Foreskin (phimosis?)

HandsInTheCookieJar · 2023-05-08T09:27:34+00:00

DS is 13, currently waiting for a GP appointment. From what I’ve found looking up about tight foreskins they usually resolve themselves by around age 10 so I’m slightly concerned. DS only told me recently although he’s said it can cause discomfort on and off. Any advice?

KnackeredBack · 08/05/2023 10:38

My ds had this, and because he didn't tell us, it wasn't diagnosed until 19 yrs old. The GP said 'play with it and it should resolve'...like he hadn't been playing with it for the last 6 years! My DS couldn't have sex as it was agonising.

We paid for a private circumcision, as the GP said he wouldn't see him again until 6 months had passed and he'd given it a 'go'. When I think back to when he was little, it was always tight and clearly didn't improve.

Original poster

HandsInTheCookieJar · 08/05/2023 10:49

Didn’t say anything until 19!? Surely that must have been awful for him bless. It must’ve been a stressful time for him.

I’d hope that a circumcision would be a last resort since I’ve heard stories about it going wrong or adding new problems.

OP posts:

SarahC50 · 08/05/2023 11:09

My son had phimosis and at five he had a less drastic op than circumcision,the basically cut a triangle out of his foreskin that enabled it to be loose and retract. Warning post op it looked ghastly swollen and big stitches but it healed beautifully and no problems since x

SarahC50 · 08/05/2023 11:09

This was NHS by the way

Original poster

HandsInTheCookieJar · 08/05/2023 11:21

SarahC50 · 08/05/2023 11:09

My son had phimosis and at five he had a less drastic op than circumcision,the basically cut a triangle out of his foreskin that enabled it to be loose and retract. Warning post op it looked ghastly swollen and big stitches but it healed beautifully and no problems since x

Thanks for the reassurance, glad to hear everything worked out for your son, how old is he now?

On the NHS website and some other health websites it recommends attempting to gently stretch it. Also says tropical steroid creams can be prescribed, I’m wondering if I can get any if these over the counter or not in the meantime or if the doctor would recommend circumcision straight away.

OP posts:

SarahC50 · 08/05/2023 18:37

@HandsInTheCookieJar we tried all the stretching and steroid creams to no avail, when he peed his foreskin ballooned and retained urine so dribbled out later when not at the toilet. I think because of this we were quickly offered surgery. The first paed was very hung ho and wanted full circumcision but we read about it and it seemed quite brutal. This taking a triangle out of the foreskin was perfect and allowed easy retraction,post op it was sore and he had to do retractions in a hot bath with Emla cream. He's just turned 21 now and I'm so glad we got it sorted unlike my husband whose own foreskin barely retracts!!! Good luck x

BabyST · 08/05/2023 21:38

I have dropped you a PM x

Raindancer411 · 08/05/2023 21:54

We going through the same with my soon to be 11 year old. We have been referred to the urologist to see what they think. Our Dr thinks it's borderline on if it's ok, so wanted a second opinion. I read that it doesn't sometimes rectify until after they have been through puberty. I don't want him to have to be circumcised either.

Original poster

HandsInTheCookieJar · 08/05/2023 22:35

SarahC50 · 08/05/2023 18:37

@HandsInTheCookieJar we tried all the stretching and steroid creams to no avail, when he peed his foreskin ballooned and retained urine so dribbled out later when not at the toilet. I think because of this we were quickly offered surgery. The first paed was very hung ho and wanted full circumcision but we read about it and it seemed quite brutal. This taking a triangle out of the foreskin was perfect and allowed easy retraction,post op it was sore and he had to do retractions in a hot bath with Emla cream. He's just turned 21 now and I'm so glad we got it sorted unlike my husband whose own foreskin barely retracts!!! Good luck x

That does sound like a bad case of phimosis. The idea of a half circumcision does sound more enticing if it came to that rather than a full one.

@Raindancer411 from what I’ve read (granted not that much and I’m not a doctor) It automatically starts to loosen by about ages 9-12 so maybe it’ll sort itself out. Did the doctor recommend any creams or have any advice?

OP posts:

Raindancer411 · 08/05/2023 22:59

To take baths and try and pull it back a bit more each time

fhtshop · 11/05/2023 15:34

Where you able to retract his foreskin when he was younger?

Original poster

HandsInTheCookieJar · 11/05/2023 15:38

fhtshop · 11/05/2023 15:34

Where you able to retract his foreskin when he was younger?

I never attempted to as I didn’t think about it when he was younger

OP posts:

fhtshop · 11/05/2023 15:51

I have 4 un-circumcised boys and started genal retraction at bath time on the older two and had no problems both were fully retractable before they started school. The other two I was told not to do that and they ended up having trouble retracting their foreskin when they where in their late teens.

Original poster

HandsInTheCookieJar · 11/05/2023 15:56

fhtshop · 11/05/2023 15:51

I have 4 un-circumcised boys and started genal retraction at bath time on the older two and had no problems both were fully retractable before they started school. The other two I was told not to do that and they ended up having trouble retracting their foreskin when they where in their late teens.

Oh I did’r rralise this was a thing to be honest, I thought it was best to just leave it be and it would sort itself out? Did the older two need medical intervention?

OP posts:

fhtshop · 11/05/2023 16:06

One did the other one had cream to put on and stretching exercises. A lot of information on the web and by doctors now is to not start retracting boys and just leave it which is why I left the two younger ones. The old advise was to do what I done to the older ones so if I ever have another boy I will start retracting his foreskin at bath time.