Does an 8 y.o. intact boy need to see a pediatric urologist?

[jenna_brownson]

My son has just returned from his annual well-child check with a referral to a pediatric urologist for "non-retractile foreskin."

No infections, no discharge, no redness -- ever.

I'd rather leave well enough alone. However, has anyone heard of that this (non) issue needs medical intervention? If so, what are we to expect?

Thanks,
Jenna

P.S. We are utterly "hands-off" when it comes to "modern" medicine. Our 8 y.o.'s last "annual" well-child check was 3 years ago; we had planned unattended homebirths with our last two babies.

[tennisdude23]

Hi, by everything that I have read on this issue, your son is normal. I am an intact guy, and I did not start retracting until around 10 years of age. I am 20 now and no problems. Hope this helps! If your son has no problems, cancel the appointment and inform your ped. about the proper age of retraction, which can vary from 0 years of age to late teens.

[Night_Nurse]

Jenna,
No, there is no need to see a urologist. If he's urinating fine, don't worry. Many boys don't have fully (or even partially) retractable foreskins well until the teen years.

[Amila]

I'm no expert, but that sounds ridiculous.

[Claire and Boys]

If it's not retractable by the end of puberty, then consider seeing a Dr to get a steroid ointment - that together with stretching exercises in the vast majority of cases does the trick. Before then, it's pointless and unnecessary.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

What everyone else said there is NO age that is the norm for retraction it happens when it happens birth to adulthood with 10.5 yo being the avg.

I am curious as to if the Dr actually touched his foreskin or if your ds showed him or what? Because no Dr should be touching your ds penis at all ever.

The odds are extremely high if you do take him that the urologist will want to circ. that is all they know for the most part so save your money and your ds from strangers messing with his penis when there is no reason to do so.

[LavenderMae]

NO need to see an urologist. I so wish doctors would educate themselves on natural penises so they will stop giving out such bad and potentially harmful advice.

[Tinijocaro]

Two ds's. One mostly retractable by three or four, the other, not until he was 12.

Think about it, no redness, swelling, irritation, or infection. No problem. Why do they want to make it a problem?

Is there a magic age that girls should start developing breasts?

[hollytheteacher]

Originally Posted by Tinijocaro

Two ds's. One mostly retractable by three or four, the other, not until he was 12.

Think about it, no redness, swelling, irritation, or infection. No problem. Why do they want to make it a problem?

Is there a magic age that girls should start developing breasts?

Good point! Imagine if the dr. had suggested taking your dd to the cosmetic surgeon for breast implants because she hadn't developed by X years old lol

[eepster]

As everyone else has pointed out, a nonretractible foreskin in an 8 yo is a normal developemental variation.

How exactly does the ped know that he doesn't retract though? If s/he attempeted to retrat your DS, s/he risked causing injury to your DS. Though the damage from premature attemped retraction is usually minor, it can cause ahost of problems ranging from mild redness and irritation up to paraphimosis, which is very dangerous. No one should attempt to retract you DS's foreskin till he is ready to himself.

[needhelpplease]

That's ridiculous. She shouldn't even know if it can be retracted or not. Additionally, as others have said, the average age of retraction is 10 and for many guys I know it took well into puberty. That's normal.

[chaoticzenmom]

My 9yo does not retract yet. He's fine. I was worried about it when he was much younger because of an ignorant ped who was trying to start the "we'll need to consider circumsicion if he's not retractable by 3" stuff. I asked my husband and my FIL and they both said that they weren't retractable until early puberty. My mother was told to retract and clean my brother and he's had all kinds of issues with his foreskin because of the advice given to her in the 70's. I swear, some dr's are still giving out 70's information!

He's normal and I wouldn't see a pediatric urologist for it.
Lisa

[kriket]

Originally Posted by Claire and Boys

If it's not retractable by the end of puberty, then consider seeing a Dr to get a steroid ointment - that together with stretching exercises in the vast majority of cases does the trick. Before then, it's pointless and unnecessary.

Just wait for his teenage years and I do believe this will happen naturally! Hes a bit young yet for ..eh hem.. stretching.

[glongley]

YOur son is normal and does not need to see a urologist.

Read why here, and give a copy to the doc who made the referral, so they can be better educated and not give harmful advice to other intact boys.

http://www.cirp.org/library/normal/

[jenna_brownson]

Thank you all so much.

I truly appreciate the wisdom and reason found here with all of you.

Warm regards,
Jenna