help!

[potatofairy]

somehow i was added to a mom network that sends me emails every day w/ questions from local moms... this one had me concerned even more than the rest:

My son was circumcised at birth. A couple of months ago, I noticed that his circumcision was not complete. There's an area where the skin is still attached. The pediatrician says to wait because it may correct itself by spontaneous errections (?). He's five months now. I think if I wait too long (given that it doesn't correct itself), the more painful it will be for him. Recently, I saw an underground whitehead in that area. I was told it's not dangerous but would rather not have to worry about this kind of stuff. Please give me your opinion of what I should do. Corrective surgery or leave it alone. What will happen if I leave it alone and it doesn't correct itself??

i'd like to reply with links to some good info, and then i'm taking my name off the list because it makes me cry every day and i can't deal!

can someone point me in the right direction?

[thixle]

Here is what I would say--


Wow. You have a good pediatrician. Many are not so current with foreskin issues.
Current research says yes, the adhesions will resolve on their own.
I truely believe the "underground whitehead in that area" is simply smegma-- which is a GOOD thing and proves your son is healing. Please, Please, Please, do not retract him, do not try to get the smegma out. It is the product of a normal and natural healing and separation process the foreskin goes through. The word smegma comes from the greek word for "soap." Smegma is a good thing
"Corrective surgery" would simply mean circumcising again, with all of the pain, possible complications (like getting adhesions AGAIN), and human rights issues attached. As it is, your son is at less of risk for sexual problems later in life because he has a "loose circ"... Taking off more skin would only complicate. If you leave it alone (don't re-circ, don't retract, don't use soaps) it will seperate in it's own time, normally around puberty (and you probably won't even know)... If it doesn't (and I just don't see that happening, unless there is extensive and severe scar tissue) your son will be able to make the choice to have corrective surgery done OR NOT as an adult. As it is, no one can predict what a 5 month old baby's penis will look like as an adult, kwim?
And unless it is bothering the owner of the penis, there is no problem.
I do believe that if you follow the guidleines for normal, intact seperation issues (leave it alone or have a culture done of any discharge) your son will be just fine.


--And then I would cry...

[tammyswanson]

I know it's tough, but maybe you could start advocating that people NOT have their baby boys mutilated? It's always good to get the word out about how bad genital mutilation is....

[Frankly Speaking]

[QUOTE=potatofairy;10464645]A couple of months ago, I noticed that his circumcision was not complete. There's an area where the skin is still attached. The pediatrician says to wait because it may correct itself by spontaneous errections (?). He's five months now. I think if I wait too long (given that it doesn't correct itself), the more painful it will be for him.


Boys who are not circumcised have the foreskin bonded to the glans like the fingernails are bonded to the nailbeds. During circumcision, this bond is separated. The child's body sees this as an injury and sets about to put things back as closely to normal as possible. Just like a child who has not been circumcisied will go through the normal separation process, a circumcised child who has these adhesions will also go through the separation process. This usually happens between the ages of 3 and 5 years old. However, while an intact child will go through the separation process relatively pain free, these circumcised boys often have significant pain associated with separation. This pain is related to the remnant foreskin pulling at the adhesions during erections.

Recently, I saw an underground whitehead in that area. I was told it's not dangerous but would rather not have to worry about this kind of stuff. Please give me your opinion of what I should do. Corrective surgery or leave it alone. What will happen if I leave it alone and it doesn't correct itself??

These whiteheads (they can also be filled with clear liquid) are simply sebaceous glands that have become clogged just the same as pimples. Like pimples, they will go away in a few days. They need no treatment at all. There is no need to worry about them, they are completely benign.


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