
What is paraphimosis and why does it happen?
Paraphimosis often happens when you pull back the foreskin to clean under it or if you’re trying to stretch the foreskin due to the foreskin being too tight. It can also happen if the foreskin is moved for something like a catheterization to drain urine or another type of medical procedure on the penis. How is paraphimosis diagnosed?
What is the difference between circumcision and paraphimosis?
(Circumcision is when the foreskin of the penis is removed, usually in the first few days after birth.) Paraphimosis happens when the foreskin gets stuck behind the head of the penis. It can’t be pulled back down into a normal position. Paraphimosis can happen to any uncircumcised penis. It is most common in younger and older people.
How do you know if you have paraphimosis?
Your doctor can diagnose paraphimosis by simply performing a physical examination and inspecting the penis. They’ll also ask you about your symptoms and any other problems you may be experiencing with the penis or foreskin.
What is the best treatment for paraphimosis?
Manual reduction of paraphimosis can often be facilitated by simple compression of the glans and the swollen, edematous foreskin for several minutes before attempting the reduction. This allows the edematous swelling of the retracted foreskin to diminish before attempting repositioning of the foreskin to its usual position.

What does paraphimosis look like?
The main symptom of paraphimosis is the inability to return the foreskin back to its normal position over the tip of the penis. The foreskin and the tip of the penis may be swollen and painful. The tip of the penis may also be dark red or blue due to a lack of blood flow.
How do you release paraphimosis?
Using both hands, hold the penis securely between the index and middle fingers bilaterally, just proximal to the phimotic ring. Then, with your thumbs, use slow, steady pressure to push the glans proximally through the ring, while milking the foreskin distally to reduce it fully over the glans.
How serious is paraphimosis?
If paraphimosis is diagnosed and treated quickly, you shouldn't have any other problems. If the condition is left untreated, it can cause complications. It could disrupt blood flow to the tip of the penis. Though rare, this could lead to damage to the penis tip, gangrene, or loss of the penis tip.
Can paraphimosis heal itself?
Acute paraphimosis may go away on its own. The swelling in your penis should decrease after your foreskin has returned to its normal position. You may need the following treatments if your foreskin does not return to its normal position: Medicines may help decrease pain or swelling.
What is the cause of paraphimosis?
Paraphimosis often happens when you pull back the foreskin to clean under it or if you're trying to stretch the foreskin due to the foreskin being too tight. It can also happen if the foreskin is moved for something like a catheterization to drain urine or another type of medical procedure on the penis.
Is paraphimosis treatment painful?
Typical paraphimosis symptoms include erythema, pain, and swelling of foreskin and glans due to the constricting ring of the phimotic foreskin. It may sometimes be described by patients as "penile swelling" and may be relatively painless.
Who treats paraphimosis?
The urologist, in consultation with the patient and his family, may try a course of topical steroids or preputioplasty. A paraphimosis that is reduced with minimal intervention by the ED physician still requires outpatient urology follow-up in anticipation of recurrences and evaluation for possible circumcision.
Is pulling foreskin necessary?
It covers the glans (head) of the penis. You don't need to do anything special to care for the foreskin during infancy or childhood. You don't need to pull it back for cleaning. If your child does pull back the foreskin in the bath or shower, that's fine – but it's not needed.
What happens if your foreskin doesn't pull back?
A tight foreskin is normal in babies and young boys. Most boys' foreskins do not pull back (retract) before the age of 5, but sometimes it's not possible until they're 10 or older. The end of a boy's penis may bulge or balloon when they pee, particularly if their foreskin is tight.
Is pulling back foreskin necessary?
It covers the glans (head) of the penis. You don't need to do anything special to care for the foreskin during infancy or childhood. You don't need to pull it back for cleaning. If your child does pull back the foreskin in the bath or shower, that's fine – but it's not needed.
Is pulling back foreskin painful?
There is no pain at all until the foreskin is pulled down.
Who treats paraphimosis?
The urologist, in consultation with the patient and his family, may try a course of topical steroids or preputioplasty. A paraphimosis that is reduced with minimal intervention by the ED physician still requires outpatient urology follow-up in anticipation of recurrences and evaluation for possible circumcision.
What is paraphimosis?
