Possible foreskin issue w/ uncirc'd DS..

[UberMama]

DS2 is four years old. Every single time we're at the dr office (and he's seen about 4 different dr's in his lifetime, thanks to changing insurance, moving, etc), I have them look at his penis. I hate having to ask them to do it, but I'm worried. I don't think his foreskin formed correctly. And while I know I should not compare his penis to his brothers (DS1 - his ID twin), the foreskin on DS2 just looks very wrong (not just different, but wrong..).

The foreskin doesn't wrap all of the way around. So for instance, if you were looking at the tip of the penis (head on, so he'd pee right in your face.. sorry, trying to make this accurate for a visual..) it looks like an upside down V shape of foreskin.. vs. what I've seen and what DS1 has - an O shape of foreskin that wraps around the entire head. To me, I think the foreskin on DS2 should attach on the underside of his penis, but it doesn't. And while it's never been retracted, when it is retracted - I see problems in DS2's future with sexual intercourse.. it's not just going to roll back, it sort of well, flaps.. there is just a BUNCH of extra skin on both sides of the penis.

Sorry, I am terrible at explaining things. And obviously, I am not about to take pictures. : To maybe explain better, in watching the video of a circ and seeing graphics online - you know how they take the scissors to the top of the foreskin? It looks like someone made a cut on DS2's foreskin on the underside and then left it. It just doesn't connect on the underside at all.

I've had my Mom and MIL look, but they both aren't sure. The dr's never seem sure either. I'm thinking I need to take him to a urologist? I don't know.. I mean, if it is a problem and should be taken care of when he's young, then I'd rather it be taken care of now.. vs. when he finds he has a problem with it (and may not come to DH or myself to tell us there's a problem!).

Also, I've seen many photos online of penis' un-circ'd (when researching) and I've yet to come across a photo of a penis that looks like my DS's. :/

Advice? Anything? Thank you in advance.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Hmm my first thought is he may have mild hypospadias. Is his urinary opening pretty much in the center of the glans or is it more toward the under side? Or can you see his glans at all??

I think I can visualize what you are talking about. So hard to describe things like this over the net :

[mamaverdi]

It does sound like a hypospadias variant. Maybe try searching under hypospadias and see if you get pics that look similar?

Some ped uros who are at least not foreskin unfriendly do exist.

[UberMama]

That's the thing - when my DS's were born, the dr's automatically said they had hypospadias. But upon my own inspection and then research, I asked the dr's to look again (a few days post-birth, still in NICU). The dr was unsure why she thought they both had it, since the urine comes directly out of the very tips of their penis'. I sat in NICU with them diaperless, watching where the stream came out of even.

I can see his glans just fine. When his penis becomes erect due to having to urinate, the foreskin doesn't move much. Where as with DS1, the foreskin retracts a teeny tiny bit. I can definitely see much more of DS2's glans though, even when he's not erect.

It's like the foreskin just needs a dab of glue to make it connect on the underside (not something I'd do - LOL!! but to give a visual..).

[UberMama]

Ah ha - quick search.. this is a bit what his looks like: http://www.fammed.washington.edu/net...ypospadias.jpg

I don't get it though, he urinates directly out of the tip.. so can it still be a form of hypospadias? Or can the hypospadias be very hard to diagnose when they are an infant, but easier to dx when toddlers? I haven't seen him urinate in months now.. he's PT'd, but he sits to urinate. From just looking at it, the hole is at the very tip still.. I'll have to talk to DH and see about trying to watch DS2 urinate, and seeing just where it comes from again. :/

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I think what you are seeing is a very mild form of hypo. I dont think it will be a problem for him at all but that is something that wont be known for sure until after he hits puberty and starts having sex. If it is a problem then he could possibly have it repaired ie stitched together on the underside to make the foreskin "tube"

Since hypo not only affects the urinary opening but the foreskin as well it could be a very mild hypo. Or it could just be a variation of a slight foreskin defect. Just like any other body part the foreskin can be deformed or not properly made during pg.

