Things You Should Know About Your Penis
Talking about a your penis can be a sensitive topic or uncomfortable for some men (and women) to talk about openly. But sometimes questions about the penis come up, like:
- Does the penis have a mind of it’s own?
- Does penis size really matter?
- Can you break the penis?
Phimosis definition and facts
- Phimosis is the inability to retract the foreskin behind the head (glans) of the penis.
- Symptoms of may include:
- Difficulty or pain during urination
- Painful erection
- Paraphimosis (A medical emergency where the foreskin can’t return to it’s normal location once retracted.)
- This penis disorder usually is divided into physiologic and pathologic phimosis.
- Physiologic phimosis is the normal condition in which children are born with a tight foreskin, and separation occurs during late childhood and early adolescence.
- Pathologic phimosis happens because of an infection, inflammation, or scarring and usually is found in uncircumcised adult men.
What causes phimosis?
Physiologic phimosis is present at birth and resolves without intervention. Most children will not have a fully retractable foreskin at birth, but do so as they get older with the majority having a fully retractable foreskin by early adolescence.
Pathologic phimosis is caused by scarring, balanitis, and underlying medical risk factors.
What are the signs and symptoms of phimosis?
The inability of the foreskin to retract can lead to difficulty cleaning of the area which can cause balanitis. Other symptoms include:
How can I tell if I have phimosis?
Your doctor can diagnose phimosis based on a thorough history and physical examination. Additional tests are usually not necessary.
What medications, creams, or ointments treat and cure this condition?
Treatment depends on the age of the male, severity, and resulting symptoms.
The first choice of treatment is usually a steroid ointment that is locally applied. This treatment has shown a success rate of over 70%. The ointment softens the foreskin and is applied for 4 to 6 weeks. Once full retraction is possible the ointment is discontinued.
If the steroid treatment is not successful, a circumcision might be beneficial. This depends on the underlying symptoms.
Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 5/10/2017