Phimosis
1. What is phimosis?
A condition in which the foreskin of the penis cannot be retracted fully on erection or even when not erect is called phimosis.
2. How common is phimosis?
Phimosis is a common and relatively normal condition in babies and young children until around 10 years.
In most people, if the foreskin (called as prepuce) does not come back completely during erection, it does not cause any problem whatsoever during sex.
3. Will a man have difficulty in sexual intercourse with Phimosis?
No, there will be no difficulty in sexual activity.
In our clinical practice at Samadhan Health Studio, it is not uncommon to come across penises where the foreskin cannot be retracted completely even in a flaccid state. Married people have no hindrance in sexual intercourse due to non-retracting foreskin. These people are often oblivious of the fact that in some people the foreskin does come back fully. We have not required even a single person to undergo circumcision or preputioplasty for treating phimosis.
Practically for sexual and reproductive health, as well as general health, circumcision has neither any advantage nor disadvantage.
4. What are the risks or dangers of phimosis (foreskin not completely retracting)?
The prepuce may come back during vigorous sexual intercourse and if the boy does not push it ahead to cover the glans as it normally does then it can lead to paraphimosis.
Foreskin or Prepuce covers the glans penis.
When the foreskin gets stuck behind, it causes pain and swelling of the tip portion of the penis, the glans penis.
5. When to consult a doctor?
Visit your doctor
If pain and redness persist.
If the head of the penis swells.
Inability to pull the foreskin back to its position which is paraphimosis
The doctor who may advise you on circumcision or to retract the foreskin under local Anaesthesia.
If after marriage phimosis does cause problems then at that time you may consider circumcision, which is a minor procedure.
Prevention
Masturbate with your hand. It causes the foreskin to move forward and backward. This method of masturbation is preferable to the method of friction by lying on the bed in a prone position. Usually, masturbation is the right time to practice stretching. If in a flaccid state the prepuce does not slide behind, then you can do this stretching at any time of the day. It need not be only during masturbation
The foreskin is the elastic extra skin, which often responds to forceful stretching in adult phimosis.
- Do this often and be gentle while doing.
- Do not pull too hard.
- Stop pulling as soon as it hurts, cracks, or bleeds.
Note: Foreskin may not come back completely (in that sense it is not cured), but you won’t have difficulty during sexual intercourse.
Try using a condom while having sex. In case you notice pain during sexual intercourse, avoid having sex at that moment.
Remember to reposition it, any-time if the prepuce/foreskin comes behind, so as to cover the glans as it usually does. Failing to do this, will lead to paraphimosis.
Treatment
There are 2 ways:
- Circumcision is the surgery done where this foreskin is removed.
- To practice the stretching of the foreskin as far backward as pain permits are the best substitute for surgery.
If it ever gets stuck behind like a rubber band, then with LIGNOX 2%, a gel having a local anesthetic effect, massage the penis and soften the foreskin and pull it forcefully forward to bring it to its former position covering the entire tip of the penis. Read on Paraphimosis to know more. We here at Samadhan Health Studio, do not recommend the use of steroids.