“Doctor Stunned by 30-Year Buildup Found in Married Man’s Painful Condition”

A routine doctor’s visit turned into a shocking discovery when a married man in Taiwan sought help for sudden, severe pain in his genital area. What the urologist found beneath the patient’s foreskin left even medical professionals stunned—a hardened, decades-old accumulation of smegma that had gone unnoticed for nearly 30 years.

The man, whose identity remains private, first realized something was wrong while showering. He noticed strange, yellowish flakes falling off his body and initially feared they might be kidney stones. Concerned, he rushed to Dr. Chen Zhaoan, a urologist in Taichung, for an examination. What Dr. Chen discovered was far more surprising—a thick, calcified layer of smegma that had built up over years of poor hygiene.

Dr. Chen later explained that the patient had an unusually long foreskin and had never been taught to retract and clean beneath it. The hardened deposits had formed over time, creating a crust-like layer that emitted a strong odor upon removal. Medical staff collected the material in specimen jars for documentation, and images of the shocking buildup later spread online, sparking widespread discussion.

While cases like this are rare, Dr. Chen noted that he encounters severe smegma buildup about once every two years. What made this instance particularly alarming was the sheer length of time the accumulation had gone untreated—and the fact that the man had never received basic hygiene education about his own anatomy.

Smegma is a natural bodily secretion, but when left uncleaned, it can lead to infections, inflammation, and even more serious health risks in extreme cases. Dr. Chen emphasized that proper hygiene could have easily prevented the issue, urging men to clean beneath their foreskin regularly with water and mild soap.

The case has since ignited conversations about male hygiene, with many online commentators expressing shock that such a situation could go unnoticed for so long. Dr. Chen used the opportunity to remind the public that doctors are there to help, not judge, and that there’s no shame in seeking medical advice for concerns about personal care.

Though the patient’s condition was successfully treated, the story serves as a stark reminder of how crucial basic hygiene is—and how neglecting it can lead to surprising, and sometimes alarming, medical discoveries.