Foreskin What To Know
What is the foreskin?
The foreskin is a fold of skin that covers the head of the penis. It is made up of two layers: the inner layer, which is called the prepuce, and the outer layer, which is called the dartos fascia. The foreskin contains sebaceous glands, which produce an oily substance that helps to lubricate the penis during intercourse.
Is the foreskin necessary?
The foreskin is not essential for life, but it does serve a number of functions.
- *It helps to protect the glans penis, the sensitive head of the penis, from irritation and injury.* It does this by providing a barrier between the glans and clothing or other objects. Foreskin is also one of the body's most erogenous zones and plays an important role in sexual pleasure and function for males of all ages.
- *The foreskin also helps to maintain moisture in the urethra, the opening at the tip of the penis through which urine is passed.*
- *It also contains sweat glands and blood vessels, which help to regulate the temperature of the penis during sexual arousal*
What are the risks of having a foreskin?
Although the foreskin is not essential for life, it can sometimes cause problems. These problems include:
- Phimosis: A condition in which the foreskin is too tight and cannot be retracted over the glans penis. This can make urination difficult and painful. Phimosis can also lead to inflammation and infection of the glans penis.
- Paraphimosis: A condition in which the foreskin is retracted and cannot be pulled back over the glans penis. This can cause the glans penis to become trapped and swollen. Paraphimosis is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment.
- Balanitis: An inflammation of the glans penis. Balanitis can be caused by a number of factors, including poor hygiene, sexually transmitted infections, and allergies.
- Smegma: Smelly cheese-like material that builds up under the foreskin, This can happen especially if a man does not regularly rinse the area under the foreskin when showering of bathing
- Infections - Having a foreskin makes a person more likely to experience various infections
Should I have my foreskin removed?
The decision of whether or not to have a circumcision, the surgical removal of the foreskin, is a personal one.