With foreskin constrictions caution is necessary

Foreskin narrowing (phimosis)

Pediatricians warn: Caution should be exercised when foreskin constrictions. Doctors warn against forcible retraction of foreskin in children and adults.

03/12/2010

Foreskins (phimosis) are relatively common in boys. In a phimosis, however, parents should not forcibly push back the foreskin, as this may result in minor injuries that leave behind unpleasant scars, explained Hans-Jürgen Nentwich from the board of the Professional Association of Paediatricians (BVKJ).

In newborn boys is the so-called „physiological phimosis“ developmentally a quite natural phenomenon. To protect against harmful environmental influences, the foreskin is still glued to the glans at birth. Around 96 percent of newborn boys, according to the experts, have this form of phimosis, also known as preputial bonding. Until school age, the physiological phimosis in the course of maturation processes in almost all those affected, so that the bonding dissolves in the majority of boys until the age of 3 to 5 years.

If symptoms occur, consult a pediatrician
If the bond does not return by itself, this can lead to a foreskin constriction, which hinders the flow of urine and causes the foreskin to inflate when urinating. According to the advice of the BVJK, if the symptoms are observed, parents should consult a pediatrician who can treat the cortisone with cortisone treatment or, in the worst case, with a relatively minor surgical intervention. Failure to correct the phimosis can lead to significant problems as it enters puberty, as the foreskin can cause blood congestion in the erect penis. However, the parents should not forcibly push back the foreskin during a phimosis, as minor injuries and corresponding scarring are the result, warned BVKJ board member Hans-Jürgen Nentwich.

Foreskin constriction is one of the most common causes of medical intervention
Foreskin narrowing is one of the most common causes of pediatric surgery besides inguinal hernia and undescended testicles. Usually, the corresponding operations take place between the age of four and six. According to the BVKJ, however, a medical intervention should take place no later than puberty, since serious sexual complications threaten with incipient sexual maturity. Phimosis can also occur later in life due to diminishing skin elasticity or scars from injuries or inflammation, although the risk should not be underestimated. Violent retraction of the foreskin is also warned in adults. Because in this case, the foreskin can block the circulation of the penis, it comes to disrupting the blood drain and painful swelling of the foreskin and glans. Without medical help threaten not only severe pain but also the loss of the glans.

Prefer conservative method in treatment first
For the treatment of phimosis, the so-called conservative method or surgical procedures offer, in the opinion of the experts, the conservative method in any case, an operation is preferable. Thus, the conservative treatment is trying to solve the foreskin narrowing by light massage, stretching and careful, painless displacement of the foreskin with the application of cortisone-containing ointments. If carried out correctly over a longer period of time, this method can be used to treat the phimosis relatively effectively and without side effects (50 to 70 percent treatment success according to the German Society of Urology). If the phimosis does not recede in the course of the conservative treatment, the physicians only a surgical intervention to the foreskin narrowing to fix. (Fp)

Also read:
Testicle undulation can be treated in time
Twisted testes (testicular torsion)
Structured daily routine protects against overweight

Picture credits: Sebastian Karkus