Phimosis

CONDITION

Phimosis is a tightness of the foreskin which makes it difficult or impossible to retract it beyond the head (glans) of the penis. It may cause a swelling, pain (especially during erections and intercourse), difficulty passing urine, infections (balanitis) or paraphimosis (where the tight foreskin becomes trapped behind the glans). It is normal for children to not be able to retract the foreskin (known as physiological phimosis), this almost always resolves without treatment by the age of 16. Sometimes phimosis develops as a result of an inflammatory condition known as lichen sclerosus or balanitis xerotica obliterans.

Phimosis can be treated by gentle stretching, use of topical steroid ointments or by a surgical intervention, which may include dorsal slit, preputioplasty or circumcision.