Can I not be circumcised?

Men do not need to be circumcised. Whether to undergo circumcision should be decided based on individual health conditions and a doctor's evaluation. If foreskin or phimosis does not cause problems such as recurring infections or difficulty urinating, surgical intervention is usually not required.

Physiological foreskin is common in infants and young children and may naturally retract with puberty. Daily care should be taken to clean the perineum and gently wash the inside of the foreskin to avoid accumulation of dirt. You can choose breathable cotton underwear to reduce local friction, and the bath water temperature should not be too high to prevent drying and itching of the mucous membranes. If there is slight redness and swelling or increased secretions, it can be relieved by taking a sitz bath with dilute potassium permanganate solution.

Pathological phimosis may include stenosis of the foreskin orifice, scar adhesion, etc., and is usually accompanied by symptoms such as difficulty urinating and pain in the head of the penis. Secondary foreskinitis may be caused by pathogenic infections such as Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus, and must be treated with erythromycin ointment or clotrimazole cream as directed by your doctor. Severe fibrotic phimosis may affect erectile function. In this case, it is recommended to consider surgical treatments such as circumcision or foreskin dilation.

Circumcision surgery is not an option for all men. It is recommended to have an annual urological examination to assess the elasticity and opening width of the foreskin through palpation. Those who have not undergone surgery should avoid using detergents that are too alkaline and clean before and after sexual activity. If you find that the foreskin is incarcerated and cannot be reduced, or there are persistent ulcers or abnormal growths, you must seek medical attention immediately to check for diseases such as tumors or lichen sclerosus.