question about retraction

[lilydiva]

Is there an age by which most boys' foreskins have retracted? I'm not sure but I don't think my son's has yet (he's 12 months). Just curious as to when it'll happen. One of the doctors in my son's ped practice said something a long time ago about retracting it, which I recoiled at, but I'd like to be armed with some info when I go in there for his 12 month visit in case she broaches the subject again. Thanks!

[Yoshua]

most boys will retract before they die.

Other than that the usual age seems to be 'by puberty'

But that isn't a sure thing either. If he isn't retracting by the time he is sexually active there are stretching excersizes he can do to help it along.



The few people I've talked to in person about it said they retracted by 6 or 7.



Glad you recoiled when the doc told ya to. Pretty much it is a hormonal change (from what I am told) and not a physical change. So the body will release the foreskin from the glans when the body is ready.


The release can be irritating and cause some redness when it happens, but that is fairly normal. Some Dr's will wrongly diagnose this as phimosis and tell you that your son needs a circ to fix it.


Phimosis never needs circ to fix, if meds and creams can't do it, masturbation will. And not all phimosis is bacterial. It happens at certain growth spurts. And creams shouldnt be used on phimosis until the kid is sexually active unless he is having painful erections.


anyways, more people will be in to confirm and add.

[Revamp]

Originally Posted by lilydiva

Is there an age by which most boys' foreskins have retracted? I'm not sure but I don't think my son's has yet (he's 12 months). Just curious as to when it'll happen. One of the doctors in my son's ped practice said something a long time ago about retracting it, which I recoiled at, but I'd like to be armed with some info when I go in there for his 12 month visit in case she broaches the subject again. Thanks!

It it totally normal not to have retracted by that age.

The average age varies wildly and it is not really much to be worried about: my own did not retract until earlier this year (with some assistance) and I suffered no problems at all as a consequence.

Anyone suggesting circumcision as the first-line cure for phimosis should have their lips sewn up and internet access curtailed. The alternatives are vast in number but as of yet your son has not indicated any need for any of them.

Just leave him be.

[Intactguy57]

From personal experience 13 years of age and I know of another guy that was 14 years old my brother retracted at 6 years old.

[pdx.mothernurture]

My son is 2 1/2, and doesn't retract yet. I suspect it's just a matter of him figuring out the mechanics himself, though. The AAP says most (meaning, at least 50%) can retract by age 5...however, the 'normal' window extends well into puberty. There's no reason to rush it or worry. Certainly not at 12 months. ;-)

Jen

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

: Do not allow anyone dr/nurse etc to pull back any on the foreskin tell them before the diaper even comes off to not touch his penis for any reason.

Print out the following and take them in to have put in ur son's chart and go over them with the dr. http://www.mothersagainstcirc.org/care.htm
AAP Intact Care Guide

[Karry]

My almost 5 yo still doesn't retract. He shows me how much he can retract and it is hardly anything at all. The meatus shows and that's about it. I'm pretty sure my 2 yo retracts more than his brother does. It is totally normal for a 12 month old to not be retractable.

[kathy1_10]

My ds is 3 1/2 and I don't think he has retracted but I don't know if I would be able to tell if he did because he is kind of long in the foreskin department.

[MommytoB]

My son is almost 2 and doesn't retract. I'm not going to care until he voices concern. Even if he gets hair down there, deep voice , hair in his armpits before he retracts I won't think he has to have a foreskin that supposed to be retractable if he's under 16.

What I learned it all varies and some things come before the other belive me I won't go put my son in an exam if he's not complaining and he's still peeing okay.

[lilydiva]

thanks!

Thanks for all the quick and helpful responses. I figured that retraction was nothing to worry about -- as with most things in normal human development. And my son certainly checks out his penis on a regular basis so I am sure everything will fall into place.

I read the AAP guidelines and shared them with my husband -- heaven knows our ped is really into the AAP (quotes them to us on other topics!). Will be useful to have in our back pocket.

I'm not too worried about retraction without our permission. Our ped is very aware that I am a practicing litigator.

Many thanks again!

[Islay]

Good for you, your husband and your son, Lilydiva.

Christopher

[Frankly Speaking]

I have read 8 or 10 studies about when the normal age of retraction comes and they seem to agree with two things. (1) About 1% of boys are retractile shortly after birth and (2) about 1% of boys don't become retractile until their late teens. In between those two things, there is total disagreement. One study said that 2/3 of boys are retractile by 3 years old and another said 70% are not retractile until after puberty. The truth is in there somewhere!

The best bet is to know it will happen when it happens and not worry about it. You may never actually see it happen.



Frank