Phimosis: The Ins and Outs of a Difficult Foreskin
Yesterday I was talking with a female colleague whose brother just had an adult circumcision due to phimosis. He was sad about the change in his sensation and frustrated that he could not choose another path to solving his problem. Unfortunately, his case (which developed in adulthood -- a rare phenomenon) did not respond to some nonsurgical approaches.
What is phimosis, you might be wondering? It is the inability to retract the adult or late-adolescent foreskin of the penis because the opening is too small or adhesions (abnormal tissue attachments) have formed.
Before listing treatment approaches, it is useful to know how the foreskin functions. It is normal for the foreskin to adhere to the glans (head) of the penis at birth. It is attached with a membrane called synechia which is similar to the membrane that attaches finger nails to the nail bed. In fact, only about 4% of male babies are born with retractable foreskins. Normal bathing of the penis with water and mild soap are generally sufficient to cleanse the penis of newborn males and children.
Many people view this normal condition in children as phimosis and mistakenly attempt to force the foreskin back. This can cause harm and lead to the formation of lesions and the condition called acquired phimosis. The synechia is made up of specialized cells that will totally disappear in all but a few cases by age 17.
When puppies and kittens are born with their eyes shut, we allow nature to take its course rather than forcing their eyelids open. Foreskins develop similarly. In fact, foreskins and eyelids have a great deal in common in the protective function they serve. In cases of injuries during World War II (where some soldiers' eyelids were destroyed by fiery explosions) the foreskins of these men were used to surgically form new eyelids for them.
In some cases, medical attention will be needed to deal with this tissue to finish what nature did not. My colleague's brother was not one of those individuals, but before a man opts for adult circumcision he should try some gradual approaches first.
Here are the instructions: Try stretching the foreskin with fingers. Do this either in a bath or while using lubrication when the penis is flaccid (unaroused). If there is enough opening to insert the tips of the smallest finger on each hand, do so and gently stretch the opening outward. If that is not yet possible, lightly pinch the foreskin between the thumbs and index fingers at the opening and stretch it from the outside. Over time (possibly weeks or a few months) there may be enough improvement to allow the foreskin to retract sufficiently over the glans of the penis.
One can also consider minor surgical approaches. The first involves creating a slit in the foreskin when it will not stretch sufficiently. Some people do not find this solution aesthetically pleasing. Second, some plastic surgery techniques are being developed to expand the opening of the foreskin without removing it entirely. Ask physicians for information about these surgical options.
If a man wishes, of course, he may decide to have a complete circumcision, that is, the removal of the entire foreskin. While circumcision is performed on nearly 50 percent of newborn American males, in most other countries around the world it is fairly rare. I was quite happy to read recent data that indicated that California, my home state, had a circumcision rate of 21% in 2004, the most recent year for which we have data. A billboard in Florida succinctly summarized my feelings about the circumcision of newborns: a foreskin is not a birth defect.
If a man's foreskin will not retract, it may be uncomfortable to have a full erection no matter whether his sexual partner is a woman, a man or is stimulating himself. So, regardless of one's desires or plans regarding a sexual partner, in order to have the option of a full sexual life, I recommend that a man patiently and steadfastly tackle this problem before opting for circumcision.
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: phimosis, penis, foreskin, circumcision, mens health, health and wellness
What is phimosis, you might be wondering? It is the inability to retract the adult or late-adolescent foreskin of the penis because the opening is too small or adhesions (abnormal tissue attachments) have formed.
Before listing treatment approaches, it is useful to know how the foreskin functions. It is normal for the foreskin to adhere to the glans (head) of the penis at birth. It is attached with a membrane called synechia which is similar to the membrane that attaches finger nails to the nail bed. In fact, only about 4% of male babies are born with retractable foreskins. Normal bathing of the penis with water and mild soap are generally sufficient to cleanse the penis of newborn males and children.
Many people view this normal condition in children as phimosis and mistakenly attempt to force the foreskin back. This can cause harm and lead to the formation of lesions and the condition called acquired phimosis. The synechia is made up of specialized cells that will totally disappear in all but a few cases by age 17.
