What is Phimosis? Causes, Symptoms, and Surgery Options

Introduction

Phimosis, a medical condition that can be uncomfortable and lead to difficulties, is characterised by the tightness or inability of the penis' foreskin to retract. When the skin is dragged down, it might hurt because it gets painfully tight around the penis' head. Phimosis treatment mainly consists of non-surgical techniques like moderate stretching exercises or topical steroid creams to cure the disease. For phimosis treatment, surgical intervention such as circumcision may be suggested. Surgery for phimosis is a pretty frequent practice for treating some medical problems.

What is Phimosis?

Phimosis is a medical condition that can be uncomfortable and have consequences because the foreskin of the penis can't retract or is too tight. It may happen to children and adults; depending on how severe it is and how the person is affected, it might need thorough treatment. The phimosis doctor might be able to cure phimosis non-surgically if it is discovered early. However, if such treatments don't work to treat phimosis, the phimosis doctor may advise surgery for phimosis.

Adults with phimosis frequently have painful symptoms and need medical attention. Adults often don't develop this problem naturally; instead, a hidden cause must be treated. Most of the time, this goes away entirely on its own, but if it does not, seeing a urologist for phimosis treatment is crucial.

How to Treat Phimosis?

The diagnosis of phimosis or an underlying problem like balanitis can typically be done with a physical examination and a study of your symptoms. The average phimosis surgery cost in India may range from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 40,000. It is an approximate cost range that differs based on many factors.

There are several phimosis treatment & surgery options, including:

Phimosis Lotions

For people with symptoms of phimosis, doctors may advise using topical steroid phimosis ointment. The tight foreskin around the penis, which may be readily retracted, can be loosened by most topical treatments.

Your doctor will advise you on the best method and frequency for applying the phimosis cream to the tight foreskin. To relieve the symptoms of phimosis, the afflicted penis should be massaged with ointment twice daily.

Phimosis Surgery or Circumcision Surgery

Typically, the doctor may suggest circumcision (phimosis surgery) if non-surgical therapy approaches have failed to loosen the foreskin and the foreskin cannot be pushed back into its natural position. The surgeon will cut the foreskin during the circumcision operation to reveal the penis.

Many men opt to have their foreskins cut off to cure foreskin issues and penile infections permanently. Urologists can conduct phimosis surgery using minimally invasive methods by utilising cutting-edge technology.

Exercises for Retracting the Phimosis

The greatest non-surgical phimosis therapy is retraction exercise. For boys older than 5 years, several foreskin stretching activities will be advised to reduce the symptoms of phimosis. But these workouts shouldn't hurt and shouldn't be performed firmly.

Apply any phimosis cream before performing these exercises, and then slowly draw back the foreskin for about a minute each day. The foreskin should gradually relax with these activities without causing discomfort or pain. These phimosis workouts might hurt or aggravate the condition's symptoms if they're performed improperly.

What Are the Causes of Phimosis?

There are various causes of phimosis in teenagers and adult males. When the foreskin becomes inflammatory, the penis gets inflamed and swollen, or both of these conditions happen simultaneously, phimosis can happen.

The foreskin may also tighten with time, which is a long-term occurrence. This is not a problem in kids and often doesn't result in any severe symptoms. The inability to draw back the foreskin can cause several symptoms in older boys and men. Some of the recognised causes of phimosis in older boys or men include the following:

• Injury-related damage to the penis or foreskin
• Penis or foreskin infections
• Eczema, psoriasis, lichen planus, lichen sclerosis, balanitis (inflammation of the penis), and other skin problems
• Result of poor hygiene
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Urinary tract infections that reoccur or are persistent
• The foreskin's attachment to the penile tip (glans) is maintained by preputial adhesions or scar tissue.
• Extra sugar in the urine from type II diabetes favours urinary tract infections.
• Repetitive rough treatment that causes skin injury or scarring on the foreskin

What Are The Symptoms of Phimosis?

The majority of youngsters with phimosis won't show any symptoms. Phimosis may also go undetected in many adult males and older boys. A few dangerous symptoms may manifest in extreme circumstances, such as when the foreskin almost completely encloses the tip of the penis.

Here are some possible symptoms of phimosis:

• When infected or inflamed, there may be redness or discolouration.
• Painful erections and painful urination
• An infection or irritation may cause swelling (inflammation).
• Pus, blood, or penile discharge
• Having pain when having sex
• Soreness
• Persistent infection, or inflammation

When to Undergo Surgery for Phimosis?

Phimosis has to be treated right away with urgency. The patient's age, the severity of the issue, and the underlying reason will determine if phimosis treatment is necessary. Doctors advise circumcision to treat phimosis permanently in people with severe or recurring cases.

When choosing a phimosis doctor for phimosis treatment or any other foreskin issue, be careful about their experience, expertise, and skills. Urologists, paediatric urologists, and urological surgeons are phimosis specialists who can quickly identify the condition and offer the most effective course of care.

Unless the child is experiencing discomfort and other symptoms from their phimosis (rare), parents of children with this disease should not be concerned.

Conclusion:

Phimosis can be efficiently treated using various techniques, including non-surgical and surgical approaches. Phimosis is a disorder marked by an inability to pull the foreskin over the head of the penis. Surgery may be advised in more severe phimosis situations if non-surgical treatments are ineffective. The foreskin is removed whole or partially during circumcision, the most popular surgical treatment for phimosis. However, phimosis can be permanently corrected with circumcision and other comparable treatments. By speaking with your phimosis specialist, determine which treatment option is most effective for your case.