The foreskin is a layer of skin that can be stretched and folded into a double layer at the front of the male reproductive organ, the penis. Figuratively speaking, it’s like the penis head wearing a collared “sweater.” Although only a few square centimeters, it is highly valued. The summer vacation is the peak period for parents to bring their children for circumcision, but some parents are still hesitating about whether to have their children undergo the procedure. Director Ye Daoyin of Beijing Shun Urology Department is here today to explain the hazards of foreskin being too long to all parents.
The main feature of foreskin being too long is that the penis head cannot be naturally exposed when the penis is in its normal state. If it is a case of phimosis, the following symptoms may occur:
Difficulty urinating: The narrow opening of the foreskin can cause varying degrees of difficulty in urination, with a slow and thin urine stream, and the foreskin bulging during urination.
Smegma under the foreskin: The foreskin cannot be pulled back for cleaning, leading to the long-term accumulation of smegma under the foreskin. Smegma can be discharged from the foreskin opening or be retained in the coronal sulcus of the penis head.
What are the dangers of foreskin being too long or phimosis?
1. Hinders the normal development of the penis
During puberty, if the penis head is tightly covered by the foreskin and does not receive the necessary external stimulation, the development of the penis head is significantly restricted, leading to a noticeably smaller circumference of the corona of the penis head after the sexual organs have matured.
2. Causes male genitourinary infections
An excessively long foreskin has abundant sebaceous glands that can secrete a large amount of sebum. When combined with sediment in urine, it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, potentially leading to inflammation and urinary tract infections, which can affect sperm motility and result in infertility.
3. Affects the health of partners
Smegma from the foreskin can enter the female body during sexual intercourse, leading to gynecological inflammations (vaginitis, cervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, etc.).
4. Urinary difficulties and kidney damage
Inflammation of the genitourinary system can cause narrowing of the urethral or pre-urethral opening, resulting in difficulties in urination. Prolonged difficulties in urination can damage the kidneys.
5. Causes male sexual dysfunction
Clinical studies have found that an excessively long foreskin can not only cause genitourinary infections in both men and women and trigger certain tumors but also lead to male sexual dysfunction, such as premature ejaculation. Chronic foreskin inflammation can cause adhesions between the penis head and foreskin, leading to pain during sexual intercourse and premature ejaculation, resulting not only in disharmony in sexual life between couples but also in psychological sexual dysfunction.
6. Induces penile cancer
This is the most serious complication of an excessively long foreskin. Research has shown that about 90% of penile cancer patients had a history of phimosis or excessively long foreskin. Prolonged stimulation by smegma under the foreskin can lead to malignant transformation of normal penile tissues and cells.
Director Ye Daoyin emphasizes that not every male needs circumcision, only when the foreskin affects normal life and physical health is surgical intervention necessary. Parents can also observe if their children have symptoms of a foreskin being too long and seek advice from the urology department at the hospital.
