In a  Physiological Phimosis. The foreskin gradually becomes retractable over a variable period of time, ranging from birth to 14 years of age or more. This is aided by erections and Keratinisation (The conversion of squamous epithelial cells into a horny material) of the inner Epithelium.

An estimate of 96% of males during child birth are noticed to have a non-retractile foreskin, which is due to the naturally occurring adhesions (A condition in which body tissues that are supposed to be separate grow together) between Prepuce and Glans and also due to narrowing skin of the Prepuce and Frenulum breve.

CAUSES OF PHYSIOLOGICAL PHIMOSIS

Physiologic Phimosis is a gentle condition that is normally observed in boys younger than 10 years. These causes are:

• When the tip of the foreskin is too narrow to pass over the glans of the Penis. This is normally observed in children and adolescents.
• When the inner surface of the foreskin is fused with the glans of the Penis. This is observed in children and adolescents but abnormal in adults.
• When the Frenulum is too short to allow complete retraction of the foreskin. This condition is known as the frenulum breve.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF PHYSIOLOGICAL PHIMOSIS

Physiologic Phimosis, does not generally present any signs or symptoms in most cases. Therefore diagnosis of Physiological Phimosis is based primarily on clinical procedures and no laboratory tests or imaging studies are required. Treating physicians are able to distinguish developmental non-retractability from pathological Phimosis, through the determination of the cause and origin of Phimosis.