When puppies and kittens are born with their eyes shut, we allow nature to take its course rather than forcing their eyelids open. Foreskins develop similarly. In fact, foreskins and eyelids have a great deal in common in the protective function they serve. In cases of injuries during World War II (where some soldiers' eyelids were destroyed by fiery explosions) the foreskins of these men were used to surgically form new eyelids for them.
In some cases, medical attention will be needed to deal with this tissue to finish what nature did not. My colleague's brother was not one of those individuals, but before a man opts for adult circumcision he should try some gradual approaches first.
Here are the instructions: Try stretching the foreskin with fingers. Do this either in a bath or while using lubrication when the penis is flaccid (unaroused). If there is enough opening to insert the tips of the smallest finger on each hand, do so and gently stretch the opening outward. If that is not yet possible, lightly pinch the foreskin between the thumbs and index fingers at the opening and stretch it from the outside. Over time (possibly weeks or a few months) there may be enough improvement to allow the foreskin to retract sufficiently over the glans of the penis.
One can also consider minor surgical approaches. The first involves creating a slit in the foreskin when it will not stretch sufficiently. Some people do not find this solution aesthetically pleasing. Second, some plastic surgery techniques are being developed to expand the opening of the foreskin without removing it entirely. Ask physicians for information about these surgical options.
If a man wishes, of course, he may decide to have a complete circumcision, that is, the removal of the entire foreskin. While circumcision is performed on nearly 50 percent of newborn American males, in most other countries around the world it is fairly rare. I was quite happy to read recent data that indicated that California, my home state, had a circumcision rate of 21% in 2004, the most recent year for which we have data. A billboard in Florida succinctly summarized my feelings about the circumcision of newborns: a foreskin is not a birth defect.
If a man's foreskin will not retract, it may be uncomfortable to have a full erection no matter whether his sexual partner is a woman, a man or is stimulating himself. So, regardless of one's desires or plans regarding a sexual partner, in order to have the option of a full sexual life, I recommend that a man patiently and steadfastly tackle this problem before opting for circumcision.
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: phimosis, penis, foreskin, circumcision, mens health, health and wellness
19 Comments:
I appreciate that nonsurgical methods were tried first in the case of the brother with phimosis, but circumcision IS NOT the appropriate treatment to resolve phimosis EVER.
For a post-adolescent male who wishes to retract (up to 4% of normal males never will) and who has not been successful with steroidal ointments and stretching exercises, the surgical remedy is called a preputial plasty (a.k.a. dorsal slit), and it removes no sensual tissue.
I would urge anyone with foreskin issues to take medical advice about it ONLY from a doctor WITH a foreskin. Since at least half of doctors are male and 80% of the world is not circumcised, it shouldn't be hard to find an intact male doctor. You just have to ask.
seems like there is a movement to stop circumcisions, Me for one like the operation, the sensations are different but not worse and the penis is MUCH better looking and mor sanitary
Well, some people want a circumcision and others don't, it's up to them to decide. As for myself, i am suffering from phimosis, am 50 years old and have already had one surgery to attempt a correction (it didn't fix the problem). I was happily circumcised, and got the phimosis from an infection (Arizona heat, sweating, exposure to certain chemicals in my job etc..). The first surgery seemed to go well, and was happy with the recovery until the bandages came off then had an immediate retraction. So no, having a foreskin or not having a foreskin is not the overriding reason that some people will have a bout with phimosis. I am scheduled to go for another surgery on Aug 8th and have high hopes that this time things will turn out better. The doctors plan is to split the skin and not to suture it back together but to let it close up and thereby making the skin effectively wider. I hope so.
I was one of few in WV not to be circumcised but between 6-12 months my foreskin closed so tight that I couold not void, therefore requiring something to be done. The old doc threw me on the table and sliced the foreskin to allow it to slide back then sutured it up. I have a scar on the underside of my penis but still have my foreskin although in adulthood, it slid back and although it covers the glans, I opted to keep it pulled back at all times, just more comfortable to me..Thanks for reading my story..
hi i am considering circumcision but am wondering how much pain is involved with the procedure afterwards i mean,,
Concerning the pain question...As an adult, I was circumcised eight days ago. With the pain meds given to me, this past week has not been painful, but very uncomfortable. Mine we necessitated by abnormal adhesions at the base of the head of the penis, possibly precipitated as a complication of mild type II diabetes. That is to note that itching and irritation from the stitches on the newly exposed areas is very bothersome, but not painful. The worst seems to be over. I took two days off work, have been very careful, but still the light bleeding did not stop for five days. and at a week and a day, I am still somewhat swollen and quite bruised. I hope it was worth it.
