What is a short frenulum?

A short frenulum is also known as frenulum breve. The frenulum of the penis is the elastic fold of the skin that joins the underside of the glans (head of the penis) with the inner surface of the foreskin. Its function is to help the foreskin to contract over the glans.

A short frenulum is when the frenulum of the penis is so short that it restricts the movement that the foreskin can make. The frenulum should be long enough to allow the foreskin to retract smoothly, but a short frenulum often makes this impossible. This causes discomfort during sexual intercourse.

What issues can a short frenulum cause?

The main problem with short frenulum is the discomfort it causes, as well as problems during sexual intercourse. Also, it can make maintaining hygiene difficult, as it can make it difficult to clean under the foreskin, increasing the risk of infections.

What are the symptoms of a short frenulum?

The main symptom is difficulty pulling back the foreskin, as well as pain and tension in the penis. This pain increases during sexual intercourse and can tear and cause bleeding because of the concentration of blood in the area.

How is a short frenulum diagnosed?

A short frenulum is often misdiagnosed as phimosis (where the foreskin is too tight to be pulled back), due to the common major symptom of being unable to retract the foreskin, but it is not the same disease. The doctor should perform a physical examination to assess the problem and the degree of it.

When does a short frenulum require treatment?

If a short frenulum is impairing your ability to have sex, causing you pain or any other notable issues, it requires treatment. You should seek medical advice if you have any concerns about any of these issues.

Can a short frenulum resolve itself without treatment?

One possible consequence of having a short frenulum is that it can tear, usually during sexual activity. This can be painful and may bleed, but is not a medical emergency. A torn frenulum may solve the problem if it heals in such a way that the frenulum is longer, but if scar tissue forms it can become even less flexible and the problem worsens.

How is a short frenulum treated?

There are different methods to treat a short frenulum depending on its severity. In some cases, steroid creams and stretching exercises can be enough to sufficiently elongate the frenulum.

In many cases, however, surgery is the only real solution. There are several surgical techniques that may be used, including reparative plastic surgery (frenuloplasty), the resection of the frenulum (frenectomy) or circumcision.

What type of doctor treats a short frenulum?

Urologists specialise in treating all conditions of the genitalia. Within this field, andrologists specifically deal with male sexual and reproductive issues.