4 & 6 years old need to be circumcised (sp?)

[shouldknowbetterbynow]

Doctor has just said that my two boys need to be circumcised (or however you spell it) due to over tight foreskins and repeated balan....(why do I get the unspellable ailments...). I can't find out much about it, is it done under a local or do they get knocked out? Any ideas on how painful, recovery time etc? Feel so sorry for them...

[kreecherlivesupstairs]

General anaesthetic, can you imagine being that age and having a local injected into the family jewels? IMO, it would be best if they can both be done at the same time to avoid reluctance on the part of the second one. A boy of six had it done when we lived in Bangkok. He took around a week to be fully recovered.

[ABetaDad]

DS2 (age 7) had it done for the reason you say.

Done under general anaesthetic. Had a week off school and then 2 weeks to fully recover.

[shouldknowbetterbynow]

Great thanks both of you, yes I'm hoping they can do it at the same time for that reason! Now if I could just tie it in with the Easter holidays..!

[mcleanclan]

DS also had repeated balanitis? he's 5. doc said wait till he's 7 until circumcision and monitor it meanwhile. Foreskin does not seem to retract all the way. I'm not keen but DH had it done when 11 due to infection so does not bode well for DS. Better to do it younger than older? Anyone with experience - how did it go, I'm scared of scars/malfunction!!

[ABetaDad]

Much better to do it younger if it the child is suffering repeated rounds of infection as DS2 was.

[ABetaDad]

Also, if it is not done then there is a severe risk of scaring of the head of the penis and sexual disfunction later in life.

[mcleanclan]

So do you think 7 is still considered young, he had not had any problems for about 18 months then last month got another infection needed antibiotics. who to speak to for advice doctor or someone specialist?

[MadameCastafiore]

You need to demand to be referred to a specialist paediatric urologist - do not just see a normal one who is not specialised in these matters.

DS was done October half term - he was 4 and I have to say I found the whole experience pretty horrific and so did he - it was extremely painful - he wanted cuddling but the slightest movement would send him into howls of agony - he did have to have it peeled off of the head of the penis thoughleaving two very vivid open wounds on either side of it.

My DH had it done due to it splitting when he was 17 and my first boyfriend had it dine at 8 and both of them say it was awful but if you ask DS now what it was like he tells you it really really hurt but he did not attach and psychological or sexual feelings toweards what had happened where as my first boyfriend said he remembered it and it made him feel like part of him had been cut off (it had!!!) and DH had awful trouble with it not healing properly and feeling mutiolated so I would say get it done ASAP, as sson as they are clean day and night would be my view.

[MadameCastafiore]

Oh DS was off of school for 2 weeks - one week of the holidays and one week after. The stitching and the loook of it scared the hell out of him when he first saw it and that was quite scarey as he just screamed and screamed!

Sorry I am painting an awful picture but I would say make sure they see a specialist and let them decide if it needs doing and only have it done if it is absolutely necessary. Have they tried steroid cream at all?

[ABetaDad]

DS2 was done when he was 7 and really I do think it was the best thing. He was getting quite severe infections every 6 months all the way through his urinary tract.

Talk to a paediatric urologist.

I also agree with others that having it done later in teenage or adulthood is much worse.

There was a boy of 14 in the hospital when DS2 had his operation. The urologist said it was really quite bad for boys of that age. I also have a friend who had it done at 35. He suffered terribly with forming relationships before he had the operation.

[mcleanclan]

Blimey, it sounds worse than I thought! my DH has had no psychological probs even though obviously was painful, he has some scarring, was not pefect job! but never seems to have bothered him.

Thought of DS being knocked out, risk of it going wrong and potential infection, etc etc fills me with horror but same time, if it needs doing earlier def best. Such a responsibility!! May ask doc about referral.not tried steriod cream - no only antibiotics when infection.

[mcleanclan]

AbetaDad your situation sounds more severe than wht we have had - sounds like you did the right thing. I am inclined to hold off and see for maybe another year

[MadameCastafiore]

mcleanclan - I would say that you need to go on what a specialist says not a GP - you have to be referred to see a paediatric urologist for him to say it absolutely must be done - there may be other things that can be done for it rather than a full circ.

Please please please see a specialist first.

[mcleanclan]

Well from what has been posted I am not rushing into it!!!! thanks for advice all

[paddyclamp]

I read somewhere that it was rarely necessary and that it was a last resort..think there are other things they can try

[Khaz]

What no one seems to realise is the fact that circumcision needs hardly ever to be done these days.
Also there are very many circumcised men around who bitterly resent the fact that part of their body was removed without the option. I never forgave my mum for having me done (for nothing but status reasons) and now suffer from total lack of sensitivity and sex is no longer rewarding.
Not least is my bitter memories of being made fun of at school and by my first girlfriend.
Don't take my word for it - have a look at [email protected], a website which affords comfort and expert advice to people like me and also to anyone else with foreskin problems. Your GP might not have experience in this field or may be an avid circumciser (there are an awful lot of them in USA)!. NORM-UK does have experience and could save your kid a lot of grief.