You have phimosis should you get circumcised?

Answer 1

No, most cases of phimosis (about 95%) can be fixed without circumcision. Gradual stretching of the foreskin with the fingers and the applications of a topical corticosteroid cream applied to tight part of the foreskin are successful in getting the foreskin to relax in about 90% of cases. It may take a few weeks or a few months, but most men find this preferable to a painful circumcision. If your foreskin is too tight to allow you to get a finger inside to stretch, you can use a device that's like a balloon that slowly opens the foreskin gradually over a period of weeks. Even if surgery is needed, usually only the tight prepucial band needs to be cut. This allows the man to keep the foreskin.

For more information on how to stretch your foreskin, go to the related question below: How do you stretch your foreskin?

[footnote: Phimosis in infants is almost never considered pathological, that is, a condition requiring medical intervention. In almost all males, there is phimosis for a considerable length of time, even a few years. In fact in almost all male newborns the glans penis (the head) and the foreskin adhere to one another, and there is no reason to forcibly separate them; doing so causes damage. This is why physicians diagnosing pathological phimosis as an indication for infant circumcision are on dangerously thin ice, unless there are extraordinary circumstances actually indicating that circumcision is medically indicated. This is one reason why health plans do not routinely cover infant circumcision. It is considered an elective, medically unnecessary procedure.]

Answer 2

Yes...but. Phimosis means that the foreskin is too tight to retract fully therefore proper cleaning beneath the foreskin cannot take place. While this usually isn't a problem with children when you reach puberty and begin to ejaculate stale sperm can accumulate under the foreskin and lead to infection. A very tight foreskin can also make erections feel uncomfortable and maybe painful it may also put a partner off having sex. I know it can be very embarassing talking about your penis to adults and the thought of an operation can be very frightening but really if you do suspect that you have phymosis the best thing you can do is consult a doctor. It may be that you don't even need an operation at all and that using a lubricant and excercising your foreskin as often as you can might eventually loosen it up.