight pressure on the frenulum.
However, other signs that may indicate this problem include:
- Pain or discomfort that makes sexual contact unpleasant;
- The head of the penis folds down when the foreskin is pulled back;
- The skin of the glans cannot be completely pulled back.
This problem can often be confused with phimosis, however, with phimosis, the frenulum is usually not seen at all. However, if there is a suspicion of either a short frenulum or phimosis, a consult with a urologist is recommended to start the appropriate treatment. Ideally, treatment should be done before becoming sexually active to prevent any future discomfort.
Read more about treatment for phimosis.
Treatment options
The treatment for a short frenulum should always be guided by a urologist, because, depending on the tightness of the frenulum, different techniques, such as ointments with betamethasone or skin stretching exercises, can be advised.
However, surgery is recommended in almost all cases, as decreasing the frenulum tightness can prevent future frenulum tears.
How surgery is done
Surgery for a short frenulum, also known as frenuloplasty, is a very simple and quick treatment that can be done in the office of the urologist. The surgery usually takes about 30 minutes, using only local anesthesia, and the patient can return home shortly after.
Complete healing takes about 2 weeks after surgery and sex should be avoided for the same period. Swimming and hot tubs should also be avoided to speed up healing and prevent infection.