Phimosis in men: what is it, causes, symptoms, treatment and much more about phimosis

Phimosis refers to diseases that concern only men. It is manifested by stenosis of the foreskin to a critical state (see. photo below). It is often transmitted genetically.

In the initial stages, it is treated with conservative methods.

If you do not start therapy in a timely manner, then serious problems may arise that disrupt the act of urination, sexual function.

This article details the causes, symptoms and how to treat phimosis in men.

Characteristics of the disease

Phimosis is a pathology that manifests itself as soreness when the skin folds that cover the penis open. In the later stages, it is impossible to bare its head. The disease is of a pathological, physiological type. Phimosis in children appears in 96%.

This is caused by the low mobility of the foreskin covering the head of the penis. Usually, this phenomenon disappears by the age of 6 without medical intervention.

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The onset of phimosis in men and adolescents is a pathological type. The problem will not go away on its own. It is necessary to obtain a doctor's consultation in order to determine the tactics of treating the disease.

The causes of phimosis

Phimosis in children can not only be of a physiological nature, which is not a pathology and passes by the beginning of adolescence.

They often have a pathological form of the disease. Its causes lie in the presence of:

• overweight child, which causes a hypertrophic appearance. Against this background, excess fat accumulates, which is the reason for the formation of bacteria in the pubic region;
• inflammatory processes of the urinary system, provoking puffiness;
• underdevelopment of the skin surrounding the penis.

If in childhood a man did not have a problem of narrowing the skin folds of the penis, this does not mean that he will not meet with her in adulthood. The causes of phimosis in men:

• neglect of hygiene rules. Which leads to the proliferation of bacteria that causes inflammation;
• a hereditary factor that is associated with a genetically transmitted reduced elasticity of the skin of the penis. This, if measures are not taken in a timely manner, causes a critical narrowing of the foreskin;
• inflammatory foci;
• traumas that can occur as a result of rough sex, forcible correction in childhood of physiological phimosis. This situation leads to the formation of adhesions that narrow the preputial cavity;
• sexually transmitted diseases.

Urologists note that it is often impossible to determine the causes of the pathology. It happens that the disease occurs against the background of several factors.

Provoking factors

With unfavorable heredity, the development of phimosis can be triggered by the following factors:

• musculoskeletal anomalies such as stoop, flat feet;
• heart disease;
• diabetes, which causes the presence of glucose in the urine, which provokes infectious processes;
• rough masturbation;
• frequent catheterization.

Phimosis symptoms

Usually, phimosis of the 1st degree in children does not manifest itself in any way. In advanced stages, boys complain of painful urination. Parents may notice that the child is pushing, trying to go to the toilet "in a small way."

Symptoms of phimosis in men:

• painful sensations of the penis during erection. This is due to the excessive tension of the prepuce. Displacement of the skin over the head of the penis is possible. These signs appear at stages 1, 2 of phimosis. With a late course, the pain in an excited state passes, it will not work to bare the head due to a significant narrowing of the preputial ring;
• premature ejaculation;
• a decrease in the brightness of sexual sensations;
• reduced potency;
• at a late degree of the disease, symptoms of impaired functioning of the urinary system appear. They manifest themselves in the form of a burning sensation during urination, difficulties with this process. The body temperature rises, the patient feels weak, fever, lymph nodes in the groin area increase.

There are psychological signs of phimosis in men who are often unhappy with the appearance of their penis. They begin to show anxiety about the upcoming soreness even before the onset of an erection. In this situation, phimosis in men will have to be treated not only with the help of a urologist, but also a psychotherapist.

Phimosis stages

Taking into account the severity of the severity of symptoms, phimosis has the following stages, each of which is characterized by distinctive features:

• First stage. At rest in a man, the head of the genital organ is bare without difficulty. In an excited state, it is not easy to do this due to pain during the movement of the epithelium. Young people have a susceptible head, which opens independently as a result of swelling, often causing paraphimosis.
• Second stage. During erections in a man, the head of the genital organ is barely bare, self-covering with the skin. If you apply effort, then you can only worsen the course.
• Third stage. In a man, even at rest, the head of the penis cannot open. At this stage, there is a violation of urination, it is difficult for the patient to urinate. This process is accompanied by burning and pain. If the foreskin is exposed in an excited state, bleeding may open.

On a note, it is forbidden to have sexual intercourse at the third stage of phimosis, as this will lead to greater injury to the skin.

• Stage four. In a patient, the penis is not exposed either during erection or at rest. It is difficult for him to go to the toilet "in a small way." A man in the course of this process feels a bright pain syndrome. This stage is characterized by an inflammatory process, an increase in body temperature, the formation of inguinal lymph nodes, a decrease in potency. The accumulated secret in the head of the genital organ causes the development of smegmolytic formations.

