What questions do I ask to find out if my doctor is foreskin friendly?

[lacysmommy]

I've been using a doctor for my kids for 2 years. I like her pretty well- she is pro vax but respects our vax decisions, and is a believer that the parent and the doctor are a team that work together. She also calls me personally whenever she has a concern, and when DD2 had a medical issue earlier this year she was calling us frequently to check up on her, making sure we had seen the specialist, etc. She's also never too busy to call us when we have a concern or question, and we can always get same-day appointments. I also know that she really cares about my kids. Those are all things that are important to me.

But I have no idea if she is foreskin friendly (I only have had girls and the baby I'm gestating is my first boy). I'm assuming she's been around foreskins because she is from China, and I'm pretty sure circ is not common there. But I really don't know for sure that she is foreskin friendly. I'm going to take my kids in for a well child visit soon and I was going to ask her what she thinks of circ and a few other questions. Any suggestions on what I should ask?

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

The best way would be to say something like "so this little guy is going to remain intact how do you recommend you care for it" ask her during an exam if she checks it for any reason. If she says yes then you should explain to her that you are not comfortable with that and that you dont want it touched.

Good Dr. are hard to come by so I would actually work with her on this. Bring her papers explaining the proper care if needed.

[Llyra]

I would just ask, "I've decided not to have my son circumcised. What do you know about caring for an intact penis?" and see what she says. The correct answer is that you do nothing special. You just keep the outside clean like you would any other body part. If she mentions retracting to clean, or states that there is a definite age when a boy must be retractable, then you know you're dealing with an uninformed doc. The best possible answer, I think, would be for her to state strongly that a boy should never be retracted; only he himself should ever retract his foreskin.

[SunShineSally]

I said to my doctor (who is Ds's and will be this beans doctor) I am worried because I have heard of stories about parents with intact children their doctors retracting their foreskin what should I do while in the hospital to make sure that will not happen? That answer should indicate if they are foreskin friendly. My doctor said to me "I have not heard of a doctor doing that, they should know better to just leave it alone!" He then said if it will make me feel better to tell them to not touch his foreskin for any reason! It sounds like the doctor you have is a smart educated person and if you have these concerns she/he will work with you congrats on the little boy they are wonderful :

[BamaDude]

I'd say that determining a doctor's "foreskin friendliness" could be done by simply posing these two questions to the doctor:

1. "At what age do boy's foreskins become retractable?"
(The correct answer is "Any time between birth and adulthood".)

2. "What do we do if my son isn't retractable by that age?"
(The worst possible answer is "Then we circumcise", and this answer is sometimes followed by "If you had had him circumcised at birth he wouldn't be having this problem now at __ years old ((sometimes as young as TWO!!))".)

[Fyrestorm]

I would also ask if she preforms circumcisions.

[eepster]

Originally Posted by lacysmommy

I'm assuming she's been around foreskins because she is from China, and I'm pretty sure circ is not common there.

If she came here as an adult, and especially if she went to medical school in China, she should be pretty foreskin knowledgeable. With any luck, down right opposed to circumcision. However, if she went to a US medical school, she might have picked up bad information there.