Phimosis / Tight Foreskin / Circumcision

[worried mummy]

Now, I am confused again. There seems to be 2 differing views on the effects of circumcision. I have consulted 2 doctors, one GP says it is very unlikely for a kid with tight foreskin to open up eventually without being circumcised. He claimed that there will be scarring if we don’t do it and it will cause more problem in future. Another doctor said that circumcision is an elective surgery unless the kid has frequent infections, else just leave the kid alone. So now the point is my kid has only one infection and there wasn’t any bacteria infection in his urine. He has since recovered. So is it still medically necessary to go through a irrevisible surgery such as circumcision? Btw, my boy is 6 years old this year and we are unable to pull back his foreskin to clean his gland during bathing, leading to the infection, according to the paediatric urologist.

[heutistmeintag]

I think the difficulty here is dealing with the risk of future infection. As in any risk management, we need to appreciate the probability factor. My questions are


1) it happened only once, do you need to fix it now when "it’s not broken"?

2) is the foreskin retraction problem permanent?

3) if the circumcision has adverse effect on sexual pleasure in the future, do you want to make a premature decision for him now? After all, it’s his private part, not yours. Could the decision be delayed?

Just some thoughts that came off my mind, I am not biased towards any approach.

[worried mummy]

heutistmeintag:

2) is the foreskin retraction problem permanent?

.

Precisely, I do not know whether the foreskin retraction problem is going to be permanent or not. As it is right now, he cannot pull back his foreskin to clean properly, thus resulting in the infection, according to the doctor.

[ZacK]

worried mummy:

heutistmeintag:

2) is the foreskin retraction problem permanent?

.

Precisely, I do not know whether the foreskin retraction problem is going to be permanent or not. As it is right now, he cannot pull back his foreskin to clean properly, thus resulting in the infection, according to the doctor.

Today DS1 complained of pain when he urinates.... Will observe and see how it developes... Probably got an infection.

Btw just to confirm if fever usually follows when there is an infection? Thanks.

[MLR]

ZacK:

Btw just to confirm if fever usually follows when there is an infection? Thanks.

Not necessarily. When theres fever, it would be serious enough for anti-biotics. Check to see if theres redness, if there is, most probably it is infected. If the pain and redness do not go away after a day, should consult doctor.

[ZacK]

MLR:

ZacK:

Btw just to confirm if fever usually follows when there is an infection? Thanks.

Not necessarily. When theres fever, it would be serious enough for anti-biotics. Check to see if theres redness, if there is, most probably it is infected. If the pain and redness do not go away after a day, should consult doctor.

Ermm he complained of pain at the underside of his penis... If it's an infection I suppose the pain should be felt at the tip? Then he added that he only felt the pain when he urinates... Hmmm ok, will take note and bring him to the doc if the pain persist.

[buds]

Cud be urine infection, Zack.

Oh… the poor dear. Cry?

[ZacK]

buds:

Cud be urine infection, Zack.

Oh... the poor dear. Cry?

DS1 is ok... Just complained abt the stinging pain, other than that... He is still happy and going abt doing his own stuff

[buds]

Was recommended by friends to drink

juices with anti-oxidants like cranberry
juice to ease the stinging in the cases
of urine infections - it worked!

With urine infection also, feels like gg
toilet every other time…

[worried mummy]

My son had similar symptoms when he had an infection 2 months back. He felt a little pain after he urinated and but he never complained to me till the doctor asked him. So I presume the pain is quite bearable.


There is a slight redness at the tip of his penis. A urine test was done but no bacteria infection was detected in his urine. The doctor said small amounts of urine accumulated at the tip of his penis after he urinated because he cannot pull back his foreskin, resulting in the inflammation and urge to urinate frequently. That’s why he suggested circumcision - for hygiene purposes. He didn’t have fever and was just given some oral medicine to reduce the inflammation.