The term is often incorrectly applied to any foreskin that cannot be retracted . Many people think the foreskin should retract during infancy. In fact, the foreskins of infants and young boys are naturally fused to the glans. Retraction is a very gradual process. A non-retractable foreskin is normal in childhood and should not be confused with phimosis.
Phimosis is commonly misunderstood and misdiagnosed.
Using the surgical treatment of circumcision to prevent phimosis is a little like preventing headaches by decapitation. Para-phimosis can also be caused by rigorous or unclean retraction attempts. This is when the foreskin becomes stuck behind the head of the penis. In either situation, the foreskin is inappropriately blamed and circumcision is recommended. The U.S. has the highest population of circumcised males in the industrialized world.