Question: My stomach growls after I have eaten and most of the time it growls when I don't feel hungry. Can you please tell why this happens?

Answer: The "growling" is almost certainly normal and is the result of peristalsis. Peristalsis is coordinated rhythmic contractions of the stomach and intestines that move food and waste. It occurs all of the time, whether or not you are hungry.

The contractions can become more intense (louder) with certain foods — such as those that contain large amounts of fiber — or even with stress. Some people just have more intense/louder contractions.

Unless you also have persistent pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite or weight loss, you should consider it the sign of a healthy gastrointestinal system. If you have any of these other symptoms, you should check with your doctor.

Question: I was circumcised at 14 months old. I think the doctor took more skin off the underside of my penis than the top.

The top has wrinkly skin, but the bottom does not. Sometimes it hurts when I get an erection like the skin is being pulled too much.

Will my skin grow enough during puberty that this will go away or will I always be in pain?

Answer: Erections should not be painful, so this condition needs medical attention.

Possible causes include a tight frenulum, the bridge of tissue on the underside of the penis that connects the glans (head) to the shaft, or adhesions (scar tissue) from the glans to the shaft. In either case your physician can refer you to an urologist, a specialist who can likely treat this in the office with a minor surgical procedure using a local anesthetic.

Whatever is causing this condition is unlikely to go away as your penis grows during puberty, but you certainly need not "always be in pain."

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