Any penile problem is likely to cause the sufferer much anguish, but don’t worry – I’ve seen it all before! The commonest problem is called phimosis, and this is a condition in which the foreskin cannot be retracted. There are several causes, and indeed, in boys up to the age of 5 or 6, it is likely to be entirely normal – the foreskin doesn’t usually retract fully till that sort of age is reached. If there is a problem, whatever your age, a decision can only be reached about the need for circumcision by inspecting the problem, and discussing it face to face. Circumcision is a safe and routine operation, which can even be carried out under local anaesthetic. In some cases the need for stitches can be removed by using glue to close the wound, and even though it is bound to be a bit sore for a few days afterwards, most men make a very rapid and uneventful recovery.

The next commonest problem must be Peyronie’s disease, a fairly common condition that is best thought of as a localised area of scarring that arises in the spongy erectile tissue of the penis. It often presents as an isolated lump within the body of the penis, but can also cause a bend on erection with or without discomfort, or even pain. There is no universally successful treatment, but fortunately most sufferers are happy to simply learn that the disease is not cancerous, and whilst surgery can be useful to correct severe deformities, this is not frequently necessary.

Cancer of the penis can occur, but is fortunately rare, and almost never occurs in circumcised men. If you notice a lump within the foreskin, don’t hesitate to ask your doctor about it – statistically speaking, it probably isn’t cancer, but cases do occur, and modern surgical techniques often result in excellent results, but only if the disease is caught in the early stages.

Erectile dysfunction is worth a mention here. Ever since a renowned British physiologist demonstrated the effects of self injection of certain drugs in to the penis before a rather shocked audience of senior urologists (and their wives!) at the American Urological Association about 25 years ago, it has been known that drugs can affect erectile function, and since the advent of Viagra just under 10 years ago, there are now several avenues open to men with this problem – please don’t be afraid to discuss this problem with your doctor, and it may well be that specialist help may not be needed.