"Natural" circumcision

[wami]

We have a three-week old DS whose foreskin didn't cover the tip of his penis when he was born. The pediatrician called it a "natural" circumcision (I know, oxymoronic, but I use the term in case others are familiar of what I'm talking about) and said we should have a pediatric urologist look at it to make sure that his urethra is in the right place.
I've seen my son pee, and it comes out where I think it should come out. Since birth, the foreskin now covers all but the very tip of the penis. (Honestly, I don't really know what an infant penis is supposed to look like!) The pediatrician still thinks we should take him to a urologist sometime before he is six months old. I'm not really all that concerned that he has some malformation of his urethra -- he pees just fine! --- and I certainly don't want to change anything about the appearance of his penis, so I wonder if I really need to make the appt.
Anyone else dealt with this?

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

From what you describe you dont need to take him. It sounds like he has a short foreskin which is normal for him. If the urethra is off center it isnt enough to need fixing or you could see it plainly. If it where me I wouldnt bother with the urologist because even if it where off center a bit I wouldnt have it fixed. The term for a off center urethra and partial foreskin is called hypospadias (spelled something like that) and there are different grades with some needing repair for proper function and some only cosmetic in nature.

[Fellow Traveler]

Originally Posted by wami

We have a three-week old DS whose foreskin didn't cover the tip of his penis when he was born. The pediatrician called it a "natural" circumcision (I know, oxymoronic, but I use the term in case others are familiar of what I'm talking about) and said we should have a pediatric urologist look at it to make sure that his urethra is in the right place.
I've seen my son pee, and it comes out where I think it should come out. Since birth, the foreskin now covers all but the very tip of the penis. (Honestly, I don't really know what an infant penis is supposed to look like!) The pediatrician still thinks we should take him to a urologist sometime before he is six months old. I'm not really all that concerned that he has some malformation of his urethra -- he pees just fine! --- and I certainly don't want to change anything about the appearance of his penis, so I wonder if I really need to make the appt.
Anyone else dealt with this?

Being born without a foreskin is called aposthia and it is a rare condition funny enough classifies as a birth defect, oh the irony burns doesn't it? Any way it doesn't sound to me like your son has this, he only has a naturally short foreskin. It doesn't sound to me like something that needs to be looked at but I'd say it's entirely your call.

[wami]

That's what I think. Obviously, if it were to affect the function of his penis now or later, that's a different story.

Curiously, I did a little reading about this condition and learned that it can cause a curve in the penis when erect. My DH may not appreciate me revealing this, but he has a slightly curved penis, and now I wonder if it may be genetic. Anyway, DH's penis works just fine.

My DH is circumcized and I'm not sure about asking my MIL about my DH's penis when he was an infant.

I may call the urologist, just in case, but I'm not feeling particularly worried about it.

[Fyrestorm]

Originally Posted by wami

My DH is circumcized and I'm not sure about asking my MIL about my DH's penis when he was an infant.

I'm with everyone else and it sounds like your DS just has a short foreskin...in the other hand - a curved circumcised penis is generally caused by a tight or uneven circ.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

about the curve with circ.

[wami]

Wow, really? That is so disturbing. I'll share that with my DH.

[mi.birthdoula]

Originally Posted by Fyrestorm

a curved circumcised penis is generally caused by a tight or uneven circ.

I mentioned this to dh about a year ago and he told me I was nuts

[Fyrestorm]

Originally Posted by mi.birthdoula

I mentioned this to dh about a year ago and he told me I was nuts

Give him a demo with a sausage - show him what happens when you pull the natural casing too tight

[KaylaBeanie]

I'd probably skip the urologist. It just seems like it'd be borrowing trouble. If they can find so many issues with a run-of-the-mill foreskin, imagine what they could come up with about a shorter than normal foreskin?

[PuppyFluffer]

I agree, skip the urologist. They are surgeons.....

The function of the foreskin in childhood is to allow the passage of urine. If it works fine in that capacity, I would leave well enough alone.

If you want to take him to be evaluated by a urologist, I'd make certain to contact NOCIRC for a recommendation to a foreskin friendly doctor.

[skyblufig]

sorry, nak, but -- definitely skip the urologist appt. they're surgeons and will assume that you standing in front of them means you'd like them to "fix" something. it's just how they're trained. you're ds sounds totally fine, just another variation of normal.

[CherryBomb]

Originally Posted by wami

Wow, really? That is so disturbing. I'll share that with my DH.

Yep. My dh has the same issue from his "high and tight" circ One of the reasons it was easy to convince him not to circ ds.

[Zenbuoyant]

My first thoughts when reading "Natural Circumcision" was: there is absolutely nothing natural about a circumcision. One must be doing something entirely unnatural to achieve the results of a circumcision.

I'll echo others who suggested to skip the uro since your son is peeing just fine.

I've read on here once about a mother explaining that her son's penis didn't fully develop. He was born with an incomplete prepuce organ but it grew and was completely formed when he turned a year old.

This reminds me of infant girls who are born premature and her labia hasn't completely formed yet; but as she got older her genitals continued to develop.