Late Circumcision

[catmuse11]

Hi,

My son is now 4 1/2 and his foreskin still does not pull back. At his last well-check, our pediatrician suggested we see a urologist...so we did. She suggested circumcising him stating, among other things, that it would increase his risk of penial cancer if we left it as it is and it didn't loosen on its own. She also said we could wait until he turns 6 and, if it still hasn't loosened, then she would definitely suggest circumcision.

In the meantime, she had us putting an over-the-counter steroid cream on it for a couple of weeks, but she was adamant that we should not attempt to force the foreskin down.

We, of course, want to avoid a circumcision and I am writing to see if you might have any tips for loosening it?

Thank you!

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Steroid cream should never be used on a child as young as yours it is for boys well into puberty or adults who cannot retract and are uncomfortable with it.

[turnquia]

Originally Posted by catmuse11 

Hi,

My son is now 4 1/2 and his foreskin still does not pull back. At his last well-check, our pediatrician suggested we see a urologist...so we did. She suggested circumcising him stating, among other things, that it would increase his risk of penial cancer if we left it as it is and it didn't loosen on its own. She also said we could wait until he turns 6 and, if it still hasn't loosened, then she would definitely suggest circumcision.

In the meantime, she had us putting an over-the-counter steroid cream on it for a couple of weeks, but she was adamant that we should not attempt to force the foreskin down.

We, of course, want to avoid a circumcision and I am writing to see if you might have any tips for loosening it?

Thank you!

I'm totally not the expert but our ped said same thing about circumcising our son.   My comment back. 

" I have a daughter and I wouldn't give her a mastectomy at birth because she may develop breast cancer?  How is this any different?"  She said "Point taken" and it was never discussed again. 

I'm not sure how it applies to an older child but the risks of penile cancer are far smaller than breast cancer.  

[ssh]

The normal age for retraction is about 10 years old or later. Also steroids are for teens or adults with retraction problems. Your 4 year old is normal. No one should try to loosen his foreskin except himself. The doctors are unfamiliar with proper intact care. You might want to cross post in this http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/list/44/the-case-against-circumcision forum. The moms there are very informed.

[mattemma04]

The more you let the pedi mess with your son's penis the higher the chance of damage/infection...then she will push to cut the foreskin.IMO,a doctor should not be messing around with the genitals unless there is an infection that needs treatment. My son is 9yo and no doctor has touched his penis.

I would recommend a new doctor or in the least as a parent you need to stand up for your child and say,"What you are doing/saying is wrong.".If you allow the pedi to continue you risk injury to your child.

[jessjgh1]

My son is 7 and is not retractable and it has not been a concern for us or our doctor.  Actually, our doctor (well even 2 of them since we moved and now have a new family dr) does not check for retraction. If the child is peeing w/o problem, then there is no issue.  I would not allow a doctor to touch my child's penis nor do I think it would be necessary for my son to retract for an exam. 

Jessica

[Marilyn Milos]

First, I apologize for the delay in responding. Getting here was quite an adventure! So now, about your son. The advice you got was antiquated and should be discarded as a misdiagnosis of your son. The AVERAGE age of foreskin retractability is 10.4 years, and your son is well within normal limits! No one should be worrying about whether or not your son's foreskin is retractable at his young age. The first person to retract your son's foreskin should be the boy himself! If the foreskin isn't retractile by puberty, the hormones that begin to soar through his body and the increased interest in the organ usually help to complete penile development. Putting steroid creams (hormones) on your son's penis at this early age is foolish--rather like putting the cream on the breast buds of a four-year-old girl because she hasn't developed yet. My suggestion to you is to go to www.nocirc.org/articles, and read the second, third, and fourth articles. Then, go to www.nocirc.org/publish and read NOCIRC's educational pamphlets 3, 4, 6, and 7. Once you've read this material, you'll know more than the two doctors who advised you poorly, and it's more information than most doctors get in medical school. You saved your son from circumcision initially, and now you have to keep on protecting him! I've given you the sources for the information that will prepare you to do so. Once you've educated yourself, please educate the doctors so that they don't inflict unnecessary circumcision on anyone's child in the future! It amazes me that parents are now having to educate the docs. Thanks for protecting your son initially and now for knowing enough to ask. One day, your son will thank you.