A Taiwanese man’s neglect of basic personal hygiene led to a shocking medical discovery when doctors found a 30-year buildup of smegma under his foreskin. The married patient had visited a urologist in Taichung after experiencing sudden, unexplained pain in his genital area.
What doctors uncovered was beyond typical medical expectations. “The accumulation had formed dense, hardened plaques that took significant effort to remove,” reported Dr. Chen Zhaoan. The substance, which had developed since the patient’s youth, emitted an overpowering odor during removal.
This extreme case has highlighted critical failures in male health education. The patient, who had never been sexually active with another person, had gone through life unaware that foreskins require regular cleaning. “He simply didn’t know the foreskin was supposed to be retracted,” Dr. Chen explained.
Medical professionals warn that while smegma itself is natural, such extreme neglect can lead to serious complications including chronic infections and inflammatory conditions. The case has sparked widespread discussion about the importance of proper genital hygiene for men of all ages.
Following treatment, the patient received comprehensive hygiene education. Doctors hope his story will encourage others to pay closer attention to their personal care routines and seek medical advice when needed. “There’s nothing embarrassing about taking care of your health,” Dr. Chen emphasized.
