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wikify puberty
|DOI=10.5402/2012/707329
|accessdate=2019-11-02
}}</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 can be divided into three main categories - symptom-free, in need of therapy, and in need of surgery.
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.
Even though the data from [[Jakob Øster]]'s studies have been known for more than half a century,<ref name="Øster1968">{{OesterJ 1968}}</ref> some check lists for school doctors‘ examinations still erroneously refer to physiological phimosis as an abnormality.
=== Fingers ===
The growth and hormonal surge during [[puberty ]] alter both the size and size ratio of the [[penis]] and [[penile skin]] significantly. Also, the first [[masturbation]] aids in the process of [[stretching]] of the [[skin]] and detachment of any remaining childhood fusion. Manual [[stretching]] causes [[tissue expansion]] and a wider, retractable foreskin.
If, after that, the [[foreskin]] still remains too tight, resulting in pain during sexual activities, and making genital hygiene difficult, treatment is indicated. The individual should engage in [[stretching]] exercises, if needed with the aid of corticosteroid cream, which is available by prescription. Depending on the active substances, success rates of 80-90% have been documented.<ref>{{REFjournal