What is a phimosis?
A phimosis is when a foreskin is too tight and no longer retracts because of a lack of flexibility. The degree of tightness is variable — it can be light or sometimes very tight, which prevents you from seeing the glans altogether.
What is the cause of phimosis?
It’s sometimes physiological. Some young patients have hypersensitivity of the glans that prevents retraction of the prepuce.
It’s most often the result of inflammation or repeated infections of the foreskin (balanitis). Diabetic patients frequently have this problem.
It can also become whitish, thick and stiff due to a foreskin disease called lichen sclerosus. What are the symptoms of phimosis? Phimosis may be asymptomatic. However, it prevents adequate hygiene. Sometimes, slight phimosis can crack gradually, and it causes erections to become more and more painful. Phimosis can cause infections (infectious balanitis). Chronic inflammation of phimosis can also cause complications such as adhesion between the glans and prepuce. Penile cancer is rare.
In cases of severe phimosis, urination is sometimes painful. The prepuce can even swell before urine empties.
It’s most often the result of inflammation or repeated infections of the foreskin (balanitis). Diabetic patients frequently have this problem.
It can also become whitish, thick and stiff due to a foreskin disease called lichen sclerosus. What are the symptoms of phimosis? Phimosis may be asymptomatic. However, it prevents adequate hygiene. Sometimes, slight phimosis can crack gradually, and it causes erections to become more and more painful. Phimosis can cause infections (infectious balanitis). Chronic inflammation of phimosis can also cause complications such as adhesion between the glans and prepuce. Penile cancer is rare.
In cases of severe phimosis, urination is sometimes painful. The prepuce can even swell before urine empties.
Who can have phimosis?
Phimosis can occur at any age. Our urologists treat boys, teenagers and adults for this problem.
Can we prevent phimosis?
There is no treatment to prevent phimosis in an uncircumcised adult. However, infant circumcision prevents this complication.
What is the treatment of phimosis?
Creams with corticosteroid bases can be proposed, but they’re generally ineffective in adults. A plasty of the foreskin can be proposed, but it’s rarely used since the result isn’t very esthetic. The dilatations of the prepuce are also seldom used and inefficient.
Circumcision is often the most effective and definitive solution. Clinique Marois is a private practice with an entire urological minor surgical ward. It surpasses the standards established by the Collège des Médecins du Québec. Our urologists offer different circumcision techniques to offer the most appropriate method according to your anatomy and depending on the complexity of the underlying problem.
After circumcision, the aesthetic results are improved via standard closure circumcision techniques in separate sutures. Our urologists are surgeons who have a concern for esthetics. For most men, a more esthetic circumcision is essential.
Circumcision is often the most effective and definitive solution. Clinique Marois is a private practice with an entire urological minor surgical ward. It surpasses the standards established by the Collège des Médecins du Québec. Our urologists offer different circumcision techniques to offer the most appropriate method according to your anatomy and depending on the complexity of the underlying problem.
After circumcision, the aesthetic results are improved via standard closure circumcision techniques in separate sutures. Our urologists are surgeons who have a concern for esthetics. For most men, a more esthetic circumcision is essential.
See the Circumcision page for the treatment of phimosis:
If there are adhesions between the glans and the foreskin:
- Adherences between the glans and foreskin