What are the effects of not undergoing circumcision for phimosis?

Generally, if phimosis is not treated in a timely manner, it may lead to local hygiene problems, abnormal urination, recurrent inflammation and infection, impaired sexual life, local tissue damage, and other adverse effects. A detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Local hygiene problems: Phimosis can cause a narrow space to form between the foreskin and glans, where residual urine and sebum secretions may accumulate, forming smegma. This debris is difficult to clean thoroughly, and long-term accumulation can breed bacteria, causing odor and increasing the risk of subsequent health issues. Frequent daily cleaning is necessary, but cleaning alone is insufficient to completely resolve the buildup of debris.

2. Abnormal urination: Severe phimosis can cause the foreskin opening to narrow, acting like a small channel that obstructs urine flow, resulting in weak or deflected urine stream and even urinary retention. Over time, this may increase bladder pressure and raise the likelihood of other urinary system problems.

3. Recurrent inflammation and infection: Bacteria thriving in accumulated smegma may repeatedly irritate the foreskin and glans, causing balanitis and balanoposthitis. During an episode, redness, pain, and itching may occur locally. Repeated inflammation weakens the local tissue, further exacerbating discomfort caused by phimosis.

4. Impaired sexual life: If phimosis persists into adulthood, the foreskin may be unable to retract normally during sexual intercourse, potentially causing pain and affecting sexual experience. Additionally, heightened local sensitivity or inflammatory irritation may increase the risk of premature ejaculation, significantly impacting sexual quality.

5. Local tissue damage: Some patients with phimosis may tear the foreskin opening when attempting to retract it forcefully, resulting in pain and bleeding. If not properly cared for, these wounds may become infected and, after healing, form scars that further narrow the foreskin opening, worsening the phimosis condition.

It is important to maintain good local hygiene in daily life to reduce debris accumulation, although this can only alleviate some of the problems. If significant discomfort exists, professional medical intervention should be sought early to prevent worsening complications and preserve reproductive health.