This site discusses phimosis in its specific forms of phimotic ring, frenulum breve, adhesions or skinbridges. During erection these conditions inhibit the relationship between foreskin and glans. This functionally restricts the erection, and thus has an effect on the sexuality. With our culture's attitudes on health care, it would be appropriate to encourage early prevention.

Jan 2021 : Please read the new summary.

FOUR STUDIES giving STATISTICS FOR GENERAL COMPLAINTS

Phimosis is recorded at less than 1% in two reports from school medical check-ups where eyes lungs etc. are all checked, the similarity of these two results must be significant and I suggest it reflects an extremely narrow definition of phimosis.

Kohler L, "Physical examination of four-year-old children." Acta Paediatr Scand 1973 Mar;62(2):181-92
"Phimosis, in combination with recurrent balanitis or voiding difficulties, ..., ... was the cause of referral in 12 boys (0.9%)."

Smith GC, Powell A, Reynolds K, Campbell CA, "The five year school medical--time for change"Arch Dis Child 1990 Feb;65(2):225-7
School medical records of 1000 children born in 1981 were studied retrospectively. They showed that once known medical problems and those screened for by the school nurse (hearing, vision, growth) were excluded, only 17 problems requiring treatment were discovered: speech (n = 10), development (n = 3), undescended testes (n = 3), and phimosis (n = 1).

Unavailable through German Libraries
Navarro Alonso JA, Fuster Quinonero D, Evaluacion de resultados del examen de salud escolar en la region de Murcia. Curso 1986/1987. - [Evaluation of results of school health examination in the Murcia] region. 1986/87Aten Primaria 1989 Jun-Jul;6(6):406-8
"In the present study, we have carried out an evaluation of school examinations in 47,943 children in the past course. We have compared our results with those from similar previous studies in other parts of Spain. Our findings were comparable in visual acuity and scoliosis, and not so much about cryptorchidism and phimosis. We think that examinations are necessary, but it is needed to increase the quality and the effectiveness, to get closer to the knowledge of usefulness and to the correct evaluation of school health programs."

Sarria Santamera A, Por que se hospitalizan los ninos en Espana? - [Why are children hospitalized in Spain?] An Esp Pediatr 1996 Sep;45(3):264-8
"This work describes regional differences in Spanish pediatric hospital admissions." This is not a study on the frequency of phimosis, it records only how often in different age groups phimosis is diagnosed leading to a hospital admission.
"PATIENTS AND METHODS: National, regional, age-specific and diagnostic-specific discharge rates were obtained from the 1987 Hospital Morbidity Survey. To assess regional variations, weighted coefficient of variations (WCV) were obtained. RESULTS: The overall national discharge rate was 60.45 discharges per 1000 children less than 15 years of age. The weighted coefficient of variation obtained for the sex and age adjusted discharge rates of the 10 more frequent diagnoses was highest for phimosis (56.13) and lowest for appendicitis (19.44). CONCLUSIONS: Differences in supply and professional practice style have been recognized as causes for the variations in hospital utilization. Hospitalization of patients represents costs and risks. They are justified when scientific evidence shows that their suggested benefits overcome their inconveniences. The existence of this difference leads to suspect that non-clinical factors could be decisive in medical decisions."