Phimosis: symptoms, causes, to medicines • hello healthy

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Definition

What is phimosis (phimosis)?

Phimosis or phimosis is a condition in which the foreskin of the penis is too tight and cannot be pulled down while the penis is erect.

In uncircumcised or uncircumcised males, their penis still has the foreskin attached to the tip. The foreskin of the penis generally can be pulled back or it will shrink back when erect.

Even so, there are various possible problems that can approach the penis. One of them is phimosis, when the foreskin of the penis cannot be pulled back.

The foreskin represents at least one third of the foreskin. The foreskin serves to protect the head of the penis from friction and direct contact with clothing. When the foreskin of the penis cannot be pulled back or shrinks back over the head of the penis during an erection, this is called phimosis.

Phimosis appears in the form of a tight ring or "rubber band" that wraps around the foreskin around the tip of the penis, preventing the foreskin from pulling all the way back. Phimosis interferes with urination, sexual intercourse, and increases the risk of urinary tract infections.

How common is this condition?

Phimosis is one of the risks of circumcision for men. This can be managed by lowering your risk factors, discuss with your doctor for more information.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of phimosis (phimosis)?

Phimosis is usually painless. Even so, the tight penile skin interferes with the process of urinating or having sexual intercourse.

In addition, phimosis can make it difficult for you to clean the area under the skin of the penis, which can lead to infection. However, some people may experience pain during erection, reddish skin, sometimes causing balloon-like swelling under the foreskin.

If it is severe enough, phimosis can interfere with the work of the urinary tract, resulting in inflammation of the penis (balanitis), infection of the foreskin gland (balanoposthitis), to paraphimosis - when the blocked foreskin ends up stopping blood flow to the tip of the penis.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

If you have difficulty urinating or having sex due to phimosis, go to your doctor for examination and treatment. In addition, you should call your doctor if there are changes in your penis, such as redness, pain and swelling, which are signs of inflammation of the glans.

If you have any signs or symptoms above or any other questions, please consult your doctor. Everyone's body is different. Always consult a doctor to treat your health condition.

Cause

What causes phimosis (phimosis)?

Phimosis is a condition that is common in infants, toddlers, and boys who have not been circumcised. This is because the foreskin will remain attached to the head of the penis in the first few years of the baby or as long as it is not circumcised.

The foreskin of a child with phimosis usually begins to pull back at the age of 3 years. Even so, it is possible that adolescents and adult men can also experience this.

Quoted from the UK public health service website, the NHS, various other skin conditions can also increase the risk of the foreskin being unable to retract, such as:

• Eczema on the penis, characterized by dry, itchy, red, and cracked skin of the penis.
• Psoriasis, the appearance of red patches and crusts of dead skin on the skin.
• Lichen planus - rash and itching on areas of the body, but is not contagious.
• Lichen sclerosus - a skin disease that often occurs on the genitals and anus and causes scarring on the foreskin of the penis.

Usually, the foreskin of the penis in children 3-4 years old can be retracted. Even so, some children are unable to do this and cause phimosis by:

• The top of the foreskin is too small so that the glans penis cannot pass
• The braking cord is too short to allow the foreskin to retract completely (this is called arrestor wires BREVE)
• Due to the impact of infection, it can cause scarring of the glans penile fibrosis.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for phimosis (phimosis)?

In adults, there are a number of risk factors for phimosis. Despite being circumcised, adult males are more likely to experience phimosis if they have the following conditions:

• Recurrent urinary tract infections
• Foreskin infection
• Not taking good care of penis hygiene
• Pulling the foreskin too hard or forcefully, for example when masturbating.

These things can cause scarring around the head of the penis so that the foreskin cannot shrink back.

Having no risk factors does not mean you will not suffer from this disease. These factors are for reference only. Consult your doctor for more detailed information.

Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are my treatment options for phimosis (phimosis)?

Treatment options will be adjusted according to the symptoms that occur. If phimosis does not cause symptoms, it does not need to be treated, especially in children.

Most cases of phimosis can be treated by regularly applying a steroid cream or ointment to the foreskin area, and always keeping the penis clean every day, and keeping it dry.

In older children, all you need to do is clean and treat the infection as soon as possible. Even so, phimosis can cause inflammation or difficulty urinating and having sex. You can go to the doctor for circumcision advice.

What are the usual tests to diagnose this condition?

Your doctor will diagnose phimosis based on your medical history and examination of your penis.

Your doctor will ask you a complete medical history, including questions about previous penile infections or injuries you may have had. Your doctor may also ask about the impact your symptoms have on sexual activity.

The physical exam that the doctor performs is simply looking at the penis and foreskin. Your doctor may also ask you to do a urine test to check for possible infection and take a sample of fluid in the foreskin area to check for bacteria.

Phimosis is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Adults with this condition may be asked to have blood and urine tests to check blood sugar levels.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat phimosis (phimosis)?

Phimosis can be prevented by maintaining the cleanliness and health of the intimate organs. Routinely clean the penis area with warm water then dry it with a clean towel slowly. The goal is to help keep the foreskin muscles easy to move and avoid infection.

You must stick to a healthy lifestyle, exercise and avoid smoking, alcohol, and irritants. Find ways to deal with stress in your personal relationships. In addition, improve your relationship with your partner and also your health.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.