Can phimosis cause problems with urination?
October 20, 2022 | 80,00 EUR | answered by Ben Busse
Dear Doctor,
My name is Wilhelm Rademacher and I have been having problems with urination for some time now. I find it difficult to completely empty my bladder and I feel that the urine stream has become weaker. Additionally, I experience pain and burning during urination. These symptoms are very distressing to me and are affecting my daily life.
I have heard that phimosis, a narrowing of the foreskin, can lead to urination problems. I have always had a tight foreskin and recently I have noticed that it can hardly be retracted anymore. This could lead to the accumulation of smegma under the foreskin, which could result in infections.
I am worried that my symptoms could be due to my phimosis and I wonder if a possible solution could be to treat the phimosis. Are there non-invasive methods to stretch the foreskin, or is surgery inevitable? How can I determine if my symptoms are indeed related to the phimosis and what further steps may be necessary for clarification and treatment?
I hope you can help me and provide recommendations on how to alleviate my symptoms and improve my health.
Thank you in advance.
Sincerely,
Wilhelm Rademacher
Dear Mr. Rademacher,
Thank you for your detailed description of your symptoms. I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing difficulties with urination and that these symptoms are causing you distress. It is good that you are thinking about possible causes.
The symptoms you described, such as difficulty urinating, a weak urine stream, pain, and burning, could indeed indicate a phimosis. Phimosis is a narrowing of the foreskin, which can prevent it from retracting fully. This can lead to hygiene issues and an increased risk of infections, as smegma can accumulate under the foreskin.
In your case, it is important to establish a precise diagnosis to determine the underlying cause of your symptoms. Therefore, I recommend that you see a urologist. The urologist can conduct a physical examination and, if necessary, further diagnostic tests to determine if phimosis is present and if it is responsible for your symptoms.
There are various treatment options for phimosis. Non-invasive methods include regularly stretching the foreskin under medical guidance to improve symptoms. Another option is the use of corticosteroid creams, which can also help stretch the foreskin.
If these conservative methods are not sufficient, surgery may be necessary in some cases. During surgery, the foreskin is partially or completely removed to address the phimosis.
It is important to discuss your symptoms with a urologist and work together to find the best treatment option for you. Depending on the diagnosis and individual situation, additional steps such as blood tests, urine analysis, or an ultrasound examination may be necessary to determine the cause of your symptoms.
I hope this information is helpful to you and wish you all the best for your health.
Sincerely,
Ben Busse
