Parents are often puzzled by such a delicate issue as the opening of the head of the penis in boys. And if fathers are usually more or less knowledgeable in this matter, then some mothers may become confused. Meanwhile, it is important to know at what age this process should take place in order to consult a doctor in a timely manner and prevent the appearance of serious ailments in the child.
How should the head of the penis open in boys?
From birth in boys, the skin of the foreskin is usually spliced with the head of the genital organ with synechiae - special tender adhesions. The latter do not allow the head to open completely or exclude its free removal.
This anatomical structure is called "physiological phimosis". Unlike pathological, it is temporary and is considered the norm for young boys. Then, during puberty, as the penis grows, the foreskin is gradually separated from the glans, resulting in an opening.
When does a boy's penis open?
If we talk about the age at which the head of the penis opens in boys, it should be noted that this depends on various factors. One of them is the individual rate of development of the child. Based on this, we can conclude that there are no unambiguous norms regarding age.
As medical observations show, only in 4% of newborns, the foreskin of the genital organ is sufficiently mobile to allow the head to be removed. In about 20% of boys, this process occurs at 6 months of age. And by 3-4 years in 90% of children of the stronger sex, the foreskin is already freely displaced, which allows you to freely and completely open the head of the penis.
How to open the head of the penis in boys?
If your child is not complaining about anything, is urinating calmly, and his penis is not inflamed or red, you should not take any action. And even more so, you should not open the head of the penis forcibly. There are many nerve endings in such a part of the body, and all manipulations in this area are quite painful. Unsuccessful attempts by parents to open the head on their own can lead to the appearance of paraphimosis, which will require surgery.
All you have to do is just keep your baby's penis hygienic. The foreskin cavity is naturally washed out when bathing. In addition, the scrotum and penis should be washed with baby soap at least 1 time per week, in no case opening the head of the penis. You also need to remember that with each diaper change or bowel movement, the baby must be washed in the direction strictly from front to back.
What to do with pathological phimosis
Some boys may develop pathological phimosis. Such a disease must be treated. Otherwise, in the future, this can lead to the fact that in the process of erection, the boy will experience pain, as well as ruptures. If you do not take the necessary actions before the onset of sexual activity, subsequently, it will be significantly difficult or even impossible to have sexual intercourse.
In special cases, surgery is required. The indications for the operation are:
- frequent inflammation of the head of the penis and foreskin;
- significant changes in the foreskin due to the presence of scars;
- various disorders in the process of urination, including painful sensations.
In modern medicine, various methods of surgical intervention are used. The most common is a circular excision of the foreskin. This operation is performed under general anesthesia. This method makes it possible to permanently eliminate the morphological substrate of phimosis.
