Embarrassing Bodies Episode Rating Graph

First into the clinic is 50 year old Mark, who after 30 years of putting up with phimosis (a tightening of the foreskin around the penis) has finally decided to seek help. This condition affects around 10% of uncircumcised men and Dr Pixie advises Mark to visit a urologist to decide which treatment would be best, which can include the use of steroid creams, stretching methods and circumcision. Mark opts for circumcision and joins the 12,200 men who have this procedure for medical reasons every year. It is a simple operation where the doctor removes the foreskin, keeping the glans permanently exposed and now Mark is able to have sex without experiencing any pain at all.

In this first episode the team takes to the streets of Cardiff, with the help of dentist extraordinaire James Russell, rounding up ailments left, right and centre but first Dr Christian has a visit at the clinic from ambulance technician Keith. Keith’s got a rather sensitive penis complaint that he’s keen to sort out. Dr Christian soon diagnoses Peyronie’s disease. Realising the severity of this particular case Dr Christian sees surgery as the only option, and refers Keith on to a neurological surgeon who he hopes can straighten things out. Keith meets consultant urological surgeon Mr. Paul Anderson to discuss options. With advice from his surgeon Keith opts for a Nesbitt’s procedure which removes tissue from the unaffected side of the penis so that things balance out when sewn back up, even if slightly shorter. After a two-hour procedure Keith’s penis is corrected, with Dr Christian recommending that he waits a few months before seeking further treatment for his excess foreskin.

This week the doctors have set up shop at the airport. First patient Joanne, an air-hostess, feels that her psoriasis is alienating her passengers. Dr Pixie sees Donna, who has a patchy rash on her back that is diagnosed as shingles and Dr Christian deals with Arthur who has a disfigured fingernail due to an accident at work. The doctors also check random samples from passengers to test for bacteria and bugs that have travelled with them. Back at the clinic, 44-year-old Stuart thinks that his holiday is responsible for the constant burning at the end of his penis. Dr Pixie believes an inflammation of the prostate, caused by a possible bladder infection, may well be the reason for Stuart’s troubles. He’s sent for a visit to a specialist and a treatment involving a prostate massage… After the birth of her child a year ago, Kerry has begun to feel pain and bleeding with her bowel movements – and visits to the loo are few and far between. Dr Christian notes that Kerry has developed a skin tag due to a tear and sends her to a specialist. Further testing doesn’t reveal anything sinister in her bowels and the problem is pinpointed as a tense pelvic muscle. Next up is Lindsay who has had a scar on her chest since she was 7 years old. Lindsay has developed a keloid scar, possibly from a pimple or bug bite, and Dr Pixie recommends steroid injections followed with laser treatment to help flatten out the surface of the scar. In to meet Dr James is Jessica, who has suffered from bad breath for years. Jessica has been blaming her halitosis on her tongue, but Dr James reveals it has more to do with gum disease. Jessica’s inflamed gums have created pockets that help to house bacteria and plaque, a visit to the dental hygienist helps to clear up the blockage and reduce her bad breath. Back at the airport, Brendan has a spotty abdomen caused by “folliculitis”/conditions/folliculitis/ whilst a returning passenger has been bitten by bed bugs on his holiday. Dr Pixie also sees Helene who has some moles on her back that are hurting… This week’s body check sees our guinea pig group checking their moles for signs of changes and abnormalities. Doctors Christian and Priya explain what to look out for to avoid dangerous deadly moles. Caroline, 25, has hidden her hair loss problem for over 10 years. She’s been losing hair in patches that take up to a year to grow back. Caroline has a condition called Alopecia, and Dr Christian gives her the unfortunate news that there is no known cure for her problem. Possible treatments to control the hair loss are steroids or topical creams that stimulate hair growth. And finally this week, Dr Pixie and Dr Christian put their bodies on the line to show how easy it is to do body checks. This time around, they are checking their urine for any signs of abnormalities and ill health.

The Embarrassing Illnesses doctors have decided to up sticks and take their clinic on the road! In the first of four special programmes, the three straight-talking doctors – Christian Jessen, Dawn Harper and Pixie McKenna – begin their tour of Britain in the city of Leeds, with a PR offensive that Victoria Beckham would be proud of. And to ensure that no fungal feet, problem penises or bothersome boils slip through the net, the EI team have chosen a location bang in the heart of Leeds, on Briggate – one of the city’s busiest shopping streets. With the high street transformed into a slalom of stalls, information boards and games, there will be nowhere for the people of Leeds to hide. The doctors are back…and the time for excuses is over! Kicking off proceedings is Kali, who has embarrassment written all over her face. She’s suffering from a common inflammatory condition of the skin called Rosacea, which causes redness that looks like a flush or blush.

