What is this?

[snipsnsnailsx5]

Hello,
I was googling penis cysts and children and found several threads on this page that helped. Yet still, nothing I've found really totally fits what my son has it seems?
He's uncirc'ed (as all of my five boys are) and so I've never really seen the head of his penis, as I didn't retract the skin. However, over the first few years of his life - I never noticed this..I don't know if it was just not there or if I never actually saw the head of his penis before.

But he's 8 yrs old now, and I no longer change his diapers or wash him anymore obviously - he does all the cleaning and care himself. Tonight he showed his brother this thing on the head of his penis, and his brother came and got us right away. I don't know why he never showed it to use before-he said he thought it was normal. He said he's had it there as long as he can remember?
Its right next to the opening that the urine comes out (sorry, I don't know technical terms) on the head of the penis, not next to the foreskin or anything. It looks like a blister to me, but not perfectly round- rather odd shaped and flesh colored, but thinner skin so that it almost looks fluid filled. He says it doesn't hurt or itch. He says sometimes when he pees if a little pee sprinkles onto it, then it burns a little.

Any ideas?

Thanks you!

[Night_Nurse]

Do you think it's a preputial cyst? Have you read this thread about various penis issues? http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=764732? - It talks about cysts, smegma pearls, normal penile development, etc. Read through it and click on the preputial cyst photo link and see if that is what it is.

[eepster]

What ever it is, it isn't an emergency since he has had it "as long as he can remember." It probably is just a harmless cyst.

If your DS is OK with it, having the Dr take a quick look at it would confirm what it was and if anything could be done for it (though with these things often the cure is worse than the problem, so don't be afraid to say "no" if s/he offers a treatment that sounds painful or damaging.) I wouldn't make a trip specifically for this, but next time you're in for something like getting school forms filled out or a routine exam you might mention it. I usually tell parents with intact sons to avoid the Dr for penis problems, but since your DS is able to retract on his own and it doesn't actually involve the foreskin the risk of injury from forcible retraction or the foreskin being blamed are low.

[tammylsmith]

My circed dh had a bump that sounds like that. It just appeared one day, though more on the shaft. I think doc treated it with an antibiotic and it went away quickly... is your ds's doc intact friendly?

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Sounds like a cyst you can read about it in the thread linked in a pp and there is a picture of one as well.

Like pp said if it has been with him that long then I wouldnt even give it a second thought.

[snipsnsnailsx5]

Thanks everyone!
I did look at the link on preputial cysts, however that doesn't seem to be it. Its not white-ish and its not pus filled looking.

I wouldn't be concerned about it, except that its been there such a long time, and one starts to worry about something like this growing or affecting..things..when he's an adult. Its right next to his urethra opening and it looks like if it grew anymore, it could block/interfere with his flow of urine. As it is, he said that somtimes if pee hits it, it burns.
The only thing I found that looks like it is this:
http://www.springerlink.com/content/4713570537617540/
(scroll down for a picture)

But its so extremely rare (only 9 reported cases) that I really doubt thats it? But it looks the same, and is in the same place. Weird.

Well I think I'll call the Dr. tomorrow to see if they want to even see him about it. Our usual pediatrician knows that I didn't circ any of my boys and she's never said a word about it. However, she's a female and my son seems embarassed and said he wants to go to a male doctor. So I'll call the other pediatrician in the practice who's male. He sees my 18 mo old on occasion, so he's familiar with our family and knows I didn't circ him either obviously.

Thanks!

[PuppyFluffer]

I would suggest you contact Marilyn Milos, the founder of NOCIRC (National Organization of Circumcision Information Recource Centers)
NOCIRC
PO Box 2512
San Anselmo
CA 94979-2512

[e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

She is an RN and might be able to help you with some advice. I believe they also maintain a list of foreskin friendly doctors.
She is preparing for the International Symposium on Genital Integrity which starts in 2 days, so this might be a bad time to call. The symposium is over on Sunday I believe.

Please let us know how things go and what you find out.

[snipsnsnailsx5]

Thanks again everyone!

I called his pediatrician today, and they saw him today. That was fast!

Never a word about circumcision or non-circ, so no need to worry there. (He's an 8 yr old, and his foreskin had begun to retract anyway, so I wasn't too concerned).

The pediatrician didn't know what it was other then some kind of cyst. He referred us to a urologist. That appt isn't for a couple weeks, so we'll see what the urologist says. One thing the ped. said was that it's not serious or an emergency, which is what I expected, but that it was good of me to call and we should have it looked at.

Hoping its nothing!

Thanks!

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Good luck with the urologist appt. and dont let him/her scare you into thinking it needs circed. It is hard to find a good no circ Dr. especially a urologist.

[eepster]

Circ's are many urologist's bread and butter, so be extra wary at the urologist.

Remember it's OK to say no to a course of treatment if it sounds painful and isn't necessary. I'm not just talking about circ, any treatment the Dr might suggest should be carefully considered. Your DS has lived with this cyst for a long time without it causing problems, so if the treatment involves scalpels it probably isn't worth doing. If the Dr is worried that it might cause problems in the future, then it can be taken care of in the future. Of course if there is a simple not too painful treatment that's great, but ask many questions to be sure it really is what it seems to be.