[mamaverdi]

So I'll say hypo shouldn't be hard to diagnose. But um neither should roundworm. So

Hypo is not just where the urethra ends. It also can have to do with the foreskin joining correctly. FWIU.

If you think it will be problematic, I would probably get it looked at, even if you decide to take the wait and see approach. If you think it's simply cosmetic, I would leave it alone.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I wanted to add that he may also be able to stretch that skin out like restoring later if it is a problem for him. As he grows what foreskin he has will grow as well so what looks like a problem now may not be later.


www.medscape.com/viewarticle/489956_8
You have to join but it is free to see the pics : they really are good pics tho.

here is some pictures of hypo ranging from very mild to major. The second pic in the set of 4 at the top sounds like what you described.

[mamaverdi]

True.

[UberMama]

Hmm, it's sort of similar to the second pic on medscape, but there's a lot more foreskin on the sides (like the foreskin was created to go underneath, it just didn't get that far when developing).

I'm thinking I'll have to take him back into the ped and push for a referral to a urologist. The ped's we've seen, most everyone says they aren't that familiar with the uncirc'd penis. (oi vey) DH and I are debating on just waiting though, and trying to keep the lines of communication open with DS once he reaches puberty -- so he knows there's options to fix anything, if something does need fixing.

Thank you!!

[baybee]

You could send a letter of inquiry to the physicians at Doctors Opposing
Circumcision for an opinion with the links to the photos that best describe
your son's condition. It doesn't hurt to get their direction first. They have
references for intact friendly physicians in places all over N. America.

iconbuster(at)earthlink.net
is an email address to send your inquiry.

[palamala]

I think I know what you mean.

My first son (born in hospital) was retracted at a well-baby visit and his foreskin was really stretched out/ripped apart. It appears to have tried to repair itself, yet it also looks as though someone sliced or cut it.

I'm grateful that he has foreskin, and I know it is doing its job of protecting and covering, but I can't help but wonder how it will work correctly.

[UberMama]

Originally Posted by baybee

You could send a letter of inquiry to the physicians at Doctors Opposing
Circumcision for an opinion with the links to the photos that best describe
your son's condition. It doesn't hurt to get their direction first. They have
references for intact friendly physicians in places all over N. America.

iconbuster(at)earthlink.net
is an email address to send your inquiry.

Ahhh, thank you so much! I'll have to sit down and type up a letter to them this weekend. I appreciate that.

[Claire and Boys]

This sounds sort of like an ex -boyfriend of mine, he always looked like he had a a kind of half-circ on one side. It wasn't "corrected" and caused him no problems at all.

[baybee]

<<My first son (born in hospital) was retracted at a well-baby visit and his foreskin was really stretched out/ripped apart. It appears to have tried to repair itself, yet it also looks as though someone sliced or cut it. >>

Palamala, I wouldn't worry too much about this now. The main thing is that
your son wasn't amputated and still has all the nerves. When women give birth naturally with no espisiotomy, their vaginas are very stretched, torn and sometimes end up healing with notches, openings that weren't there before, flaps of skin, etc. I think that's why God put the vulva in a place we wouldn't be able to see it For purposes of sexuality and enjoyment, there really is no problem with these changes. It's when scissors are used to cut through the nerve endings and sever them that women end up with numbness or chronic pain. I think that men's genitals are something similar and that, altho
we'd all like to knock the block off those retractors, it's still not as bad as the cutters.

[paquerette]

Even if it is hypo, and if it does need repair, it is likely better off to wait until later. The way his body changes as he grows will make a big difference. And when he's a teen he will be better able to weigh his options and give his input, and be better able to understand what's going on and won't be traumatised by it.

[ancoda]

Both of my sons have this "problem" and i was told so long as they erect straight and the hole is in the middle of the erection that this should not ever be a problem for them.
I was also told that trying to do any repairs now to make them look "normal" could cause more harm then good down the road. So just waiting until they hit puberty and seeing if any problems occur.

[NamastePlatypus]

I second the DOC idea, BRILLIANT!!

Have to commend you for not having the doc say chop chop and you say okay!! KUDOS for researching!! YOU ROCK!