Phimosis is caused by too much foreskin to expose the glans, which is the end part of the penis.
This condition is common in infants and in most cases will disappear before 1 year old. Sometimes it takes longer to disappear naturally, and it may disappear near 5 years of age or only during adolescence without special treatment. However, as time goes on, the foreskin may continue to not allow the glans to be exposed, and certain ointments or surgery may be required.
There are two types of male phimosis:
Physiological phimosis: This is the most common disease and exists from birth;
Secondary phimosis: may occur at any stage of life, such as after repeated infections or local trauma.
In some cases, the foreskin is so tight that even urine will be trapped in the skin, increasing the risk of urinary tract infections. Phimosis can cause various complications, such as difficulty in cleaning the area, increased risk of urinary tract infection, pain during close contact, increased risk of STD, HPV or penile cancer, and a greater possibility of paraphimosis, which is a condition were the foreskin is stuck and can no longer return to the flaccid position covering the glans.
The only way to confirm the presence of phimosis is to try to manually retract the skin covering the glans of the penis. When it is impossible to see the glans completely, it indicates phimosis, which can be divided into 5 different degrees. Although the degree is important, the best treatment depends on the boy’s age. The first check for phimosis is performed on newborns, but it is part of all pediatric appointments until the age of 5 years.
When secondary phimosis occurs in adolescence or adulthood, men can usually observe the difficulty of retraction of their foreskin. If they find that they have this problem, we recommend that they consult a urologist.
During the appointment, the doctor tries to take back the skin covering the glans, if this is not possible, the diagnosis is phimosis.
Treatment options for phimosis
Phimosis detected in children is curable and does not always require special treatment, so it is important for the pediatrician to assess the situation to determine the course of action, as it sometimes resolves on its own around 4 or 5 years of age. If phimosis persists at this age after treatment or secondary phimosis occurs, special treatment is necessary, which can be done with:
1. Phimosis ointment
You should use a corticosteroid ointment with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antibiotic properties to make it easier for the skin to slide over the glans. The ointment prescribed by the doctor is usually used twice a day for 1 month and may be sufficient to cure phimosis.
2. Phimosis retraction exercises
When doing this exercise, you should hold the penis with one hand, apply the ointment with the other hand, and slowly pull back the skin, 1 minute at a time, 3 to 4 times a day. This exercise should not cause pain or discomfort, but should “relax the skin little by little.” If the exercise is not correct, in addition to pain and scars, new adhesions and fibrotic rings may also form, which are the characteristics of paraphimosis.
In the following video we share with you more phimosis stretching exercises your can perform and we introduce the Elite Phimosis Ring which are phimosis stretch rings that comes in a kit. This phimosis stretching tool can really heal your condition.
Along with the stretching exercise we recommend, and the Elite Phimosis Ring, we also recommend applying betamethasone cream to heal fast the stretched skin.
The natural way may take some time, but don´t be discouraged, there are many phimosis stretching success cases and you can check online many before-after pictures
3. Phimosis surgery
When the above treatment is insufficient, the patient can undergo surgery for phimosis after 2 years of age, which is called a postectomy. Surgery should be performed by a doctor, taking into account the age and degree of the phimosis, including complete removal of excess skin or a small incision in the skin of the area to promote exposure of the glans.
It is impossible to perform surgery before solving any existing problems, such as blood clotting problems, local infections or penile abnormalities, because in these cases, the risk of complications is greater and it may be necessary to use skin removed to reconstruct some of the genital area.
Can phimosis occur in women?
Although it is rare, women may also suffer from phimosis, which is characterized by adhesions of the vaginal lips that cover the vaginal opening. However, this adhesion does not cover the clitoris or urethra, which is the passage through which urine passes.
As with boys, as girls develop, female phimosis can be resolved over time. However, if the adherence persists, specific treatment may be required and should be recommended by a pediatrician or gynecologist.