Phimosis: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Phimosis.jpg|thumb|An erect penis with a case of phimosis]]

'''Phimosis''' (''fɪˈmoʊsɨs'' or ''faɪˈmoʊsɨs'', from the Greek ''phimos'' (φῑμός "muzzle"), in adults is a natural variant of the [[penis]] in which the [[foreskin]] cannot be fully retracted over the [[glans penis]] to uncover and expose the [[glans penis]] that occurs in up to ten percent of [[foreskinned]] adult males.~~<ref>{{REFweb~~

'''Phimosis''' (''fɪˈmoʊsɨs'' or ''faɪˈmoʊsɨs'', from the Greek ''phimos'' (φῑμός "muzzle"), in adults is a natural variant of the [[penis]] in which the [[foreskin]] cannot be fully retracted over the [[glans penis]] to uncover and expose the [[glans penis]] that occurs in up to ten percent of [[foreskinned]] adult males. A medical dictionary defines phimosis as "Tightness of the foreskin (prepuce) of such degree as to prevent retraction. This may be congenital or the result of inflammation. Severe phimosis that interferes with [[urination]] is an indication for circumcision. From the Greek <i>phmoun</i>, to gag or muzzle."<ref>{REFweb

~~|url=https://www.phimosis.care/~~

~~|title=phimosis.care~~

~~|last=Anonymous~~

~~|publisher=Thames Metal Designs~~

~~|date=2024~~

~~|accessdate=2026-04-25~~

~~}}</ref>~~ A medical dictionary defines phimosis as "Tightness of the foreskin (prepuce) of such degree as to prevent retraction. This may be congenital or the result of inflammation. Severe phimosis that interferes with [[urination]] is an indication for circumcision. From the Greek <i>phmoun</i>, to gag or muzzle."<ref>{REFweb

|url=https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/phimosis

|title=Phimosis

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}}</ref>

Manual [[stretching]] preserves the [[foreskin]] and its many protective, immunological, sensory, and sexual [[Foreskin#Physiological_functions| physiological functions]], and renders the foreskin retractable, but may take some months to achieve.

Manual [[stretching]] preserves the [[foreskin]] and its many protective, immunological, sensory, and sexual [[Foreskin#Physiological_functions| physiological functions]], and renders the foreskin retractable, but may take some months to achieve.<ref>{{REFweb

|url=https://www.phimosis.care/

|title=phimosis.care

|last=Anonymous

|publisher=Thames Metal Designs

|date=2024

|accessdate=2026-04-25

}}</ref>

Carilli et al. (2021) tested the PhimoStop device which gradually dilates the foreskin over an extended period of time. Phimosed men were treated for sixty days. The treatment helped 52.1 percent of the men to resolve their phimosis.<ref>{{REFjournal

Carilli et al. (2021) tested the PhimoStop device which gradually dilates the [[foreskin]] over an extended period of time. Phimosed men were treated for sixty days. The treatment helped 52.1 percent of the men to resolve their phimosis.<ref>{{REFjournal

|last=Carilli

|first=Marco

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If the [[frenulum]] is too short, it can hinder or even prohibit retraction of the [[foreskin]]. If the mechanical strain is too great, the frenulum can tear or rip apart. If the frenular artery, which runs within, is damaged in the process, it can lead to considerable and prolonged [[bleeding]]. When only small tears appear, it may heal spontaneously.

[[Frenulum breve]] is frequently confused with phimosis. To make a differential diagnosis, one may attempt to retract the foreskin when the penis is erect. Since the underside of the glans is attached to the inner foreskin by the [[frenulum]], if frenulum breve is present, the head of the penis will bend downwards due to the resulting tension when the foreskin is retracted.

[[Frenulum breve]] is frequently confused with phimosis. To make a differential diagnosis, one may attempt to retract the foreskin when the penis is erect. Since the underside of the glans is attached to the inner foreskin by the [[frenulum]], if frenulum breve is present, the head of the penis will bend downwards due to the resulting tension when the [[foreskin]] is retracted.

To help the healing, lukewarm camomile baths or cremes containing panthenol can be applied. With a very short frenulum and previous large tears, surgical treatment is advised.

To help the healing, lukewarm camomile baths or cremes containing panthenol can be applied. With a very short ]]frenulum]] and previous large tears, surgical treatment is advised.

There are 3 surgical variants:

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* Elongation of the frenulum with a [[skin]] graft.

Circumcision is not appropriate or necessary to treat [[frenulum breve]]. Patients must be careful when consulting a urologist, because urologists earn an attractive fee from performing an [[adult circumcision]], so may be quick to recommend inappropriate and unnecessary injurious [[circumcision]] to an unwary patient.

Circumcision is not appropriate or necessary to treat [[frenulum breve]]. Patients must be careful when consulting a [[urologist]], because urologists earn an attractive fee from performing an [[adult circumcision]], so may be quick to recommend inappropriate and unnecessary injurious, [[Circumcision harm| harmful]] [[circumcision]] to an unwary patient.

