Foreskin Phimosis
Foreskin phimosis in boys is often confused with a simple non-retractable foreskin and, often, may only be diagnosed later when treatments have produced no improvement.
Foreskin phimosis is a tight ring around the end of the prepuce, which is often made of scar tissue, and this prevents the foreskin from being retracted. This scar tissue may be the result of a primary, secondary or recurrent infection. It may also cause an obstruction to urination resulting in the ballooning of the prepuce.
Boys under the age of seven will usually require no treatment as their foreskin has not yet undergone the natural separation from the glans and this will happen on its own over time. Forcible retraction should be avoided as this can cause the scar tissue which interferes with the movement of the foreskin and leads to true phimosis.
If the glans or both the glans and the foreskin are infected, this is known as balanitis and the bacterial types will be treated with antibiotics. Some recurrent infections can be fungal but the majority will be due to poor genital hygiene or the use of perfumed soaps which can make the condition worse. Repeated balanitis can also cause the scarring which restricts the movement of the prepuce and leads to foreskin phimosis.
If, after treatment, there is no improvement in the balanitis or if there is an associated phimosis, a referral to a specialist will be made where tests will be done to rule out the possibility of carcinoma and to assess the foreskin phimosis for the possibility of a preputioplasty (a small vertical cut is made in the tight ring of tissue and then restitched horizontally to allow more play to permit retraction) or circumcision.
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Joanna Cake is a life blogger who writes about health, parenting, sexual relationships and intimacy.
For more information on foreskin phimosis and balanitis phimosis, go to: http://sipep.org
