What will happen if you don't circumcise?

Not being circumcised may increase the risk of balanitis, urinary tract infections and other diseases, but not all men require surgical intervention. The management of foreskin or phimosis needs to be decided on an individual basis.

The foreskin protects the glans, but a foreskin that is too long or too tight may cause local hygiene problems. When daily cleaning is insufficient, smegma can easily accumulate, leading to the growth of bacteria. This condition may cause redness, swelling, itching, or increased discharge from the foreskin glans. Repeated infections may cause scarring of phimosis, which affects urinary function. If the foreskin cannot evert naturally during adolescence, it may limit penile development.

Medical intervention is required when pathological phimosis is present. Scarring phimosis may cause difficulty urinating or a narrow urine stream. Long-term chronic inflammation may increase the risk of penile cancer. When phimosis is combined with underlying diseases such as diabetes, the probability of infection increases significantly. Severe phimosis may affect your sex life, causing pain during intercourse or erectile dysfunction.

It is recommended to clean the inside and outside of the foreskin every day to keep the area dry and clean. If recurrent infections, urinary abnormalities or foreskin incarceration occur, you should seek medical attention promptly. Your doctor will evaluate the need for surgery based on your age, symptoms, and foreskin elasticity. Asymptomatic paraphimosis can be managed by observation and does not require preventive surgery. On a daily basis, choose breathable cotton underwear and avoid using harsh cleaning products.