UTI question

[ainh]

Hi,

This has probably been discussed here before, but my baby is sleeping and I don't have time to search the archieves right now

My little one is intact and I would like it to stay that way. Recently he was diagnosed with a UTI at a routine well baby check up. At first I was really mad that they convinced me to let them get a "clean" sample by putting a cathater in him. I actually stopped them the first time they started to do it because I realized that they would pull back the foreskin slightly. I got them to get a different nurse that had more practice with intact babies. In the end it was good that they checked because he did have a UTI and now that it's cleared up he's sleeping in 6-8 hour stretches...which feels like a miracle after six months of him waking every hour or two (the longest stretch he ever did was 3 hours before and now he's gone up to 10.5!! without waking up).

Anyway. Even though the UTI has cleared they want us to go to a pediatric urologist. He had a VCUG and renal ultrasound already that came back normal. But he does have significant balooning when he pees (the whole penis balloons to three times it's normal size and it goes over the glands).

Does anyone else have experience with this? Do you think they'll advise to circ? Obviously I want to avoid circ'ing if possible, but I want to be prepared for what they're going to say to me, you know? Anyone have recurrant UTIs with their DS's? Thanks!

[Quirky]

Ballooning is totally normal and has nothing to do with UTIs. It will eventually go away on its own. What's happening is, the foreskin is starting to separate from the glans but the sphincter at the tip of the foreskin is still fairly tight, so that urine (which is sterile, BTW) can't get out as fast as it's coming out of the urethra. Eventually as the sphincter loosens the ballooning will go away on its own and is absolutely no cause for concern or medical intervention.

This is a very good article to read in general: http://www.mothering.com/articles/ne...uncircson.html

and here's what Dr. Fleiss says about ballooning:

-Your son's foreskin balloons when he urinates. He needs to be circumcised or else he will suffer kidney damage.

Ballooning of the foreskin during urination is a normal and temporary condition in some boys. It results in no discomfort and is usually a source of great delight for little boys. Ballooning comes as a surprise only to those adults who have no experience with this phase of penile development. It certainly does not cause kidney damage; it has nothing to do with the kidneys. Ballooning disappears as the foreskin and glans separate and the opening of the foreskin increases in diameter. It requires no treatment.

Since your ds' foreskin sphincter is still fairly tight, that's an excellent reason to be less concerned about UTIs, as it prevents yucky stuff from getting back up in the penis. Think of the circed penis -- no protection for the urethra at all, so a poopy diaper == poop straight to the urethra and much higher chance of infection. Intact penis == protection for the urethra, urine flushes anything out that's gotten in there and then the sphincter shuts up again.

One thing you need to know about the UTI studies is that they are very flawed. First, they compared preemie intact boys to full-term circed boys, and preemies are more susceptible to UTIs. Second, they didn't control for the protective effect of breastfeeding. Third, at the time the studies were conducted, they instructed parents to retract intact boys for cleaning, which is a bad thing because it exposes boys to E. coli and destroys the natural floral balance of the preputial space. It would be like a woman douching and then getting chronic vaginal infections as a result.

See for example the sidebar on this page: http://www.nocirc.org/statements/breastfeeding.php

And read through this page: http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/UTI/

And what Dr. Fleiss says:

-Your son has a urinary tract infection (UTI) and needs to be circumcised to prevent it from happening again.

The belief that the foreskin slightly increases the chances of a boy having a UTI is highly controversial and, more importantly, unproven. Members of the medical profession in Europe do not accept it. Medical research proves that UTIs are most often caused by internal congenital deformities of the urinary tract. 2,3,4 The foreskin has nothing to do with this. Even if it could be proven that circumcision slightly reduces the risk of UTI, it is an absurd proposal because UTIs in boys are extremely rare and are easily treated with antibiotics. Breastfeeding, too, helps prevent UTIs. Child-friendly doctors advocate breastfeeding not penile surgery.

[Microsoap]

Quirky said it all so well. Also keep in mind that GIRLS have 3-4 times (?) more UTIs than intact boys and THEY don't have anything cut off. You treat UTIs, you'd don't amputate part of the body. Besides, there's circumcised boys who get UTIs, and very sadly, some once-intact boys who were told they "needed" to circumcise because of UTIs and STILL got them, anyway!!!!!!

edit: intact male 31 years and never a UTI and no problems

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Cant add anything to what Quirky said she covered it all

Only thing I can say is Circ will in no way fix anything were UTI is concerned. The 2 are not related at all. The foreskin will actually help protect him from UTI if it is left alone to do its job.

[mamaverdi]

If he had both a normal VCUG and renal u/s, a GOOD ped uro wouldn't be interested in your wasting his/her time with an appointment.

[kldliam]

Ballooning:

Hi Ainh-

I searched the archives for you and these are other threads on ballooning. It is a totally normal stage that will pass. Circumcising over ballooning is like cutting your finger off because the nail grows! Certainly a drastic response to a nornmal phenomenon.

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...ght=ballooning

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...ght=ballooning

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...ght=ballooning

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...ght=ballooning

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...ght=ballooning

[lynnloves2]

Can I just say how thankful that I am that these boards are here... Not that we are having any issues with this topic and our boys, but just to know the information is out there, because I had no idea that when intact boys urinate that it balloons the penis, and I had no idea that there was a foreskin sphincter.

So, Thank you
Jen

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

It really is a great place for sure. I think collectivly the posters here know 10x's more than the avg. Dr. in the USA on the intact penis.