I appearantly have phimosis and i'm 22 years old i have been considering having a circumcision done i was wondering first of all about the cost and also about the pain and the recovery time involved how much time is needed off work and the lasting of the discomfort
HI I'm 15 when I'm hard i can't pull back my foreskin it will get all most to the end of the head but thats as far as it will go what should i do
I was circumsized when I was 19. I had phimosis and had frequently irritated skin and rashes on the tip of my penis as a result.
I have absolutely NO REGRETS about having my circumsizion. Although it is less sensetive, I can last longer in sex and I think my penis looks bigger and better.
Although the first 6 months after the sergery are uncomfortable, I would recommend adult circumcision to anyone with phimosis and espeicially those who have skin irritation as a result.
hey I am 18 years old and was never able to pull my foreskin over the head of my penis. I was never told I had to and when I tried it hurt and the tip of the penis got very red. Can someone help me on what I should do?
I'm 32 years old and have ad phimosis for about 6 yrs now. Before the condition, my foreskin retracted itself when I became aroused. Now if I can even endure the pain f pulling the foreskin back my penis looks like I tied a string around it too tight. Is this normal with Phimosis and if the self help treatments do not work should I consider the circumcision?
im 18, and i recently found out i had phimosis and after about 2 weeks of treatment my foreskin finally cameback, and like a trusted adult told me to i left it back to it would stretch all day, but it turns out a blister has formed under the head of my penis but not quite on the foreskin itself, WHAT should i DO?
i tried the exercises before.they dont work for me.the skin started closing up about a year ago but when i tried pulling the skin back anyway it just ripped open,causing severe pain.i just went (like two days ago) to a doctor that said i had balanitis/phimosis. im scheduled to be circumcised. i dont think theres another way to fix it.i will probably get a dorsal slit just to open it wide enough to make it possible to be circumcised.its so bad that when i urinate it just drips out.id kinda like to know how long pain lasts after i get circumcised.im afraid since people have been telling me stories.if you have some helpful info leave a post
p.s. im 14
im 18, and my foreskin has never been able to retract either. i tried the topical steroid cream for about 6 weeks and didnt see much improvement. i have to fix this problem soon, i get so self-conscience about it that its ruining all my relationships. i just want a normal looking penis, but i'm really nervous about circumsision. whats the recovery like?
hi im 19 and i found out i had phimosis a year ago i was gonna get circimsised but i found my own way to work it out my penis is about 9-10 inches long and i managed to stretch it through it was painful but i love uncut penises so i now have a normal uncut big penis =)
GUYS GUYS GUYS,
Just have it completely removed like I have. It looks better, it feels better, it's cleaner and the women find it more exciting to look and take in the penis in all it's glory rather than having to deal with an unecesseary squid-leftover tissue. It's one of the best decisions I ever made!
my husband has had this problem since he was a child, and has only confined in me. he is 25. he is very shy and will not go to the doctor. so my question is to see the other options we have to try. i would really like him to enjoy it as much as i do. he says he does but i feel his sensation is not fully there. i have looked into other options and really didn't find much. so if anyone could help me that would be nice. i wounder if theres possible creams. thank you for your time.
I am 16 and am currently scheduled for a circumcision, but i recently was able to get it retracted. I have skin adhesions so it wont go back all the way. is ther any hope these adhesions will go away on their own?
p.s. when i was younger my doctor forced back my foreskin several times. it was extremely painful. is it possible that this cause the adhesions?
I am wondering whether I have phimosis and if I do what I should do about it. My foreskin started closing up about a year and a half ago and while I believe it has stopped there is a VERY small opening. I don't know how it started but I did have a girlfriend at the time and we were sexually active. It is very troubling and my confidence has fallen drastically. I am too scared to tell anybody! Can anyone help?? I am 18 btw.
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