2-year old - doc and surgery experience

[musicteachermom]

So there's a lot to this post, but hopefully the experience helps someone. Or someone can tell me it's all fine and normal.

I've read on here a lot that baby foreskin should not be forcefully retracted, or for that matter retracted at all by anyone but the boy. I remember our doc checking son's penis at earlier visits and commenting that retraction has started and just let him do it on his own. The doc always gently pulled it back to see how far it went though. So recently our son got an inguinal hernia and needed surgery (surgery was actually today) and all went well, but I'm a bit confused on what's right and wrong with a maybe retractable penis. Read on.

When we went to the pediatric urologist, a physician's assistant came in first and looked for the hernia, then pulled back his foreskin and we saw blue underneath (maybe that's what the penis is like under foreskin?). I kind of freaked inside when she did it, but she didn't go far, and any farther I would have been very vocal. It is amazing how fast things like that happen. The urologist came in after and didn't mess with his penis at all, but said yes, he needed surgery.

So I went to our doc for the pre-surgery physical and brought up my concern of someone retracting him at the hospital. The nurse said it was a valid concern and bring it up when they admit us. Our doc came in after, and didn't mess with his penis and was actually about to leave when I brought up my concern to him, and he said "let's see how far he is in retraction to see if you even need to be worried." I was very hesitant and explained that I had read a lot of sources saying no one should even try to retract a boy because we don't know his pain threshold, yet he kept persisting to check. I finally let him, and he said he is already fully retractable, so no need to worry at the hospital. I couldn't see him messing with the foreskin as he did it fast and I was at a bad angle, but my son didn't seem upset. Now I follow this up by saying my son had been retracting himself in the bathtub weeks earlier, but I don't know if it was all the way, so I wasn't happy with the doc even "checking."

Today we were at the hospital getting checked in for surgery and all, and the urologist came in to check things before surgery. Without telling her that our doc said our son was fully retractable, I said he is not circumcised, and can we make sure he is not retracted before or during surgery. I just didn't feel comfortable with it regardless of what our doc said to me. She looked at me and said, "well I always retract the foreskin to clean, as I like a clean workspace." She went on to tell me how it would reduce infection, etc., but I still felt so uneasy with it. I kept persisting that it was bad to retract a young child as it could cause adhesions or scarring if it wasn't ready to retract, and she finally said she would not do anything we wouldn't approve of, so she would not retract him. I was so much more at ease after this, but she was definitely not happy. The surgery nurse also confirmed they would not retract him before she took him back.

So I wonder this. Is it normal for a 2-year old to be fully retractable? Is it ok for a medical professional to gently pull back the foreskin but not continue if there is any resistance. Many of them seem to think this is ok. The urologist said she wouldn't retract to the point of bleeding, but still, I felt it shouldn't be done. Was I right or did it not matter?

Thanks! And sorry for the long post.

[Storm Bride]

They shouldn't retract at all. Even with every intent to be gentle, they can force it, and not even realize they've done so.

Retractable at two? I think that's a little unusual, and on the early side, but it's possible. Human bodies are capable of tremendous variation in many ways. The urologist's stuff about keeping it clean is bogus, and shows that she's among the huge number of "experts" who don't have a clue.

[titania8]

what a day you've had! How is your son doing after the surgery?

Boys can become retractable at any age, and though 2 is on the young side it's not unheard of. As for doctors/nurses/etc retracting, I don't see the need and you are right about it being a bad idea. I don't understand their fascination with getting in there! The good news is your son doesn't seem to have been injured as a result.

[musicteachermom]

Thank you for the responses so far. Our son seems to be doing fine after the surgery, but that's to be expected as I hear they "bounce back" quickly at this age.

You wouldn't believe the relief I felt when the urologist agreed not to retract him. I've also been thinking of changing docs for a while now even though ours is known to be a natural minded pro-intact guy. I didn't like that he retracted when I obviously felt uncomfortable and had concerns. You know?

Anyways, thanks for the thoughts!

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Since there is no set age for retraction to happen him being 2 is his normal. I am glad you persisted in not allowing the retraction with the urologist because there is no need at all to clean under there unless she planned to rub his penis/foreskin on the surgery site

If you want to keep your ped. just have the dont touch policy that is what I and a few other mom's have had to do because of Dr. not listening when asked to not retract.

Even though he is retractable there is nothing under there to see and no reason for them to want to look.

The color of the glans of the intact penis is a reddish/purple or bluish color because it is an internal organ like the inside of the mouth or the inside of the vagina.

[eepster]

It does sound like your DS is retractable, if he has been retracting himself in the tub. 2 is quite a bit younger than average, but not at all outside normal. Age of retraction is very very variable.

I would still not want him to be retracted by anyone but himself anyway. Even though the foreskin is no longer fused to the glans, there is still the sphincter at the tip. If the sphincter happens to be squeezing shut at the moment that the person tries to retract, the sphincter could get damaged or it could cause paraphimosis.

[knitted_in_the_wom]

Originally Posted by musicteachermom

So I wonder this. Is it normal for a 2-year old to be fully retractable?

Both of my sons were fully retractable before their first birthdays--they loved playing with their foreskins in the bath. They both also came up with their own ways to describe retraction. My first son called it is "special trick" and my second son called it "showing his candy" (I have NO idea where that came from! We were terrified that at some point in preschool some other kid would walk over to him at a party day and say "can I see your candy?" and he would drop his pants... LOL)

Is it ok for a medical professional to gently pull back the foreskin but not continue if there is any resistance. Many of them seem to think this is ok. The urologist said she wouldn't retract to the point of bleeding, but still, I felt it shouldn't be done. Was I right or did it not matter?

Thanks! And sorry for the long post.

I don't think they would do any damage in the case of a foreskin that is fully retractable...but I wonder why there is such a fascination with doing it? I mean really...during a cesarean surgery the doctors don't retract a woman's clitoral hood and make sure to wash under it...heck, even when they "scrub" prior to a vaginal birth (not all doctors do a scrub prior to vaginal birth--and really, it isn't needed), they don't retract a woman's hood. Honestly, I think they just like playing around with foreskins because they are a novelty!