Foreskin Phimosis

Phimosis is a condition where the foreskin (or prepuce) is too tight to be retracted behind the glans of the penis.

Nearly all male babies are born with phimosis because the foreskin and the glans develop as one structure but, as the infant becomes a child, separation of the two structures takes place naturally and the majority of three year olds are able to pull back their foreskin. However, forcing the foreskin to retract can cause damage so it should only be done by the child himself when he is ready to do so.

Research shows that only about 1% of 17 year olds are unable to achieve full retraction and this is usually due to poor hygiene or an additional medical condition like diabetes, which causes scarring and obstruction at the opening of the foreskin.

In cases where foreskin phimosis develops in an uncircumcised adult who was able to retract his foreskin previously, then there are likely to be problems ahead.

One researcher noted that phimosis could be caused by masturbating whilst lying face down on a bed and rubbing the penis against the mattress. When patients were encouraged to mimic the action of sexual intercourse by moving the foreskin up and down, the condition returned to normal without surgery.

Another cause of an acquired phimosis is a localised skin condition called balanitis xerotica obliterans (BXO). When it affects the penis, the skin is thickened, white, and hard and this inelastic tissue prevents retraction.

Mention should also be made at this point of paraphimosis where the foreskin has been pulled back, but is too tight to be pushed back up over the glans and becomes trapped in the retracted position. Should this event persist for any length of time or cause any sign of lack of blood flow, immediate emergency medical assistance should be sought, as it can result in serious complications, such as gangrene.

If the condition does not respond to general medical techniques then a circumcision (removal of the foreskin) or preputioplasty may be required. The latter is a small operation where a vertical cut is made through the tight ring that is limiting the movement of the foreskin and then stitched together horizontally. It takes 2-3 weeks for this to heal, but full retraction of the foreskin should then be possible.

Originally posted 2010-04-13 15:43:39. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Related posts:

1. Penile Phimosis
2. Cuts on Foreskin
3. Penile Balanitis and Boys with a Tight Forskin
4. Uncircumcised Erect Penis Forskin