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Although it is in generally regarded as a common condition, not too many people have heard about phimosis. What exactly is this condition?
Patients should know that stretching techniques could be particularly useful for the treatment of the non-retractile foreskin, and can be an addition to using topical steroids [6,7]:
Tips for stretching
- Use baby oil or Vaseline intensively as a lubricant.
- Pull the foreskin forward away from the body several times then pull it back and hold it in the stretched position for several minutes twice per day.
- Insert your thumb (or smaller finger if necessary) into the foreskin, gripping the glans between finger and thumb, and then roll the foreskin over the thumb until the tight ring is white with stretching.
- Hold it in this position as long as you can at a time.
Potential complications of acquired phimosis
Acquired phimosis, if left untreated, can lead to several complications. Chronic complications include discomfort or pain during urination or sexual intercourse. The urinary stream can be impeded, resulting in dribbling and wetness after urination. During sexual intercourse, or even during a simple erection, the patient could experience strong pain because of overextension of the foreskin. Pain may occur when a partially retractable foreskin retracts during intercourse and chokes the glans penis.
Since HPV is related to penile cancer and phimosis is related to HPV, evidence claims that phimosis is a risk factor for penile cancer, with up to 90% of cases of penile cancer being related to phimosis.[8]
Of course, all patients should know that the worst acute complication is paraphimosis. Paraphimosis is an acute condition characterized by the glans swollenness and strong pain. During this condition, the foreskin is immobilized by the swelling in a partially retracted position. The contraction may occur for the first time in an adult, and usually requires an operation (circumcision).
Review of possible complications:
- Problems urinating
- Problems and pain during intercourse
- Infections under the foreskin
- Frequent and recurrent infections under the foreskin, which can be avoided by cleaning regularly under the foreskin with lukewarm water
- At erection, a contracted foreskin may cause trouble by hurting when an attempt is made to pull the foreskin back
- A small chance of malignant growth in a long-standing foreskin contraction
Paraphimosis can be avoided by [9]:
- after you have sex, cleaning yourself, and pull your foreskin back down to its natural position.
- do not leave your foreskin behind the head of your penis for any longer than you need to.
- if a catheter is put into your bladder, check afterward to be sure that your foreskin is covering the head of your penis.
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