Paraphimosis is a serious condition that can happen only to people who have penises and who haven’t been circumcised. (Circumcision is when the foreskin of the penis is removed, usually in the first few days after birth.) Paraphimosis happens when the foreskin gets stuck behind the head of the penis. It can’t be pulled back down into a normal position.
How to tell if you have paraphimosis?
The main symptoms of paraphimosis include: Not being able to pull the foreskin back to its normal position. Swelling of the end of the penis. Discomfort and pain. Other symptoms could include: Redness and tenderness. Trouble urinating.
Can paraphimosis cause complications?
If paraphimosis is diagnosed and treated quickly, you shouldn’t have any other problems. If the condition is left untreated, it can cause complications. It could disrupt blood flow to the tip of the penis.
Can paraphimosis be prevented or avoided?
The only way to completely prevent paraphimosis from happening is by being circumcised. If you are not circumcised, you can still avoid paraphimosis by:
What is paraphimosis?
Paraphimosis is a medical emergency. It happens to people who have partially circumcised or completely uncircumcised penises. The foreskin becomes trapped behind the head of the penis and can’t be pulled down to cover the end of the penis. This painful condition is serious and can cut off circulation to the tip of your penis.
How common is this condition?
Studies indicate that 0.2% of uncircumcised children aged 4 months to 12 years old will have paraphimosis. For uncircumcised people age 16 years and older, the rate rises to 1%. This is less common than other foreskin problems in both categories.
What are the symptoms of paraphimosis?
Inability to pull the foreskin forward over the head of the penis to the tip. (Putting the foreskin back into its proper place is called foreskin reduction.)
What causes paraphimosis?
Paraphimosis often happens when you pull back the foreskin to clean under it or if you’re trying to stretch the foreskin due to the foreskin being too tight. It can also happen if the foreskin is moved for something like a catheterization to drain urine or another type of medical procedure on the penis.
How is paraphimosis diagnosed?
You will probably notice that your penis, or your child’s penis, has some swelling or discomfort. When you contact your healthcare provider, it’s likely that they will recommend you are seen in the emergency department for an exam and a foreskin reduction.
What are the complications of paraphimosis?
Untreated paraphimosis is dangerous. If the foreskin isn’t moved, the lack of blood flow to the penis could cause tissue damage (ischemia) or tissue death (necrosis).
How can I prevent paraphimosis?
The only way to fully prevent paraphimosis is to be completely circumcised. Other ways that may help prevent this condition include:
What Is the Meaning of Paraphimosis?
The penis is one of the most crucial organs of the male reproductive system. It consists of several parts, including the head known as the glans, the skin covering the glans, known as the foreskin, and a tip. During puberty, the penis develops completely and reaches a maximum size.
Is Paraphimosis the Same as Phimosis?
Paraphimosis and phimosis are the conditions that affect the penis mainly. Phimosis is not a medical emergency and occurs in uncircumcised or partially circumcised people. They are unable to bring the foreskin back to the natural position. However, phimosis subsides after some time and does not require any treatment.
What Are the Causes of Paraphimosis?
Paraphimosis can happen in both young and old people. There are several causes of paraphimosis that have been described below:
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Paraphimosis?
Paraphimosis is a condition in which the foreskin of the penis can not be pulled forward to cover the head. The signs and symptoms of paraphimosis are listed below:
What Methods Are Used to Diagnose Paraphimosis?
The diagnosis of paraphimosis is based on medical history and physical examination. Laboratory and imaging tests are not required as the condition is visible on physical examination. The diagnostic methods have been described below:
How to Manage Paraphimosis?
Uncomplicated and mild paraphimosis can be treated with non-surgical methods, while surgery is required in complicated paraphimosis. The treatment options have been described below:
What Are the Complications of Paraphimosis?
If the paraphimosis is left untreated for long, severe complications occur. The complications of paraphimosis have been listed below:
What is a phimosis?
1. Painful constriction of the glans penis by a phimotic foreskin, which has been retracted behind the corona. 2. [para- + G. phimosis] Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012.
How many patients in Fetsch series developed a similar lesion with longstanding neglected paraphimosis?
Only 1 patient in a series by Fetsch and colleagues developed a similar lesion with longstanding neglected paraphimosis.[sup.3]
Can paraphimosisin be treated with antibiotics?