Phimosis in adult men of the first three stages is relative. The fourth degree is pronounced. There is also an incomplete form of the disease. It is manifested by incomplete coverage of the foreskin of the head of the penis. Partial coverage is usually inherited.

Types of phimosis

The following types of pathology are subdivided by medicine:

• physiological is the most common problem. Usually diagnosed in infants under 3 years of age. Appears to be underdevelopment of the skin surrounding the penis. During the first years in children, the skin is adjacent to the head of the genital organ. Then it starts to open up. Until the age of 4, physiological phimosis does not belong to pathology, provided there is no pain during urination and severe inflammation. Usually by the age of 6, phimosis passes, the head opens freely;
• hypertrophic phimosis occurs against the background of a thickened skin, due to its going beyond the border of the head, resembling a "proboscis". In the absence of therapy, the pathology will turn into hypogonadism;
• cicatricial is considered a consequence of injury, determined by adhesions, scars of different sizes;
• atrophic characterizes the refined skin, its atrophy.

Diagnostics

Before treating phimosis in men, a standard examination is performed before hospitalization. After a visual examination and conversation, the patient is assigned to pass:

• UAC;
• OAM;
• a blood test for infection;
• blood sugar test;
• a blood test to determine the group and Rh factor;
• coagulogram;
• urine analysis for bacteria;
• urinalysis for antibiotic susceptibility;
• if during the examination a large volume of smegma is determined, then it is diagnosed for carcinogenicity.

Appointment of instrumental diagnostic methods is carried out in the inflammatory process. If a mass is found during the examination, a biopsy with histology is indicated. If inguinal lymphadenitis is suspected, do Lymph node ultrasound groin area.

Phimosis treatment

Today, medicine, in addition to circumcision of the foreskin, offers the following types of treatment for pathology:

• drug therapy based on the use of ointments. Effectively treats 1st degree phimosis;
• physical exercise in the form of gradual stretching of the hole to achieve a wider state;
• surgical treatment that reshapes the opening to make it as wide as possible.

Drug treatment

Drug therapy is aimed at increasing the elasticity of the skin, effectively relieves the inflammatory process, eliminates the burning sensation. If the patient has phimosis of 1 degree, then with the help of ointments, surgical intervention can be avoided.

Local medications are effective in the absence of injuries, pain.

Non-surgical therapy is based on the use of steroid ointments that accelerate normal growth, expansion of the foreskin.

To cure grade 2 phimosis, it is recommended to use the following ointments:

• Cortisone;
• Mometasone furoate;
• Betamethasone.

To be effective, steroid ointments should be applied as follows:

1. First, treat the skin with antiseptics, Miramistin, Chlorhexidine.
2. After drying, apply the medication prescribed by the doctor to the treated area.
3. When a part of the cream is absorbed, you need to carefully lift the skin fold and gently stretch it in different directions. If there is even the slightest discomfort, then the stretching procedure should be stopped. When the pain subsides, the stretch is repeated.
4. The effect on the skin with the ointment should be carried out within 15 minutes.
5. Then treat the foreskin and glans with an antiseptic.

To achieve a result, treatment is carried out for at least six months. Local therapy has the following benefits:

• non-surgical treatment;
• absence of injuries;
• cost-effectiveness of therapy;
• preservation of the foreskin with erogenous, sexual, sensory, protective functions.

For information, children are prescribed for the treatment of phimosis, increasing elasticity, reducing inflammation, swelling and accelerating the healing of small cracks Prednitop.

Surgery

When conservative therapy did not give the expected result, a man has prolonged phimosis, surgery is the only treatment. Surgery is required for the following symptoms:

• painful urination;
• accumulation of secretions under the skin;
• swelling of the penis;
• inflammatory process in the area of ​​the glans penis;
• with splicing and scars.

The surgery does not take long. If the patient does not have the fourth stage with the involvement of the inflammatory process, deterioration of the urinary system, then after the operation of phimosis, he goes home on the same day. The initial stages of pathology are treated with local anesthesia. A protracted state requires the introduction of anesthesia.

For the treatment of phimosis, self-absorbable suture materials are used. The organ is fully sensitive. Complication, infection, inflammatory processes, worsening of the disease are completely excluded.

For your information, cicatricial phimosis in men is treated only with a surgical method.

