[mamasophy]

I'm prepping for my interview w/DR.Denniston of DOC and I asked at my family doctor's office about circ, what he thought. He was all for education, says there's NO medical reason even w/the HIV hype, etc, but won't go so far as to stop people (though I don't think that he does them - 1 doc in the practice does them all, and they're "few and far between" acc. to his nurse). Interestingly, his nurse said she circ'd her son, for this reason - her nephew was totally adherent at 18 months, couldn't have an erection w/out pain. She differentiated this from nonretractile. I have never heard of this - any thoughts?<br>
My show is at: <a href="http://www.ksco.com" target="_blank">www.ksco.com</a><br>
Mondays at noon PST, 4/23 show w/Dr. Denniston re: HIV and circ and other stuff related<br>
Thanks for any input!

 

[Papai]

Maybe I'm ignorant but do infants have erections? 18 months sounds very early to be having erections, unless I'm wrong.

 

[Rhiannon Feimorgan]

According to ultrasound records, many baby boys have erections in the womb. 18 months is not too early.

 

[stever_45723]

Boys can have erections at any age. There are even in utero erections. Obviously, boys vary tremendously in terms of number of erections and age at which they begin.

 

[buckeyedoc]

Seems weird to have <b>painful</b> erections at age 18 months. Can a toddler really have such a short or tight foreskin that pain would happen? And if so, is circumcision the only option?

 

[TigerTail]

adherent at 18 m is completely normal. nonretractile means what it means, adherent what it means.<br><br>
you can be nonretractile without being adhered (tight preputial sphincter, either something that doesn't bother you, or you can stretch and use steroids).<br><br>
i suspect her idea of 'painful erection at 18 m' means 'my baby touches himself and it makes me feel funny, like when mama slapped my hands away when i was a baby'. a little frown or coincidental discomfort (a rash, a slight tear), and she gets to do (with a sigh of relief) what she wanted to do all along.

 

[mamasophy]

What she told me is that this was her nephew who had this "problem" - made it sound fairly unusual (bleeding) and painful. She said she did "all the research" when her son was born, "considered it carefully" but wanted to avoid what her nephew had, which was a circ at 18 months, bad and painful recovery w/lots of discoloration and swelling. She did admit that this was rare. But for many people they can't get past their personal experience, I guess, no matter how rare (if she knew kids who "had to" have tonsils out she might do that too...). She had a mohel do it, with a local. She seemed to think circ was becoming more common in CA, even my area (Santa Cruz). Made me sad, because I am reluctant to argue with anyone when it's already been done and they "thought they were doing the best thing". But I wonder what she tells patients in the practice (the MD says absolutely no medical reason)?

 

[Tinijocaro]

both my boys had erections from very early on, and still do at 7, not sure about the 11 year old, but I'm guessing he's getting them frequently by things he's been saying. Oh, the joys of puberty.

 

[pdx.mothernurture]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>mamasophy</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7898749"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">What she told me is that this was her nephew who had this "problem" - made it sound fairly unusual (bleeding) and painful.</div>
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You know, frequently these rumors-friends of friends, another person's child, etc. lack complete information...if there was pain and bleeding, my suspicion would be that there was some attempted manipulation going on, that it wasn't just due to natural baby-erections. Forced retraction or even premature attempts at pulling the skin back can absolutely cause pain and bleeding. The only way they'd even *know* the foreskin was still adhered is if someone was messing with it.<br><br>
Jen

 

[mamasophy]

That's basically what I told her, but I wasn't about to openly judge her about the decision - she had a needle in my vein! I also just asked DR. Denniston of DOC about this - he called me! and that's also what he said - so frustrating though! I guess I'm not a very good intactivist because I see no point in being angry with someone who's already done the deed - they can't undo it. On the other hand if I can insert a kernel - or a bushel! of knowledge to be passed on, I do it - but honestly, a mom who's circ'd her son will always in my experience steer others toward circ, UNLESS there was a complication. That happened to an aquaintance who circ'd (against all friends' advice and to everyone's surprise) - baby bled, had to be cauterized, she said she wouldn't do it again (she had a girl the next time).

 

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Without knowing the history with this child, was he retracted to clean under it? did he have a yeast infection or something bacterial going on? or was he just like many little boys when they get a erection it feels weird and they dont have a word for it other than ouch, there is no way to know what was exactly what was going on with this little boy.<br><br>
There will always be stories like this and unfortunatly many people instead of questoning it will just go along with the crowd. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad">

 

[mamasophy]

I did sya to her "you do know that the foreskin doesn't retract until 7,8,10,sometimes 18?" and her response was "well yeah, but it has to be moveable so the little boy can have an erection". I have afeeling that the boy in question was retracted and messed with asnd possibly had adhesions because of it. I said, "most of the time we CAUSE the "problem" because we mess with it - you're not supposed to mess with the foreskin!" No answer, just a nod. As she (the nurse) was leaving, still very friendly, I mused "isn't it interesting that in EU where they don't circ they don't have foreskin problems but here where we circ more often, when we leave boys intact we seem to have all these foreskin problems!" She just smiled and agreed and left. I didn't want to hurt her - but on the other hand I was shocked at the reasoning, in my part of CA (Santa Cruz mntns) of "it's cleaner" ! But I always feel like these stories leave out info, and I want to acknowledge the possibility of a very rare problem, but it always ends up that I want to make the mom feel OK! Especially if it seems like a loving person who made a bad judgement - I want to educate, but I don't want to beat her up! I guess I go for connection, trying to relate to her FEELINGS, and trying to find compassion at the same time I'm gently challenging assumptions. HARD. I'm just not willing to alienate someone automatically, they just write you off as a nut anyway - I'd rather connect and educate over time.