The present study suggests that acute paraphimosisin adolescent ram can be therapeutically managed with prompt institution of rational therapy alongwith antibiotic, NSAID and proteolytic enzyme.
What is paraphimosis in urology?
Paraphimosis is a urological emergency best managed by an interprofessional team that includes a pediatrician, emergency department physician, urologist, nurse specialist, and a surgeon. Mild cases may be reduced manually, but more complex cases usually require some type of anesthesia.
What age do you get paraphimosis?
In adults, paraphimosis is most commonly found in adolescents. It will occur in about 1% of all adult males over 16 years of age.
Can paraphimosis be reduced?
Mild, uncomplicated paraphimosis may be reduced manually, usually without the need for sedation or analgesia. More difficult or complicated cases may require local anesthesia with a dorsal penile block, systemic analgesia, or procedural sedation.
Can paraphimosis be reduced without compression?
Manual, non-surgical reduction of the paraphimosis is possible with or without compression methods, using osmotic agents and puncture-aspiration techniques.
Can paraphimosis cause gangrene?
Ischemia leading to necrosis and gangrene of the glans and distal urethra can occur. Management of such a severe complication of paraphimosis is typically partial penectomy, resection of the glans and/or excision of the necrotic penile tissue. Recently, conservative management of a case of necrosis of the glans from paraphimosis in a 25 year old was described with suprapubic tube drainage and careful surgical debridement which provided a reasonably good result without penile amputation. [11]
What causes paraphimosis?
Paraphimosis can also result from the following medical conditions or procedures: Infection, due to various factors, including poor personal hygiene.
How to diagnose paraphimosis?
Paraphimosis may be diagnosed with a physical examination by a doctor. A physical examination is enough for a doctor to confirm a diagnosis of paraphimosis. It is usually easy to see and will be characterized by a tight band of foreskin trapped behind the head of the penis.
What happens if you leave paraphimosis untreated?
If paraphimosis is left untreated, serious damage can occur, including loss of blood flow and potential loss of the tip of the penis. Last medically reviewed on August 8, 2017. Men's Health. Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses.
What are the risk factors for paraphimosis?
Risk factors for having paraphimosis include a person’s age. The condition can occur at any age but is most common in adolescence. It also occurs in older men, typically those who have diabetes, those who need catheterization, or those who have a history of bacterial infection.
What are the complications of paraphimosis?
In severe cases, or if the paraphimosis is untreated, the following complications can occur: damage to the penis tip. impaired or loss of blood flow. gangrene.
Can a penile piercing cause paraphimosis?
A penile piercing may cause paraphimosis. Paraphimosis is characterized by the following: inability to pull the retracted foreskin back over the head of the penis. swelling of the end of the penis. discomfort and pain. Other symptoms may include: redness, tenderness. inability to urinate.
Can paraphimosis be caused by urination?
This can happen during a medical examination, after cleaning, or after urination.
What causes paraphimosis?
Paraphimosis is an uncommon condition usually inadvertently caused by retraction of the foreskin by the individual, or in a hospital or nursing home setting by a healthcare professional inserting a Foley catheter, or preparing the patient for a procedure.
What is the treatment and cure for paraphimosis?
Manual reduction is usually the first treatment option. To help with the pain, your doctor other health care professional might apply a local anesthetic cream, give you pain medication by mouth, or apply a local anesthetic block to your penis. Applying ice to the local area can help with the edema during manual reduction.
What are the signs and symptoms of phimosis?
The inability of the foreskin to retract can lead to difficulty cleaning of the area which can cause balanitis. Other symptoms include:
What medications, creams, or ointments treat and cure phimosis?
Treatment depends on the age of the male, severity, and resulting symptoms.
What is a physiologic phimosis?
Physiologic phimosis is the normal condition in which children are born with a tight foreskin, and separation occurs during late childhood and early adolescence. Pathologic phimosis happens because of an infection, inflammation, or scarring and usually is found in uncircumcised adult men.
Is phimosis a good prognosis?
The prognosis for phimosis is usually very good. A small amount of bleeding can occur as the skin is retracted but long term negative outcomes are very rare. The prognosis for paraphimosis depends on the speed of diagnosis and reduction.
