Phimosis in men

Phimosis in men is a fairly common problem that causes not only physiological, but also psychological inconvenience. Many are afraid or embarrassed to go to a specialist with such a problem, hoping that it will go away on their own. Unfortunately, phimosis only in childhood is the norm, and adult men should definitely consult a doctor. Lack of treatment in the early stages can lead to serious complications.

What is phimosis

Phimosis is the inability to expose the glans penis due to the narrow foreskin.

All babies are born with a narrow foreskin. And this condition is the norm, as it prevents the infection from entering the genitourinary organs. Until the age of five, phimosis is considered physiological and does not require any intervention. As you grow older, the glans penis opens on its own. If this process is disturbed in childhood or if phimosis appears in adults due to various factors, you should immediately seek help from a specialist.

Types of phimosis in men

There are 4 degrees of this disease:

1. Perhaps the full opening of the glans penis at rest. When erect, exposure can be painful.
2. Opening is difficult at rest. In an erect state, it does not open.
3. A small opening of the head is possible only in a calm state.
4. Head exposure is not possible. Having difficulty going to the toilet.

Phimosis of the first degree is called relative. If a man does not experience discomfort, and the disease does not progress, then medical intervention is not required.

Physiological and pathological phimosis are also distinguished:

• Physiological is considered phimosis in children under the age of 5-6 years. Due to the elasticity of the tissues, the narrowing of the foreskin does not cause pain and practically does not interfere with hygiene. If the foreskin remains inactive at an older age, phimosis is considered pathological.
• Pathological phimosis is congenital or acquired as a result of trauma and inflammatory diseases. In addition, phimosis during puberty can cause a discrepancy between the growth rates of the foreskin and the head of the penis.

Doctors distinguish three types of pathological phimosis: hypertrophic, atrophic and cicatricial. In hypertrophic phimosis, the foreskin is excessively long, which interferes with the normal release of the glans penis. This condition can be corrected by conservative methods, for example, by gradually stretching the tissues.

Atrophic phimosis is observed with underdevelopment of the foreskin, when the skin is not elastic enough and at the same time too thin.

With cicatricial phimosis, the tissue of the foreskin “scars”, thickens and almost does not lend itself to stretching. The cause of cicatricial phimosis is most often trauma and inflammation.

Causes of phimosis in men

All the main causes of phimosis in men can be divided into three groups:

1. Injuries.
2. Inflammatory diseases of the foreskin and glans penis.
3. Genetic predisposition.

With injuries and inflammatory processes, scar tissue forms on the foreskin, which makes it difficult for the normal opening of the glans penis. Cicatricial phimosis is usually treated with surgery.

Atrophic and hypertrophic phimosis usually persists from childhood and is often associated with connective tissue abnormalities. Doctors believe that the occurrence of this pathology is due to hereditary factors.

Symptoms of phimosis in men

The main symptom of phimosis is the inability to expose the head of the penis in a calm and / or erect state. Because of this, a man may experience various inconveniences:

• difficulty urinating;
• pain in the genitals;
• discomfort during sexual contact;
• premature ejaculation.

In the presence of an inflammatory process, other symptoms also join: discharge from the genital organs, fever, swollen lymph nodes. With severe phimosis, the normal outflow of urine is disrupted, potency decreases, and the risk of developing infectious and inflammatory diseases of the genital organs increases.

Pain in an erect state is typical for 1-2 degrees of narrowing, since the penis enlarges, and the foreskin cannot stretch. At grades 3 and 4, there is no pain as such, because the opening of the head does not occur.

Treatment of phimosis in men

Treatment of phimosis in men can be conservative and surgical. For starters, you should contact a therapist to pass the necessary tests and determine the problem. Urologists, andrologists and surgeons deal with the treatment and diagnosis of phimosis.

Diagnostics

The main methods for diagnosing phimosis are visual inspection and palpation. If an inflammatory process is suspected, blood and urine tests are prescribed, and then, based on the test results, a treatment is selected. After completion of the therapeutic course, they again return to the problem of phimosis.

Modern treatments

• Non-drug treatment

It is carried out only with hypertrophic phimosis. The main task is stretching the foreskin. The doctor shows the stretching technique, which is then used by the patient independently at home. Warm baths with herbal infusions can be used to soften the skin, and antiseptic solutions can be used for disinfection. Sometimes special rings and bandages are used to stretch the foreskin.

• Medication

For this, ointments based on corticosteroid hormones are used, which increase the elasticity of the tissues of the foreskin, reduce inflammation and swelling. In combination with non-drug treatment, you can get a quick positive effect.

• Physiotherapeutic treatment

The most popular are 2 methods:

1. Phonophoresis – this method provides the introduction of the necessary drugs through the skin using ultrasound. The procedure is carried out using androgen-containing (based on male sex hormones) preparations that are applied to the foreskin. Treatment is carried out within 1-2 weeks.
2. Use of a bellied probe. The probe is used together with a special gel for gradual gentle stretching of the foreskin.

• Surgical treatment and use of the laser

It is used for cicatricial phimosis, when the use of sparing techniques does not bring a positive result. Pathological tissue is removed with a scalpel or laser beam.

Prevention of phimosis in men at home

All the rules of prevention are known to us from early childhood.

1. Mandatory daily washing of the head of the penis with detergents,
2. When washing, it is important to carefully open the head in order to clean all hard-to-reach places,
3. Avoid rough handling and trauma to the genitals,
4. If you suspect an inflammatory process, you should immediately consult a doctor.

There is no special prevention of phimosis in men, since this condition in adulthood is the result of diseases or injuries. However, following simple rules of personal hygiene will help to avoid unwanted inflammatory processes that can lead to the appearance of coarse scar tissue.

Popular questions and answers

We discussed important issues related to phimosis with therapist Tatyana Pomerantseva.

Sources of:

1. Sagalov AV Outpatient Andrology / 2nd Edition. – M .: GEOTAR-Media, 2017.
2. Mirsky V.E., Rishchuk S.V. Guide to pediatric and adolescent andrology (organizational and clinical aspects). – St. Petersburg: “SpetsLit”, 2008.
3. Lectures on urology. Alyaev Yu.G. “Medicine”, Moscow, 2010.
4. Physiological, hypertrophic, cicatricial phimosis. Pathology of the foreskin. Rudin Yu.E.
5. The method of conservative treatment of phimosis. Gazamatov A.V., Rozaev D.V., Trunov I.V., Altukhov V.V. Bull. 2015. No. 2.