Doctor messed with foreskin - any damage done?

[paulamc]

We went for DS's 9 month visit the other day. Before he was born I had intended to discuss intact penis care with his pediatrician prior to any examination (i.e. do not mess with foreskin at all) but it slipped my mind. Overall, the doctor has been supportive of our choices - home birth, breast feeding, delayed vac, etc... Until now, I've never seen her touch DS's penis at all, so I really didn't think it would be a problem.

At this last visit she was examining him. It occurred to me at that time that I'd never mentioned the issue to her so I said to her "you would never retract DS's foreskin would you?" Big mistake! At that point she immediately started manipulating the foreskin - not retracting it down all the way by any means, but she said something to this effect "we don't do what they used to do in the old days (forcible retraction) but you still need to pull it back to the extent that it pulls back easily." I tuned out and just wanted her to get her hands off of him at that point - I physically removed them then she did it again!!! So I don't recall what she said about why this was necessary, but she mentioned something about the guidelines for care and I suppose it was something about keeping it clean.

I don't think it hurt DS at all. But do you think any damage was done?

[beru]

You made it sound like she didn't "force" it. So, I don't think it did any harm. The foreskin is not a ticking bomb. It is hardy. Don't expect this to cause problems, although it could.

However, she is wrong and shouldn't be messing with it. I had two doctors tell me to do this, gently move the skin back just until it resists. They said that it was not only to clean it but to "help it along". Apparently, the foreskin requires parental manipulation. Otherwise, it will never ever retract. If I could go back in time, I would ask them if I should also be "gently" streching my daughter's hymen.

[paulamc]

What did you do? Did you continue to see these doctors? Were they your pediatricians?

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I doubt any damage was done but I do think you need to make it clear to thisped that you do not want her touching your ds's penis at all. It is not needed and it can cause damage that can be easily prevented by it never happening in the first place.

[serendipity22]

Ive got a feeling the phrase 'forcible retraction' has become 'gentle retraction' and they are both dangerous.

Its interesting how adjectives can distort things. The message needs to be 'no retraction' not 'no forcible retraction'.

In any case, who is honest to say i forcefully retracted. They are going to say I retracted gently.

Adults need to learn to keep their hands off.

[tutucrazy]

Something that can happen from this is premature separation, which has happened to boys who were gently retracted as you described. Also this can cause micro-tears to the opening.

Most likely nothing will happen but don't let her touch your son's penis ever again. This is just as bad as inserting fingers into a baby girl's vagina.

If she can't respect your rules then keep the diaper on. No manipulation needs to happen from anyone but the owner of the penis. At this point his foreskin is still very fiberous and not meant to be retracted.