First up, is 26-year-old David whose rotting, bleeding, puss-filled armpit has left him unable to lift up his arm without tearing the skin. The problem is diagnosed as Hidradenitis Suppurativa, a condition in which the sweat glands are blocked up, infected and develop into boils. Dr Christian sends a swab sample for analysis to reveal the bacteria infecting David, in order to prescribe the appropriate antibiotics. In the meantime, David is told to take steroids to help contain the symptoms and has been referred to a surgeon to see what can be done about the damaged skin. The EB Bus heads out to Cambridge, and first to see Dr Pixie is Lucy who has a problem growing hair, whilst Dr Christian sees a 3-year-old that has problems staying on her feet. Meanwhile, Dr Priya meets a footballer whose passing is not being helped by a curling toe. Next up there is David who consults with Dr Christian about pains in his penis and lower back. Believing that the pain is stemming from his nerves, Dr Christian recommends acupuncture treatment. Dr James meets 35-year-old rocker Neil whose teeth are hanging on by a thread as a result of advanced gum disease. Dr James saves many of Neil’s teeth by restoring them with porcelain crowns, but the teeth that couldn’t be saved have to be replaced with dentures. The doctors hit the streets of Cambridge to conduct a breath test and teach the locals about better oral hygiene. Wendy has been suffering from bad breath and heads to see a specialist that finds the root of the problem – gum disease. If you want to find an NHS Dentist in your area then use the NHS Service Finder Visiting the clinic next is Stacy, who has a problem with piles. Dr Priya examines Stacy and discovers that she’s also suffering from skin tags. As other treatments have thus far failed, Dr Priya suggests a visit to the surgeon to have both the skin tags and the piles removed. There is also a visit from Allison, a newlywed from Lancashire who is experiencing pain during sex. Dr Pixie’s examination doesn’t reveal anything sinister with Allison’s body and so she recommends psycho-sexual counselling to try and get to the root of Allison’s problem. Next up we see 24-year-old Holly who has come to see Dr Pixie about her sweaty palms. As botox injections are ineffective for palmar hyperhidrosis, a procedure utilizing electric currents is suggested. Holly’s iontophorisis treatments show significant improvements and the good news is that she can get a machine at home to continue with these treatments on a permanent basis. And finally, after conducting a sweat test after his own workout, Dr Christian meets up with the Cambridge University boat race team to calculate their sweat rates and help work out how much water they need to keep themselves healthy and hydrated. You can conduct your own sweat test at home by checking out our Sweat Body Check

The first case for this episode was Ed, who dropped into the clinic to see Dr Christian about an embarrassing problem that was preventing him from having intercourse. Losing 18 stone and undergoing a tummy tuck had left Ed with a vast surplus of excess skin and fat in his groin, almost completely burying his penis and thus limiting his ability to function sexually. Dr Christian sent Ed to a surgeon for further discussions, and he advised a procedure that would lift the excess skin up, effectively freeing the shaft of Ed’s penis which was buried under the folds of excess skin. Having undergone the surgery Ed returned to show the marked improvement in his condition.

Ian sees Dr Pixie about some side effects he has suffered after slimming down. He weighed 27 stone and his rapid decline in weight has left him with a lot of excess skin on his chest and abdomen. The saggy situation is affecting his sex life because he has a large flap of skin and fat covering his penis. Dr Pixie refers him to a plastic surgeon because the skin has stretched too far to heal itself and will need to be removed. The surgeon removes skin and fat from his chest and abdominal area in a major operation lasting over three hours. During the operation about a stone in weight is removed from Ian’s body. Once healed he’s thrilled with the results and says he can now go running and swimming, activities that were previously physically impossible.

Caro visits Dr Christian at the clinic. For eight years Caro’s eyelid has been closed over. It started bleeding from the corner and has become progressively worse: lumpier, redder and it bleeds regularly. Dr Christian diagnoses it as arteriovenous malformation (AVM). This condition is essentially an overgrowth of blood vessels and can occur anywhere in the body. It’s very rare in the eyelid. Treatment is highly risky so close to the eye, so Dr Christian sends Caro to Mr Omar Durrani at the Birmingham Eye Hospital for more tests. Mr Durrani presents one option as being major surgery that would solve the problem but runs a 30% risk of damage to Caro’s eyesight. Caro goes for an angiogram from Dr Saleh Lamin. The procedure shows that her AVM can be treated without major risk to her eyesight, so Caro can now make a decision about what course of action to take, without the stakes being quite so high.

