For most men and women, the act of sexual intercourse is an enjoyable occasion like no other. However, a significant number of individuals will experience dyspareunia in their lifetime. Dyspareunia – a fancy word for painful intercourse – refers to pain that occurs just before, during or after sex and is persistent, meaning that it happens every time. There are many factors that can lead to dyspareunia in men, but one particular cause is found in as many as 50% of patients presenting with dyspareunia; and that is a condition known as frenulum breve.

Thankfully, there are effective treatments available for most causes of dyspareunia, including frenulum breve, and in most cases, painful sex is not a life long issue. A quick trip to the urologist may very well turn up an easy solution, and often, a tweak in the routine can restore penis health and eliminate painful sex – which is sure to be a relief for any man.

What is frenulum breve?

To understand what frenulum breve is, one must first understand what and where the frenulum is. The frenulum is the little elastic band of tissue that forms a “V” shape under the head of the penis and connects the foreskin to the vernal mucosa; it allows the foreskin to retract and contract over the head of the penis. In the case of sex, the goal is for the glans, or head of the penis, to be fully exposed via retraction of the foreskin. A frenulum breve occurs when a shortened frenulum restricts the movement of the foreskin, causing it to not fully retract when erect. In some cases, the frenulum also pulls the head of the penis downwards when retraction begins.

Complications of frenulum breve

Frenulum breve can be quite painful and makes sex uncomfortable for some men — or even downright unpleasant. In severe cases, the pain is so unbearable that it makes sex and masturbation impossible until treatment occurs. Frenulum breve can also cause tearing of the delicate skin, which naturally causes severe pain and bleeding to occur. In some cases, men initially discover the frenulum breve due to the appearance of blood after onset of an early sexual experience.

If the frenulum rips during intercourse, the problem may be further exacerbated as scar tissue – which is inflexible – may form, causing even more rigidity around the foreskin area. Some men do get “lucky” in that the tearing actually causes the frenulum to heal in a more flexible way, thus resolving the issue at hand.

Treatment

Luckily, the treatment of frenulum breve is relatively simple. A doctor may be able to cure it with a minimally invasive suturing technique that allows the frenulum to become more flexible, allowing retraction. A doctor may also make a small incision in the frenulum to release tension and allow for normal retraction of the foreskin. Other treatment options include a frenuloplasty – surgical alteration of the frenulum-or a complete circumcision or removal of the foreskin altogether. Men who are gun shy of a surgical procedure may elect to try stretching exercises and steroid creams to help add elasticity to the area.

Penis Care

Regardless of the treatment route selected to fix a frenulum breve, it is likely that the penis will have some healing to do – particularly if a tear preceded the need for a treatment. Following the doctor’s instructions for care is important in promoting the formation of healthy tissue and preventing infection.

Once the site has healed, maintaining healthy penile tissue and reducing the formation of scarring is a top priority. Using a penis health formula (most professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil) containing nutrients that specifically target penis health can help to support the growth of new tissue, slough away dead skin cells, and keep the delicate skin of the penis smooth, supple and responsive.