Q: The foreskin on my penis is very tight and does not go back easily. What is it and what is the treatment?

A:Phimosis is the inability to retract the foreskin fully. In little babies and young boys this is a normal thing. As the baby grows older, the foreskin separates from the underlying glans penis. In some individuals, this separation does not happen fully or due to repeated infection in that area the skin becomes scarred. It might also happen later in life. When the foreskin does not retract, it predisposes to repeated infection in that area. Also, sexual intercourse may become painful and result in bleeding. The only treatment at that stage is a minor operation called circumcision, in which the foreskin is surgically removed.