Dear doctor;

During sex with my boyfriend recently, he ripped his foreskin and it was pretty nasty as he bled. I tried to persuade him to go to see a doctor but he refused and insists it will heal by itself. Is this right? Will it just heal and if so, how long should it take?

Jenine.

Dear Jenine,

Tear of the foreskin can occur sometimes during intercourse due to the friction. This occurs because the mucosa (inner lining) is very delicate. Sometimes it may be the  frenulum (that thin line that holds your foreskin to the shaft on the bottom part of the head) that may rupture, where surgery may be needed to correct it. But there is nothing to worry.

This part is rich in blood supply and usually heals well. Application of any antiseptic cream over ruptured foreskin will help. Intercourse should be avoided until it heals completely. Lubrication of the part and doing intercourse gently helps in prevention of this problem. If the problem becomes repetitive, circumcision would be useful.