Development of retractable foreskin: Difference between revisions

In the majority of adult men, the [[foreskin]] normally retracts to reveal the [[glans penis| head of the penis]]. In newborns, it is normal for the foreskin to be fused to the head of the penis by the [[synechia]], thus rendering it non-retractable.<ref name="agarwal2005" /> The [[preputial sac]] is sealed by the [[synechia]].<ref name="fleiss-hodges-vanhowe1998">{{TaylorJR LockwoodAP TaylorAJ 1996}}</ref> The [[foreskin]] usually separates from the glans and becomes retractable with increasing age.<ref name="agarwal2005" /> There is much uncertainty among health care workers about when the foreskin of a boy should become retractable.<ref>{{REFjournal

}}</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.<ref name="agarwal2005" />

Normally, developmental non-retractability does not cause any problems, in fact, it is protective of the [[glans penis]] and protects against [[meatal stenosis]].<ref name="agarwal2005" /> 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.

Almost all boys are born with the inner [[foreskin]] mucosa fused with the underlying [[glans penis]] by the [[synechia]].<ref name="agarwal2005" /> Most also have a narrow [[foreskin]] that cannot retract. Non-retractile foreskin is normal at birth and remains in the normal range until after puberty (age 18).<ref name="agarwal2005" /> The non-retractile [[foreskin]] is nature's way of protecting the young boy from [[meatal stenosis]] and [[infection]] in the [[preputial sac]].  

Some boys develop retractile foreskin earlier, and about 2 percent of males have a non-retractile foreskin throughout life. Non-retractile foreskin is not a disease and does not require treatment.  

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Boys are born with a non-retractile foreskin.<ref name="agarwal2005" /> The [[foreskin]] gradually becomes retractable over a variable period of time ranging from birth to 18 years or more.<ref name="Øster1968"/><ref name="thorvaldsen2005"/> There is no “right” age for the foreskin to become retractable. Non-retractile foreskin does not threaten health so no intervention is necessary. Many boys only develop a retractable foreskin after puberty. Education of concerned parents usually is the only action required.<ref>{{REFjournal

Care-givers and healthcare providers must be careful to avoid [[forced retraction|premature retraction]] of the foreskin, which is contrary to medical recommendations, painful, traumatic, tears the attachment points (synechiae), may cause [[infection]], is likely to generate medico-legal issues, and may cause [[paraphimosis]], with the tight foreskin acting like a tourniquet. The first person to retract the boy’s [[foreskin]] should be the boy himself.<ref name="Wright1994"/> <ref name="agarwal2005" />  <ref>{{REFweb

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.  

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. Do ''not'' force anything and do ''not'' cause cause yourself pain.

Although circumcision is considered to be a simple procedure devoid of much morbidity, it is associated with many complications like hemorrhage, edema, infection, meatal stenosis, urethral fistulae, unsightly scars, penile curvature, shortness of shaft skin, and partial, or total penile loss. … In view of the various studies including the present one and the versatile use of preputial skin as a graft, it is suggested that circumcision should be avoided as far as possible especially for nonseparation of prepuce in early childhood.<ref name="agarwal2005" />

The answer to this question depends on the relative length of the [[foreskin]] in relation to the length of the [[penis]]. If the foreskin is shorter than the erect penis, then it will retract automatically on [[erection]]. On the other hand, if the foreskin is longer than the erect penis, then automatic retraction will not occur. This condition is not viewed as a problem.

Many men think a longer foreskin or [[acroposthion]] is better than a shorter foreskin for both functional and esthetic reasons.

* The natural foreskin - retraction and frenulum]]

  |quote=Male circumcision is an outmoded treatment for non-retractile foreskin, but it is still recommended by many urologists because of lack of adequate information and understanding of alternative methods of relief. Nevertheless, circumcision should be avoided because of pain, trauma, cost, complications, difficult recovery, permanent injury to the appearance of the penis, loss of pleasurable erogenous sensation, and impairment of erectile and ejaculatory functions.

* {{#tip-text:NSFW|Not Safe For Work - the following link may contain graphic content!}} [http://www.circumstitions.com/Works.html How the foreskin works]