MSc. Dr. Nguyen The Thinh, Department of Urology and Andrology, E Hospital, said that a young man (15 years old, from Nam Dinh) was admitted to the hospital with a swollen, constricted and necrotic foreskin that lasted for 3 days. Doctors immediately performed circumcision surgery and removed the necrotic skin. Fortunately, the surgery went smoothly, the patient's condition stabilized and he gradually recovered well.
Taking the medical history, out of adolescent curiosity, 3 days before being admitted to the hospital, the young man arbitrarily turned his "private part" out to "investigate", but the tight foreskin caused swelling and strangulation. Because he was not aware of the level of danger and was embarrassed, the young man did not dare to share this condition with adults. It was not until the 3rd day, when the pain became unbearable, that he informed his family and was taken to the urology - andrology specialist at Hospital E.
Dr. Thinh explained that this was a case where the patient retracted the foreskin when the penis was soft to expose the glans, but after the retraction, the skin could not be pulled back, causing a strangulation. Because the young man was embarrassed and did not go to the doctor early, it led to dangerous complications.
According to Dr. Thinh, phimosis is a condition in which the foreskin cannot be pulled back from the glans penis, hindering hygiene and possibly causing men's health problems. The causes of phimosis are divided into: Physiological and pathological.
Physiologically: Most baby boys are born with an inability to retract the foreskin completely, and this is normal. Normally, the foreskin will retract on its own as the child grows older. However, in some children, this condition does not improve on its own, causing inflammation and leading to phimosis.
Pathologically: In adults, phimosis is often caused by repeated infections in the foreskin area, leading to a condition of hardening and narrowing that cannot be retracted. In addition, injuries or scars after trauma or surgery can also cause phimosis.
Doctors note that phimosis also has some serious complications: Inflammation of the foreskin area, when it cannot be pulled back, cleaning is difficult, stagnant secretions and urine create favorable conditions for bacteria to grow, causing inflammation, pain and redness. A more dangerous consequence is phimosis. When the foreskin is pulled back but cannot be pulled back, it will constrict, obstructing blood circulation to the glans area. If not treated promptly, it will lead to necrosis of the foreskin. Phimosis also causes urinary tract infections due to bacteria spreading from the infected area to the urinary tract. In some cases, it also increases the risk of penile cancer.
In addition, phimosis can affect future married life. Foreskin that is too tight can easily lead to infection, causing pain and discomfort, making men "afraid" of having sex. When the penis is erect, phimosis causes pain, reducing the quality of married life.
