Raised Pouch on Son's Penis After Smegma Pearl

[lavendergirl19]

My son is 12 months old and is uncircumcised. Several weeks ago he had what I believe was a smegma pearl. One day when I was pulling his foreskin back to clean it (which I know I'm not supposed to do, and didn't do until he was about 10 months old when my pediatrician told me I was supposed to after my son's penis tip became red and irritated, so now I'm back to not pulling it back after speaking with another pediatrician) the pearl burst open and a lot of very liquidy white smegma came out. I thought it was an infection, but the doctor said it was a smegma pearl or included cyst. So it all drained and appeared to be resolved, but at a follow-up doctor appt. the doctor wanted to check on it so she pulled his foreskin back and where the smegma pearl had been there is now this raised pouch of skin about the size of half a pea or less. It's been there since at least January 4 and isn't going away. I have an appointment with a pediatric urologist on January 28, but in the meantime I am majorly stressed!!! I am so scared that I did major damage to his penis because the doctor told me to pull it back daily to clean it. I never forced it back and he never cried when I did it, but I'm still so scared that I permanently hurt my perfect little boy.

Has anyone experienced this/know what this is?

[Addy's Mom]

You might want to post in the no-circ board as well (not sure of the name).

I don't know for sure what this might be, but my guess (and only a guess) is that it's a penile adhesion. I've heard adhesions can occur naturally as the foreskin naturally goes through the process of separating and they will resolve on their own.

Does he seem uncomfortable or in pain? Has the irritation decreased? Your pediatric urologist will be able to give you loads of great advice I'm sure. Hang in there.

[lavendergirl19]

Thanks. He doesn't seem in pain and did not when the smegma pearl was their. It's not red or sore and never was. It just this little raised, squishy piece of skin, almost like a large skin tag. I'll look up penile adhesion. I feel like it's so young for his foreskin to be separating.

[SeekingJoy]

It is young, but you also manually separated it for two months.

I would suggest cross posting in The Case Against Circumcision for more responses.

[lavendergirl19]

I know and I feel absolutely horrible about listening to that stupid doctor, but I figured that she was a pediatrician and dealt with this every day. Ugh. I wish I could stop beating myself up over it. You don't think I did any permanent damage, do you? That's my biggest fear.

[Addy's Mom]

Originally Posted by lavendergirl19

I know and I feel absolutely horrible about listening to that stupid doctor, but I figured that she was a pediatrician and dealt with this every day. Ugh. I wish I could stop beating myself up over it. You don't think I did any permanent damage, do you? That's my biggest fear.

I seriously doubt it. And even if there is some sort of damage, they often outgrow it naturally, or in the worst case scenario, might need a surgical correction. Which sucks for sure, but it's not permanent.

One thing I would not let them do is try to manually detach a penile adhesion, which my pedi "did" do to my son. Not good.