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}}</ref> The mistaken belief that the foreskin was supposed to be retractable at the time of birth of the infant has led to a characterization of the genitalia of most infant males as defective at birth. This has led to many false diagnoses of [[phimosis]], followed by unnecessary [[circumcision]], when, in fact, the [[foreskin]] is developmentally normal. There is no one correct age for the foreskin to become retractable.
Normally, developmental non-retractability does not cause any problems, in fact, it is protective of the [[glans penis]] and protects against [[meatal stenosis]]. Non-retractability may be deemed pathological if it causes problems, such as difficulty urinating or performing normal sexual functions, but even then, this is rare, and, if the non-retractability itself is not caused by pathological inflammation, it cannot be called "pathological" or "true phimosis." A foreskin that is so narrow it will retract very little or not at all, but is not the result of a pathological inflammation, is accurately termed ''preputial stenosis'' (narrow prepuce), and will respond to treatment including steroid creams, manual [[stretching]], and changing [[masturbation]] habits.
== History ==
|date=1996-11-01
|accessdate=2019-10-19
}}</ref> Imamura (1997) examined 4521 infants and young boys. He re-ported that the [[foreskin ]] is retractile in 3 percent of infants aged one to three months, 19.9 percent of those aged ten to twelve months, and 38.4 percent of three-year-old boys.<ref name="imamura1997">{{REFjournal
|last=Imamura
|init=E
|date=2004
|accessdate=2019-11-08
}}</ref> Ko et al. (2007) examined 59 newborn Taiwanese boys. Not one had a retractable [[foreskin]].<ref name="ko2007">{{REFjournal
|last=Ko
|first=Ming-Chung
== Making the foreskin retractable ==
Teen boys who still have a non-retractable [[foreskin ]] (about 10 percent of boys) should start [[stretching]] exercises to make the foreskin retractable in preparation for adult life.
Occasionally a male reaches adulthood with a non-retractile foreskin. Some men with a non-retractile foreskin happily go through life and father children. Other men, however, may want to make their foreskin retractile.
===Fixing a fused foreskin===
In a few cases, the [[Synechia| synechial]] fusion of childhood lingers past puberty. After puberty, the synechial fusion should be about ready to spontaneously release the [[foreskin]] from the [[glans penis]]. One may try gently peeling the foreskin away from the glans penis by using one's thumbs. It may take one several tries to get it all separated. Apply petroleum jelly after separation occurs for about two weeksto prevent re-adhesion.
If one is unsuccessful, then one may need to consult a urologist.