Phimosis is a condition where the foreskin of the glans penis cannot be retracted or it retracted with difficulty. This phenomenon can be accompanied by urination disorder, pain, inflammation. We distinguish between primary (physiological) and secondary (pathological)
phimosis.
Children are born with physiological phimosis, which is caused by adhesions between the head of the penis and the tip of the penis, which in most cases disappears on its own by the age of 5-7 years. Secondary (acquired) phimosis is caused by the presence of infections,
inflammation and scarring.
Phimosis can cause the following complications:
- Paraphimosis is the ringing of the glans penis by skin folds when a patient with phimosis tries to open the glans penis. Paraphimosis is an emergency condition and requires immediate medical attention. In the case of paraphimosis, the blood supply to the glans is disturbed, the glans becomes swollen and acquires a bluish tint, as the paraphimosis deepens, the blood supply worsens and can cause the glans to become ischemic and cause necrosis of glans penis.
- Urinary incontinence – with pronounced stricture, the stream of urine can weaken and cause difficulty urinating.
- Urinary Tract Infection – The glans should be kept clean. In case of phimosis, it is not possible to ensure proper cleanliness, which in turn contributes to inflammation.
- Sexual life disorders
Treatment is mainly surgical and involves circumcision. Circumcised people are less susceptible to sexually transmitted infections, as a moist environment is considered a favorable factor for the transmission of infections. Circumcision also reduces the risk of
penile cancer.
