A married man rushed to a doctor after discovering a shocking 30-year buildup of hardened material under his foreskin.
He was taking a shower when he suddenly felt pain in his genitals. As he looked down, bits of hardened dirt started falling into the drain.
At first, he thought they were kidney stones. Concerned, he immediately went to see urologist Dr. Chen Zhaoan in Taichung, Taiwan, on March 14.
When Dr. Chen examined him, he found a thick, yellow-brown layer of accumulated dirt, oil, and dead skin under the foreskin.
As he carefully cleaned the area, a strong, unpleasant smell filled the clinic.
Dr. Chen, the director of the Zhaoan Urology Clinic, said, “We believe this buildup had been there for 30 years. It had hardened like stone, and when removed, it gave off a powerful odor.”
He added, “The patient hadn’t been sexually active for decades. If we hadn’t found this, his partner might have discovered it first.”
The man had an unusually long foreskin, which he had never been able to retract.
Dr. Chen explained, “No one had ever told him that the foreskin can be pulled back to clean the area properly.”
He noted that cases like this are rare but not unheard of. He typically sees a patient with excessive buildup about once every two years.
To prevent similar issues, Dr. Chen urged men to clean their foreskin daily with water and a little soap while showering.
He also encouraged people to seek medical advice if they had concerns.
“There is a lot of health information available in schools and online. Medical resources in Taiwan are also very accessible,” he said. “If you have questions, it’s always best to ask a specialist.”
Meanwhile, the removed buildup was placed in a specimen bottle at Dr. Chen’s clinic for further study.