Having waged war on the Vagina yesterday, the EI Docs turn their attention to the GP surgery’s most elusive creature – the ‘MAN’. From baldness to man boobs, and troublesome testicles to problem penises, the Docs are hitting the streets of Gloucester, searching for men who are in desperate need of a health MOT… In the climax to our week of specials, the Embarrassing Bodies clinic sets up camp at Gloucester Rugby Club. And it’s not long before they’ve got their first eye-watering case: a man whose manhood has been mangled by a piercing. Fortunately, Dr Harper is on hand to give some advice on how to keep it clean, before she heads out to a local pub to quiz the locals on how much they know about their health – with predictably poor results… Back at the club, the next patient who appears is suffering from the classic symptoms of an enlarged prostate. With 1 in 4 men over the age of 60 suffering in this way, Dr Jessen heads out to talk to pathologist Dr Jarmulowicz about how it affects men, and why so few know about it. This is all brought into sharp focus by 53-year-old Barry, who was struck down by Prostate Cancer 3 years ago. With his symptoms worsening, Barry comes along to the clinic to see Dr Jessen about the options open to him, including surgical removal, which carries with it the risks of incontinence and impotence. Most men would like to laugh off their illnesses, but the Docs have discovered that going bald can be no laughing matter. They’ve brought four balding blokes together to test out the latest hair loss products, including light technology; natural trichology, minoxydil lotion and even a full 6-hour hair transplant operation! Dr Jessen also gets to grips with a case of gynecomastia (man-boobs to most of us), when we catch up with 33-year-old Abdul from Tuesday’s programme, who’s looking to put 17 years of discomfort behind him. After a two hour operation (and the removal of three pints of fat!) Abdul’s very happy to show off his manly new chest. With surgery nearly over, Christopher drops in with a problem penis. The Docs decide that a chemically induced erection is the only way to find out if the problem will require a circumcision… As last orders are called at the Embarrassing Bodies bar, there’s a final patient to be seen. John’s acne had given his confidence a massive knock – but with the aid of dermatologist Dr Chopra, John was able to avoid plastic surgery and get on the road to recovery. And don’t forget – you can watch our self-check guide to how to check your testicles by clicking here, or you can get the guide on your mobile phone by texting BALLS to 84444…

The penultimate programme in our week of specials sees the EI team rolling into Norwich to set up a clinic in the heart of one of the country’s busiest shopping centres. This time the Docs are getting stuck into the Vagina, and there’s no room for coyness ladies! The first patients in the EI clinic are a group of teenagers who want to find out more about the embarrassing consequences of thrush. 75% of women get thrush at some point in their lives, and it affects everybody – from babies to grannies and a few fellas on the way through. Then there’s 42-year-old Debbie, who’s come to see the Doctors after giving birth to a bouncing baby boy. Baby Samuel’s doing fine, but Debbie’s having to deal with the embarrassing consequences of a painful childbirth that delivered much more than just a bundle of joy… The Docs are next putting periods under their medical microscopes, looking at the causes of period pain as well as the painful condition Endometriosis, where cells from the womb find their way into different parts of the body, with unpleasant consequences. We’re then reacquainted with 45-year-old Alyson from Monday’s programme, who’s all in a flap when it comes to exposing herself to her new partner. Fortunately, a consultation with Dr Pixie leads to a welcome resolution to her elongated labia. The menopause is something that every woman must eventually go through. However, the period just before that, the perimenopause, is less understood, but can be taste of things to come. With hot flushes, night sweats and weight gain among the symptoms, Dr Dawn discusses some of the treatment options, including Hormone Replacement Therapy. There’s also a case of vaginal dryness for Dr Dawn to examine as well, with a novel treatment involving a vaginal oestrogen pessary. Thanks to the treatment, Susan and her husband can resume normal service in the bedroom. Back in their London clinic, the Docs have a case of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, which affects over a third of British women, including high profile sufferers like Emma Thompson and Victoria Beckham. Jenni’s in the clinic to be rid of the hair that’s constantly appearing on her back and chest, and a course of laser treatment sees her much improved. They also have a woman whose overactive bladder is making her life a misery, but there’s a novel solution more commonly associated with the world of cosmetic surgery… Dr Dawn makes a house call on a women whose been suffering from a prolapsed rectum for years, and fortunately there’s a solution to her plight – but it’s certainly not for the faint hearted… Finally, Dr Jessen is running a smear campaign in Norwich! He’s targeting the 20% of British women that don’t attend a regular cervical smear test. And he’s not taking no for an answer…as three volunteers discover when he persuades them to have theirs done there and then! And don’t forget – you can watch our self-check guide to how to check your vulva by clicking here, or you can get the guide on your mobile phone by texting VULVA to 84444…

The doctors visit the holiday hot spot of Magaluf, where sex goes, booze flows and the sunburn shows. Dr Pixie sees a lad looking for treatment for a bulging ball and Dr Christian meets a girl who needs a helping hand following an awkward climax. Dr Dawn educates the hedonistic holidaymakers about the horrors of a hangover. Back in the UK, Dr Christian meets an extremely brave man who reveals the extraordinary extent of living with half his face missing. Dr Dawn meets a man with a patch on his penis that needs straightening out and Dr Pixie helps a lady whose groin and bottom abscesses are causing constant pain. And Dr James the dentist sees a 32-year-old woman whose thumb sucking habit is affecting both her teeth and her boyfriend's genitals.