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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]] where in which the [[foreskin]] cannot be fully retracted over the [[glans penis]] to uncover and expose the [[glans penis]] that occurs in about five percent of [[foreskinned]] adult males.<ref>{{URLwikipedia|Phimosis|Phimosis|2019-09-25}}</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 |last=Youngson |first= |init=RM |author-link= |publisher=https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/phimosis |date=2005 |accessdate=2025-12-05}}</ref> Phimosis is classed as [[physiological phimosis]] or [[pathological phimosis]]. The physiological phimosis condition in adults is a natural variant, not a disease, so it does not threaten health. Men may elect to treat it or not treat it. Some men live their entire lives with a non-retractile foreskin. [[Sex with phimosis| They are able to have sexual intercourse and father children]].
==Positive aspects of phimosis==
Artificial intelligence produced this list of advantages:
}}</ref> Moreover the tip of the [[foreskin]] at birth is usually too tight to permit any retraction.<ref name="gairdner1949"/> Thus normal, natural childhood non-retractable foreskin, which must be distinguished from pathological phimosis,<ref name="shahid2012" /> has been given the name ''physiological phimosis'' to distinguish it from ''pathological phimosis'' in adults.<ref name="shahid2012"/>
[[Physiological phimosis]] is a normal, healthy stage of development in youth that does not require treatment.
From a medical standpoint, an otherwise symptom-free [[phimosis]], even after dissolution of preputial adhesions, does not require any treatment before the child enters [[puberty]]. The widespread notion that full retractability has to be achieved by a certain age, derives from obsolete assumptions and studies which only covered children's development until they entered school, but not beyond that point.