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Phimosis FAQs
A tight foreskin can be extremely painful but it can be treated - often without surgery.
Phimosis
What is it?
An unusually tight foreskin that cannot be drawn back from the head of the penis.
What are the main symptoms?
- You cannot retract the foreskin to expose the head of your penis.
- The foreskin is too tight.
- Severe phimosis can make erections painful.
What's the risk?
Only uncircumcised men are affected. Some have phimosis from childhood but it can develop later in life.
The foreskin is stuck to the glans in small children but should begin to separate at around three years of age. As the child gets older the foreskin normally retracts to expose the glans but often the foreskin, although partially retractable, will remain attached to the glans until after puberty
If you cannot fully retract your foreskin you won't be able to wash it properly. This may lead to a build-up of smegma, which can become infected.
What causes it?
- Thrush infections, which make the foreskin scarred.
- Balanitis xerotica obliterans, a condition which makes the foreskin stick to the penis.
How can I prevent it?
The traditional view is that there's not a lot you can do. In fact, there is. Check out our Circumcision FAQs.
Should I see a doctor?
Yes you should, as trying to force the foreskin back will only cause painful cracks on the inside of the foreskin; these will scar as they heal and make the condition worse. The doctor will carry out a physical examination.
What are the main treatments?
Try the other options first but you may need to be circumcised. This involves an operation to separate the foreskin from the glans. The foreskin is then cut away and the incision stitched up.
If the cause is balanitis xerotica obliterans you may first be prescribed steroid creams. This can relieve the condition but circumcision may still be required later.
How can I help myself?
As we said, the traditional view is that there's not a lot you can do. In fact, there is.
What's the outlook after circumcision?
At the very least, the glans will feel sensitive after circumcision as it is not used to being exposed. Wearing loose boxer shorts and using a condom during sex for the first month or two after the operation (even if you have a regular partner) should reduce any irritation.
Paraphimosis
What is it?
A painful condition in which the foreskin can't be pulled back over the head of the penis.
What are the main symptoms?
- The retracted foreskin becomes stuck behind the head of the penis (glans) and cannot be pulled forward again, leaving the glans exposed.
- The penis becomes swollen and painful.
What's the risk?
You are at risk if you are uncircumcised or have not been properly or completely circumcised.
What causes it?
Paraphimosis is caused by inflammation and narrowing of the foreskin. This may be the result of infection, poor personal hygiene, or damage to the penis, causing swelling.
How can I prevent it?
It's not always possible to prevent it, but keeping your penis clean and treating any infections quickly will definitely help. Also, make sure you roll your foreskin back after sex.
Should I see a doctor?
Yes. If you can't move the foreskin gently back into position, or if the problem starts to occur regularly, you should get medical advice. If the foreskin remains retracted for too long it can become extremely painful and may even cause permanent damage.
What are the main treatments?
A doctor can manually retract the foreskin under local or general anaesthesia. You may also be shown how to gradually retract the foreskin after a bath, using petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or some other form of lubrication. But if the problem persists, circumcision may be necessary.
How can I help myself?
Keep your penis clean.
What's the outlook?
The probable outcome is excellent if the condition is diagnosed and treated rapidly. But if it is not treated promptly, the penis may — in very rare cases — be permanently damaged or become gangrenous.
Who else can help?
If circumcision is suggested it is not something to be entered into lightly. You might like to check out the following website:
15 Square (the trading name of NORM UK) - they offer help with tight foreskin (phimosis) and unwanted circumcision, information, education and advice
Know Your Knob: all our penis health links
Free PDF of Size Isn't Everything - all penis FAQs answered
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Date published
07/04/14
Date of last review
07/04/14
Date of next review
07/04/17
References
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The Men’s Health Forum need your support It’s tough for men to ask for help but if you don’t ask when you need it, things generally only get worse. So we’re asking. In the UK, one man in five dies before the age of 65. If we had health policies and services that better reflected the needs of the whole population, it might not be like that. But it is. Policies and services and indeed men have been like this for a long time and they don’t change overnight just because we want them to. It’s true that the UK’s men don’t have it bad compared to some other groups. We’re not asking you to ‘feel sorry’ for men or put them first. We’re talking here about something more complicated, something that falls outside the traditional charity fund-raising model of ‘doing something for those less fortunate than ourselves’. That model raises money but it seldom changes much. We’re talking about changing the way we look at the world. There is nothing inevitable about premature male death. Services accessible to all, a population better informed. These would benefit everyone - rich and poor, young and old, male and female - and that’s what we’re campaigning for. We’re not asking you to look at images of pity, we’re just asking you to look around at the society you live in, at the men you know and at the families with sons, fathers and grandads missing. Here’s our fund-raising page - please chip in if you can.
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