What is it?

At birth a natural penis has foreskin covering the entire head and the opening in the foreskin is too tight to pull it back. We recommend parents leave it alone at least for the first year. Over time, that tight opening loosens up until the head can come out completely. If this does not happen it is very hard to clean properly and can cause pain, problems peeing and infections.

What might I notice if my child has it?

It is normal to have phimosis at birth if you are not circumcised. Over time, however, if the opening in the foreskin stays tight, the child can have ballooning of the foreskin with urination, trapping of urine or urinary retention, urinary tract infections (or balanoposthitis) and even pain with erections (head cannot come out).

What are the treatment options?

Medical solutions include a trial of steroid cream to relax the opening and make it bigger.

Surgical solutions include a dorsal slit and a Circumcision which gets rid of the tight opening but a circumcision is irreversible.

Planning Your Visit

Learn more about your upcoming visit (what you need, where to go, forms, timelines, and more).