Phimosis is defined as the inability to retract the skin (foreskin or prepuce) covering the head (glans) of the penis. Phimosis may appear as a tight ring or “rubber band” of foreskin around the tip of the penis, preventing full retraction. Phimosis is divided into two forms: physiologic and pathologic.
Male babies are born with a tight foreskin as it is attached to the penis head. Uncircumcised boys will usually develop retractable foreskins by the time they reach their teens. In adults, phimosis is caused by infection, inflammation, a skin condition or a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI).
Phimosis in a young child is likely to improve on its own. In adults, phimosis will not go away unless surgery is performed or an infection is treated.
Phimosis isn't usually a problem unless it causes symptoms. These include: redness. soreness.
Retracting exercises – Pulling the foreskin down over the glans (penis head) gently and regularly may also encourage better stretching. However, use extra caution and only pull the foreskin slowly and gently. If you notice any discomfort, pain, skin cracking or bleeding stop immediately.
Phimosis makes sexual intercourse uncomfortable, but does not interfere with a man's fertility. Therefore a man can definitely make a woman pregnant despite having phimosis.
Phimosis is defined as the inability to retract the skin (foreskin or prepuce) covering the head (glans) of the penis. Phimosis may appear as a tight ring or “rubber band” of foreskin around the tip of the penis, preventing full retraction. Phimosis is divided into two forms: physiologic and pathologic.
What are the main treatments? A doctor can manually retract the foreskin under local or general anaesthesia. You may also be shown how to gradually retract the foreskin after a bath, using petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or some other form of lubrication. But if the problem persists, circumcision may be necessary.
Conclusions: Pain is mild to moderate after circumcision in adults under general anesthesia with an intraoperative penile block. Severe pain is rare and mostly related to complications.
In most boys, a tight foreskin will resolve before adulthood. Cases of phimosis that persist into adulthood may cause pain, discomfort during sex, increased risk of infection, or difficulty urinating. If symptoms are present at any age, it is important to see a doctor.
Eventually, the foreskin should be retracted far enough during urination to see the meatus (the hole where the urine comes from). This prevents urine from building up beneath the foreskin and possibly causing an infection. As long as the foreskin doesn't easily retract, only the outside needs to be cleaned.
Most boys will be able to retract their foreskins by the time they are 5 years old, yet others will not be able to until the teen years. As a boy becomes more aware of his body, he will most likely discover how to retract his own foreskin. But foreskin retraction should never be forced.
In cases of severe or repeated balanitis or balanoposthitis, doctors may recommend treating the phimosis itself. They may prescribe steroid creams to help soften the foreskin and make it easier to retract, or surgery may be an option.
Pathologic, or true, phimosis has several different etiologies. The most common cause is infection, such as posthitis, balanitis, or a combination of the two (balanoposthitis). Diabetes mellitus may predispose to such infections. Adult circumcision is most commonly performed to correct phimosis.
In some cases, phimosis can cause other kinds of urinary problems too. Severe phimosis may make it harder to pass urine. It can also increase the risk of issues such as balanitis, which happens when the foreskin gets inflamed due to irritation or an infection.
Phimocure phimosis rings are manufactured from a progressive firmness material, enabling the extra soft, small twist fit sizes, to be simply pulled to remove, without risking damage to the foreskin. The sizes are progressively firmer, achieving a perfect balance of safety, comfort and function.
Traditionally, surgical treatment through circumcision under local anaesthesia is considered the gold standard treatment of adult male phimosis and several surgical techniques have been described (2). Usually, circumcision is a simple and safe surgical procedure.
Phimosis is caused by a tightening of the opening of the foreskin. This is normal in a newborn baby. Over time the foreskin loosens and can be pulled down more easily. By age 17, most boys will be able to fully retract their foreskin.
Phimosis is a normal occurrence in the newborn boy. Some boys' foreskin can be retracted as early as infancy, others not until age 5 or 6 years. Once potty trained, the uncircumcised boy should learn to retract his foreskin when he urinates and bathes and then pull it back forward again.
Adult Phimosis Treatment
Symptoms of phimosis can include pain during urination and painful erections. Some men suffer for years before seeking effective treatment. In some cases a locally applied steroid ointment can be effective at treating phimosis over a period of two months.