Men who suffer from phimosis might wonder what it will take to overcome the condition. The good news is that careful male organ care, under a doctor’s supervision, is likely to solve the problem with time and patience. However, there are other options as well. Here’s what a man needs to know about this uncommon member problem.

What is phimosis, anyway?

Phimosis is a condition in which the prepuce of the male organ cannot retract beyond the head of the manhood. Obviously, this is a condition found only in intact men. Being unable to retract the prepuce is actually very common in babies and young children, but as they begin to mature, the prepuce should eventually move freely over the head of the male organ.

For some men, however, the problem never resolves. Or perhaps it does, but then suddenly becomes an issue again for no apparent reason.

There are several different types of phimosis:

1. Pathological phimosis is when the ability of the prepuce to move is reduced by infection, inflammation or scarring. This is the most unlikely cause, but it does happen to men of any age.

2. Congenital phimosis means that the prepuce has been tight since birth, and that it didn’t loosen up with time. This isn’t caused by any sort of medical condition, trauma or the like. Fortunately, this is the easiest to treat.

3. Common phimosis is usually found in young male children, when the prepuce adheres to the head of the male organ. This is something a boy grows out of over time; if he does not, it will become apparent that common phimosis is actually congenital phimosis.

What’s the treatment for phimosis?

When it comes to treatment of phimosis, there are several ways to go. In the earliest stages, there is often a ‘wait and see’ approach. During this time, a man can try numerous types of manual stretching to see if the problem resolves on its own. This stretching is quite similar to self-fondling, as a man simply works to move the prepuce up and down, gradually opening it up a bit more to allow for it to retract. However, in extremely tight cases this might not work.

Another option is medication. Two tablets that have been tried with some success include betamethasone and hyaluronidase. When given to young men in a study, there was a 54% success rate when they were given the combination, and all patients tolerated the medication very well.

However, the above methods don’t have the best success long-term. That’s why many doctors look to surgery as the answer. Circumcision is the most common treatment for phimosis, as it removes the prepuce and immediately resolves the issue. However, some men will opt for a partial circumcision, which means that the surgeon makes a series of tiny incisions in the prepuce to help it open up, but doesn’t remove it entirely.

Keep in mind that surgery is often not recommended when a man is young, as everyone develops differently and phimosis might go away on its own as he matures. However, those over the age of 18 might be a candidate for circumcision if this member problem continues and causes significant discomfort or an inability to enjoy sensual pleasure.

Those who are trying to use the manual method to stretch the prepuce might have better luck if they employ a specially formulated manhood health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) during each attempt. The right crème will contain Shea butter and vitamin E, which provide ample hydration to soothe the skin and keep it as pliable as possible, thus possibly enhancing the work a man does to resolve phimosis through manual stretching.

Visit http://www.menshealthfirst.com for additional information on most common manhood health issues, tips on improving member sensitivity and what to do to maintain a healthy male organ. John Dugan is a professional writer who specializes in men's health issues and is an ongoing contributing writer to numerous websites.