If phimosis is diagnosed, the operation is performed using different methods that the surgeon chooses, based on the stage of the disease and the patient's condition. Types of surgery:

• partial circumcision characterized by the removal of a small area of ​​the foreskin. This operation removes the cause of the problem. After the procedure, the head of the penis will be covered both in arousal and in a calm state, which does not affect sensitivity. This type of surgery is performed in 1 or 2 stages. After it, the seams heal quickly, the possibility of bacteria penetration decreases due to the exclusion of the accumulation of secretions. The downside is that phimosis often reappears in men. after partial circumcision;
• complete circumcision carried out if phimosis of the 2nd degree is diagnosed. The operation belongs to the category of simple ones, after a few hours the patient goes home. A positive point is the exclusion of relapses of the disease. A complication in the form of puffiness is possible;
• laser therapy characterized by the absence of postoperative complications. During the procedure, the prepuce is excised by the beam, the pathological tissue is removed, the vessels are sealed. That minimizes injury, eliminates blood loss. During laser treatment, surgical wounds heal quickly, the postoperative period passes quickly. The procedure is performed with phimosis 1, 2 degrees;
• prepucioplasty not performed in the presence of scars on the penis, with the exception of the tip of the prepuce. The doctor dissects the adhesive process, which impairs the movement of the foreskin. Next, transverse seams are applied. The operation is carried out at 2, 3 stages of phimosis, characterized by the absence of complications, minimal pain;
• metaplasty is carried out at 4 stages of phimosis, with a critical narrowing of the urethra. This method is used to correct the penis.

After the operation of phimosis, a sterile bandage should be applied for 10 days. If there are seams, then they are processed with brilliant green. It is not recommended to wash the genitals for 7 days. Sexual life is allowed 2 weeks after the removal of the stitches.

If the operation was carried out with a laser, then sexual contacts are allowed after 1 month.

Complementary home treatments

Treatment of phimosis in men at home is carried out only after visiting a doctor and establishing the stage of the disease. Home therapy is performed at 1, 2 degrees and is based on alternative methods that go as an adjunct to the main treatment.

Nutrition

Home treatment for phimosis involves dietary control. A man needs to exclude the use of salty, pickled foods, carbonated drinks, so as not to disrupt the functioning of the urinary system. During this period, proper nutrition is important, based on food rich in vitamins. Vitamin complexes help to strengthen the immune system, strengthen the body's forces to fight the inflammatory process.

Herbs

Treatment of phimosis in men at home involves herbal medicine. Herbal decoctions have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect, not only treat the disease, but also heal small cracks, relieve irritation. Below are the commonly used tools:

• take 1 tsp. l. string, chamomile, calendula. Pour everything into 1 liter. boiling water, leave for half an hour. The product is used as a sitz bath. To enhance the action, you can add 1 tsp. l. baking soda, which allows tissues to stretch better;
• 1 hour l. pour calendula 1 tbsp. boiling water. Insist 30 minutes. After cooling, use a compress to relieve the inflammatory process, heal wounds. The compress is put on at night.

Exercises

The initial stage of phimosis is excellently treated with stretching. For adult men, the procedure can be performed using a special device, Glancha, invented in Japan. Surgical steel is used to manufacture the structure.

The tool stretches the skin, thereby eliminating the problem. For adolescents, it is more advisable to stretch it manually. To get the most out of it, follow these guidelines:

• before starting the procedure, you need to cut your nails, wash your hands, treat them with an antiseptic;
• further, the man needs to take a herbal sitz bath. It allows you to steam the foreskin, preparing it for the procedure;
• to avoid soreness, apply an ointment prescribed by a doctor to the skin;
• for 15 minutes, with fingers inserted into the opening of the foreskin, stretch in various directions;
• after manipulation, treat the skin with an antiseptic;
• herbal compresses can be applied to avoid inflammation;
• in the absence of pain, exercises are performed three times a day;
• in case of formation of small cracks, use Solcoseryl cream.

Important! During stretching, it is necessary to completely exclude sexual intercourse.

Prophylaxis

To avoid the occurrence of phimosis, especially in men in whom this disease is inherited, the following preventive measures are important:

• daily hygiene;
• do not use soap and lubricants based on alkali, glycerin;
• timely treatment of inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system;
• immediate treatment of microcracks, wounds with antiseptics;
• annual testing for sexually transmitted diseases;
• routine examination by a urologist;
• serious choice of a sexual partner;
• condom use;
• adherence to a healthy lifestyle, regimen. Adequate sleep, rest is a guarantee of men's health;
• rejection of bad habits;
• daily sports. But the loads should be moderate. Swimming has proven itself well as a fight against diseases of the genital organs;
• if the work is connected with a computer, staying all day in the office, then you need to monitor spending time in the fresh air.

Forecast

Phimosis at an early stage is easily treatable. Medical statistics claim that recovery occurs in 100% of cases. Later stages lead to a chronic course of the disease.

In exceptional cases, the outflow of urine is difficult. Sometimes it can stop altogether. This condition poses a threat not only to health, but also to the patient's life.

Late treatment often leads to paraphimosis, which is characterized by a painful and swollen head of the penis. During intercourse, pinching of the foreskin can occur, causing soft tissue necrosis. Insufficiently stretched skin around the penis leads to stagnation of sperm, the development of smegmolytes.

This condition forms an acute inflammatory process. Smegma stagnation often causes cancer, which worsens the chances of a full recovery.

Phimosis in men is not a life-threatening condition. It is easily treated at 1, 2 stages. Surgery can be performed that will not adversely affect health and sex life.

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