Patient's question:
I have excessive foreskin, but I always flip it up when I urinate. Should I get it removed?Doctor's answer:
Hello: It is recommended that the surgery be performed! Excessive foreskin does not hinder sexual activity or fertility, and therefore is not a genital disease. In fact, this view is not scientific. Because, whether it is phimosis or excessive foreskin, it can cause certain harm to the body.(1) Hinders penis development and affects sexual harmony: Phimosis affects the growth and development of the penis. During puberty, the glans is tightly covered by the foreskin, lacking the necessary external stimulation, which severely restricts the development of the glans. This results in a significantly smaller circumference of the glans after the sexual organs mature, affecting sexual pleasure. In adults, excessive foreskin or phimosis can hinder normal sexual activity. Especially for men with very tight foreskin, when the foreskin retracts and cannot return to its original position, it becomes tightly stuck at the corona, forming a paraphimosis, which is extremely painful. In severe cases, the glans may swell due to poor blood circulation, and in extreme cases, it may even lead to glans necrosis.
(2) Causes inflammation of the penis: The foreskin contains a rich supply of sebaceous glands, which secrete a large amount of sebum. In phimosis or excessive foreskin, the sebum secretions cannot be expelled, mixing with urinary precipitates to form a cheesy, foul-smelling substance called "smegma." Smegma provides a suitable environment for bacterial growth, which can lead to inflammation of the glans and foreskin. Bacteria can also enter the urethra, causing urinary tract infections. Inflammation at the urethral opening, if left untreated, can lead to narrowing of the urethral opening, resulting in difficulty urinating.
(3) Damages kidney function: Due to inflammation of the penis, the urethral opening or the anterior urethra may become narrowed, causing difficulty urinating. Long-term difficulty urinating can damage kidney function.