[Ryanski]

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OP:

My med school wife (who is NOT giving out medical advice, by the way) is interested in your story . . .

She wants to know if you exhibit other normal masculine sexual characteristics: facial hair, low voice, etc.

If I had to guess, I would say:

80% You're uncircumcised and your foreskin isn't properly functioning (let's hope this is the case). In this case, you low sex drive might simply be your noraml sexual attitude -- a surprisingly high percentage (5-10%) of Americans can best be described as "asexual". Wikipedia it for info.

15% You were born with ambiguous genitalia (happens more often than you know). Your parents ignored/were counseled against the prevailing wisdom of the day which said: if it's not clearly a penis, cut it off and raise the child as a girl. This happens more than you realize. A simple gender karyotype will settle whether this is the case. Your low sex drive might then be a result of definciencies of various hormones, correctable by therapy. Otherwise, you might be gay/confused about your sexual identity.

5% You are the victim of a botched circumcision. This is proabably much lower than 5% (by the way).

Your parents would have made a mistake in not bringing this up before now if the second or third possibility is the reality. They may have been told by their doctor to wait until you asked questions in order to let you come to grips with your own sexual identity, etc.

The only thing that makes your case very unusual is that you haven't had the kinds of experiences/family environment that has led you to get to the bottom of this sooner.

As everyone else has suggested -- get to a doctor ASAP. They'll help you out. If you have the means, make sure you ask for a counseling referral too -- working out the kinds of issues this probably has created/will create for you will be much easier in the company of a professional counselor.

Also -- ignore all the asses in here. In all my experience in ministry, I've learned that NO ONE is "normal". Everyone has issues they don't share openly. Good for you for finally asking for help.

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Thank you scalp, and all others who have helped so far.

I'm about as male as you get. I have about average facial hair growth, and about an average voice, not too loud nor quiet. I'm about 5'11, a bit on the skinny side, but in very good shape. I played HS baseball/track, always been competitive at all sports.

It does seem possible that what you describe, 'Phimosis,' as a one person posted, could be the case. I've checked it out, but there are few key differences in appearance between their images and when I look at mine...maybe a variation or something. I should know soon...

I am going to a clinic first thing in the morning...even if I only get a referral, hopefully the doctor can give me something useful to go on.

I'll give an update about that soon.

Ryan