==Hygiene==

The normal non-retractable [[foreskin]] may be easily flushed out with warm water and a [https://www.amazon.com/Syringe-Removing-Syringing-Medi-Grade/dp/B0842B1XMR?sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1 rubber-bulb type ear syringe]. Excessive washing and the use of soap should be avoided.<ref name="Birley1991">{{REFjournal

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{GraphicWarning}}
 [[File:Phimosis.jpg|thumb|An erect penis with a case of phimosis]]
-'''Phimosis''' (''fɪˈmoʊsɨs'' or ''faɪˈmoʊsɨs'', from the Greek ''phimos'' (φῑμός "muzzle"), in adults is a natural variant of the [[penis]] in which the [[foreskin]] cannot be fully retracted over the [[glans penis]] to uncover and expose the [[glans penis]] that occurs in up to ten percent of [[foreskinned]] adult males.<ref>{{REFweb
+'''Phimosis''' (''fɪˈmoʊsɨs'' or ''faɪˈmoʊsɨs'', from the Greek ''phimos'' (φῑμός "muzzle"), in adults is a natural variant of the [[penis]] in which the [[foreskin]] cannot be fully retracted over the [[glans penis]] to uncover and expose the [[glans penis]] that occurs in up to ten percent of [[foreskinned]] adult males. A medical dictionary defines phimosis as "Tightness of the foreskin (prepuce) of such degree as to prevent retraction. This may be congenital or the result of inflammation. Severe phimosis that interferes with [[urination]] is an indication for circumcision. From the Greek <i>phmoun</i>, to gag or muzzle."<ref>{REFweb
- |url=https://www.phimosis.care/
- |title=phimosis.care
- |last=Anonymous
- |publisher=Thames Metal Designs
- |date=2024
- |accessdate=2026-04-25
-}}</ref> A medical dictionary defines phimosis as "Tightness of the foreskin (prepuce) of such degree as to prevent retraction. This may be congenital or the result of inflammation. Severe phimosis that interferes with [[urination]] is an indication for circumcision. From the Greek <i>phmoun</i>, to gag or muzzle."<ref>{REFweb
   |url=https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/phimosis
   |title=Phimosis
@@ Line 306: / Line 299: @@
 }}</ref>
-Manual [[stretching]] preserves the [[foreskin]] and its many protective, immunological, sensory, and sexual [[Foreskin#Physiological_functions| physiological functions]], and renders the foreskin retractable, but may take some months to achieve.
+Manual [[stretching]] preserves the [[foreskin]] and its many protective, immunological, sensory, and sexual [[Foreskin#Physiological_functions| physiological functions]], and renders the foreskin retractable, but may take some months to achieve.<ref>{{REFweb
+ |url=https://www.phimosis.care/
+ |title=phimosis.care
+ |last=Anonymous
+ |publisher=Thames Metal Designs
+ |date=2024
+ |accessdate=2026-04-25
+}}</ref>
-Carilli et al. (2021) tested the PhimoStop device which gradually dilates the foreskin over an extended period of time. Phimosed men were treated for sixty days. The treatment helped 52.1 percent of the men to resolve their phimosis.<ref>{{REFjournal
+Carilli et al. (2021) tested the PhimoStop device which gradually dilates the [[foreskin]] over an extended period of time. Phimosed men were treated for sixty days. The treatment helped 52.1 percent of the men to resolve their phimosis.<ref>{{REFjournal
   |last=Carilli
   |first=Marco
@@ Line 596: / Line 596: @@
 If the [[frenulum]] is too short, it can hinder or even prohibit retraction of the [[foreskin]]. If the mechanical strain is too great, the frenulum can tear or rip apart. If the frenular artery, which runs within, is damaged in the process, it can lead to considerable and prolonged [[bleeding]]. When only small tears appear, it may heal spontaneously.
-[[Frenulum breve]] is frequently confused with phimosis. To make a differential diagnosis, one may attempt to retract the foreskin when the penis is erect. Since the underside of the glans is attached to the inner foreskin by the [[frenulum]], if frenulum breve is present, the head of the penis will bend downwards due to the resulting tension when the foreskin is retracted.
+[[Frenulum breve]] is frequently confused with phimosis. To make a differential diagnosis, one may attempt to retract the foreskin when the penis is erect. Since the underside of the glans is attached to the inner foreskin by the [[frenulum]], if frenulum breve is present, the head of the penis will bend downwards due to the resulting tension when the [[foreskin]] is retracted.
-To help the healing, lukewarm camomile baths or cremes containing panthenol can be applied. With a very short frenulum and previous large tears, surgical treatment is advised.
+To help the healing, lukewarm camomile baths or cremes containing panthenol can be applied. With a very short ]]frenulum]] and previous large tears, surgical treatment is advised.
 There are 3 surgical variants:
@@ Line 607: / Line 607: @@
 * Elongation of the frenulum with a [[skin]] graft.
-Circumcision is not appropriate or necessary to treat [[frenulum breve]]. Patients must be careful when consulting a urologist, because urologists earn an attractive fee from performing an [[adult circumcision]], so may be quick to recommend inappropriate and unnecessary injurious [[circumcision]] to an unwary patient.
+Circumcision is not appropriate or necessary to treat [[frenulum breve]]. Patients must be careful when consulting a [[urologist]], because urologists earn an attractive fee from performing an [[adult circumcision]], so may be quick to recommend inappropriate and unnecessary injurious, [[Circumcision harm| harmful]] [[circumcision]] to an unwary patient.
 ==Hygiene==
 The normal non-retractable [[foreskin]] may be easily flushed out with warm water and a [https://www.amazon.com/Syringe-Removing-Syringing-Medi-Grade/dp/B0842B1XMR?sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1 rubber-bulb type ear syringe]. Excessive washing and the use of soap should be avoided.<ref name="Birley1991">{{REFjournal