Phimosis / Tight Foreskin / Circumcision

[Christine_T]

worried mummy:

He only had one incident of slight infection with no other complains. In fact he didn't even complain to me about the pain till the GP asked him. We sent him to see a GP because of his frequent urination. The GP subsequently referred him to a paediatric urologist who thinks that there is very low chance of him being able to pull back the foreskin and suggested circumcision.

It is normal for the foreskin not to retract.
http://www.cirp.org/library/normal/

Unfortunately some doctors are not aware of this. Especially in the USA where the rate of circumcision is higher.

You must not try to retract the foreskin or clean under it. This can damage the foreskin and create scar tissue. Scar tissue is inelastic and may cause true phimosis (rather than normal infant unretractability)

The penis doesn't require any care. So the advice is to just leave it alone. Most boys worldwide are intact (75%) and do fine. IN Britain , France, Germany and most of Europe they do not circumcise. They know there is no care required and their kids grow up great.
http://www.cirp.org/pages/parents/care/

[ZacK]

Christine_T:

worried mummy:

He only had one incident of slight infection with no other complains. In fact he didn't even complain to me about the pain till the GP asked him. We sent him to see a GP because of his frequent urination. The GP subsequently referred him to a paediatric urologist who thinks that there is very low chance of him being able to pull back the foreskin and suggested circumcision.

It is normal for the foreskin not to retract.
http://www.cirp.org/library/normal/

Unfortunately some doctors are not aware of this. Especially in the USA where the rate of circumcision is higher.

You must not try to retract the foreskin or clean under it. This can damage the foreskin and create scar tissue. Scar tissue is inelastic and may cause true phimosis (rather than normal infant unretractability)

The penis doesn't require any care. So the advice is to just leave it alone. Most boys worldwide are intact (75%) and do fine. IN Britain , France, Germany and most of Europe they do not circumcise. They know there is no care required and their kids grow up great.
http://www.cirp.org/pages/parents/care/

Thanks for the note. My sentiments exactly

[worried mummy]

Thanks to all of you. You have helped me to decide not to send my boy for circumcision. This thing has been bugging me for the last few days…

[phankao]

Christine_T:

You must not try to retract the foreskin or clean under it. This can damage the foreskin and create scar tissue. Scar tissue is inelastic and may cause true phimosis (rather than normal infant unretractability)

Sigh, our boy had an injury, and there's possibility of scar tissue. But couldn't quite tell yet at the 1 week review. Have to wait for 6-mth review. Problem is, he's not that young now at 10yrs old. Big enough to not relish the possiblity of circumcision, no matter how \"simple\" or \"common\" a procedure it could be. So he's really hoping that probabiliy of scaring is low and not lead to phimosis. ;(

[ZacK]

worried mummy:

Thanks to all of you. You have helped me to decide not to send my boy for circumcision. This thing has been bugging me for the last few days...

I can understand how you feel as parent caught at the \"crossroads\" deciding what is best for our children :?:

Good to hear that you can have a good nite's sleep tonight

[ZacK]

phankao:

Christine_T:

You must not try to retract the foreskin or clean under it. This can damage the foreskin and create scar tissue. Scar tissue is inelastic and may cause true phimosis (rather than normal infant unretractability)

Sigh, our boy had an injury, and there's possibility of scar tissue. But couldn't quite tell yet at the 1 week review. Have to wait for 6-mth review. Problem is, he's not that young now at 10yrs old. Big enough to not relish the possiblity of circumcision, no matter how \"simple\" or \"common\" a procedure it could be. So he's really hoping that probabiliy of scaring is low and not lead to phimosis. ;(

Wow hope your boy will be fine... It's never easy to get an injury to something so \"delicate\"... All the best to your boy!

[phankao]

ZacK:

Wow hope your boy will be fine... It's never easy to get an injury to something so \"delicate\"... All the best to your boy!

Got kicked in the groin at the playground and foreskin tore. :!:

[MLR]

Ouch. When my brother was about 11, his got stuck when tried to zip down. He wasn’t wearing undies cos he forgot to bring one when he went swimming. He had to be brought to A&E, cos he was very embarrassed and he tried to get it unstuck, ended in worst situation. After he healed, he had to do surgery to remove the scar tissue which caused lots of pain when he peed. When he was in his 20s, he had to underwent another surgery. The one that he did when he 11 wasn’t done properly and caused problem when he engaged in intercourse.


Of course the one that he did when he was 11, was more than 20 yrs ago. Surgery procedures and skills would hv improved all these years.

[Lili 22]

Hubby has been asking me to bring 6 yrs old boy for a circumcision as he still can't fully retract his foreskin and also his penis is much smaller than our 3 yrs old boy's. Hubby feels that with circumcision, boy's penis will grow faster which I don't agree. Anyone here has the same worry or any suggestion? :?:

[ZacK]

Lili 22:

Hubby has been asking me to bring 6 yrs old boy for a circumcision as he still can't fully retract his foreskin and also his penis is much smaller than our 3 yrs old boy's. Hubby feels that with circumcision, boy's penis will grow faster which I don't agree. Anyone here has the same worry or any suggestion? :?:

Hi Lili22,

i must confess that this came to my mind.. But I guess the foreskin is also able to stretch and grow although that would mean the organ growth would be somewhat impeded? :oops:

Btw may I ask if your 3 yr old's foreskin is retractable?