Eventually, the foreskin should be retracted far enough during urination to see the meatus (the hole where the urine comes from). This prevents urine from building up beneath the foreskin and possibly causing an infection. As long as the foreskin doesn't easily retract, only the outside needs to be cleaned.
In some cases, phimosis can cause other kinds of urinary problems too. Severe phimosis may make it harder to pass urine. It can also increase the risk of issues such as balanitis, which happens when the foreskin gets inflamed due to irritation or an infection.
This is called foreskin retraction. Most boys will be able to retract their foreskins by the time they are 5 years old, yet others will not be able to until the teen years. As a boy becomes more aware of his body, he will most likely discover how to retract his own foreskin.
Complications of a tight foreskin
Sometimes if the foreskin is very tight it can get stuck and cannot go back to its original position covering the end of the penis. The end of the penis can then become very swollen and painful. This is known as paraphimosis and it's a medical emergency.
According to some health experts, the foreskin is the floppy disk of the male anatomy, a once-important flap of skin that no longer serves much purpose. But the foreskin also has many fans, who claim it still serves important protective, sensory and sexual functions.
Since you are getting good erections, but you are not able to penetrate because of pain and the skin gets folded there, it also points towards phimosis. The retraction of the foreskin is not compulsory for sexual intercourse or pleasure.
By age 17, most boys will be able to fully retract their foreskin. Phimosis can also occur if the foreskin is forced back before it is ready. This can cause a fibrous scar to form. This can stop the foreskin from retracting in the future.
Normally, by the time a boy reaches 16 years of age, he should be able to easily retract his foreskin. This is true in 1% to 5% of men.
Conclusion: The highest-quality studies suggest that medical male circumcision has no adverse effect on sexual function, sensitivity, sexual sensation, or satisfaction.
Infections may lead to scarring, which can contribute to the tightness of the foreskin. Some STIs can cause inflammation of the glans, which may lead to tightness and discomfort. Common STIs that may be responsible for tightness of the foreskin include: genital herpes.
So both circumcised and uncircumcised penises are common in the U.S. It's also worth mentioning that in many countries outside of the U.S, it's much more common to be uncircumcised.
If your foreskin is very tight, it's advisable to speak to your GP. There are creams available on prescription, but if these don't work you might need a circumcision (don't worry, it's harmless, in America almost everyone is circumcised).
In men, circumcision is most commonly carried out when the foreskin is tight and won't pull back (retract), which is known as phimosis. But alternative treatments, such as topical steroids, are sometimes preferred.
What are the main treatments? A doctor can manually retract the foreskin under local or general anaesthesia. You may also be shown how to gradually retract the foreskin after a bath, using petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or some other form of lubrication. But if the problem persists, circumcision may be necessary.
Tight foreskin
But if you or your child has concerns about phimosis, check with your GP. The GP might prescribe a corticosteroid cream to help treat the phimosis. If the foreskin is still tight after puberty, it's best for a doctor to check it.
One option is to tighten your lips around the ridged band, let his foreskin follow your lips and use your hand to gently move his foreskin back and forth in rhythm with your mouth. You can also pull the skin up over his glans and stimulate the opening with your finger or tongue in a swirling motion.
Foreskin retraction may happen right after birth. Or it may take several years. Most foreskins can be fully retracted by the time a young man is 18 years old.
It sounds like you are suffering from a phimosis, where the foreskin cannot be pulled back to expose the head (glans) of the penis. This can be caused by a few conditions but most commonly, a skin condition known as BXO (otherwise called lichen sclerosis) is responsible.
In addition to other answers concerning the frenulum, it may be that the foreskin is simply not fully detached yet. There's a layer of skin - similar to the layer between your skin and fingernail - that holds the two together. This gradually dissolved between puberty and in some boys takes as long as age 18.
Some boys can retract their foreskin as early as age 5, but some may not be able to do this until their teenage years. Retraction of the foreskin should not be forced. This may cause pain and bleeding and can lead to scarring and adhesions (where skin is stuck to skin).
In adulthood, the foreskin is normally loose enough to be fully retracted. In this case, the glans (including its root) should be fully exposed. During erection, the foreskin retracts by itself, exposing the entire glans or at least part of it.