Foreskins and boys

[Georgethecat1]

My 8 year old has a tight foreskin, around age 4 we got referred and they recommended some cream / stretching exercises. After 3 months it was a bit better and no more redness or infections. It’s still pretty much a pin hole and balloons when he wees but he’s not in pain and no infections so we decided to leave it now incase it rectifies itself.

However as he’s got older I am wondering if it will ever be retractable or will he end up needing a circumcision regardless (in which case doing it younger is better from ab embarrassment POV).

Anyone got any stories or advice on what they have done?

DS is 13 and is having a similar problem OP, very recently got prescribed steroid cream and stretching exercises so I’m hoping over time it will improve as he doesn’t want surgery. Just feel a bit worried about it all and don’t know what to do/if there is anything else

My then 17yr old DS came to me saying he didn't think things were 'right' but (obviously) didn't want me to look. I showed him photos of erect penises and asked if his looked the same. He said no.

I went with him (waited outside!) to the GP who referred him for surgery. That was done under a local but didn't work so he had to have a circumcision. And bless him - he was due to start uni so he turned down a general anaesthetic procedure so he could be done and on his way instead of having to wait and having time off.

I was a single mum. DC never saw their father. I had absolutely no idea about any of these things. So keep being open and talking.

There are entire communities and organisations opposed to it (unless for religious or medical reasons ) going so far as to try and restore their foreskins ).

Surely we should also be opposing those who do it for merely religious reasons as well as those who do it (US etc.) at birth for no medical reason (I've read lots of people do it because they deem having a foreskin unclean).

FGM has religious and cultural connotations and is abhorrent. Circumcision in any non-medical even should be treated the same.

FGM is often done with no anaesthetic, by untrained family members, for no reason at all other than religious/cultural beliefs.

Circumcision done to stop a child having problems or being in pain is absolutely not comparable. If a child needs their tonsils or appendix out, is that mutilation?

I sort of agree that it shouldn’t be done on someone who doesn’t fully know what’s happening and cannot consent just for religious/cultural reasons. However if they have a medical problem and nothing else works that should be the final solution. Hopefully my son won’t need it but if he has to he has to

Im not offended or worry with the comments by some posters. I only want my son to have it done if he needs it, it’s most definitely not a cosmetic thing I’m asking about.

Im more concerned waiting till he’s 13/14 it’s more embarrassing and having it done younger could be more beneficial from that pov, if he needs it done medically then he needs it done.

I think I’m going to take him back to the same doctor and ask for an opinion. If they say there’s only 10% chance it will sort its self then we might opt for surgery. If it’s a 50/50 we will leave it a bit longer.

@cranachan1 my son did have infections when he was younger, refused to wee as it hurt so much and would be sobbing. You would most definitely know if your kids have issues. Currently he’s not had any bad infections but it balloons when he urinates due to the pin prick, which will cause issues with cleaning and sexual activity when he’s older.

I would 100% prefer him not to have surgery but if a doctor advises it medically then we would consider it weighing up pros and cons. This isn’t a conversation about doing it for religious reasons or on small babies

Ahhh this is lovely, I would have never spoken to my parents but you are right I will have a different relationship with my kids and it be less embarrassing. Keeping an open communication will be key 🥰

I have heard a lot of reports like this and I understand that most boys or men will end up getting circumcised if their foreskin is too tight. Of course in USA and Africa most boys are routinely circumcised anyway so this is a european problem. Just a small point, a lot of women say they prefer the appearance and hygiene of a circumcised penis so you may be doing him a favour anyway.

My son now 12 had his surgery last year. It never got better (we thought it would also) and it got to the point he was getting an infection so often they thought it was best before puberty hit to circumcise. The recovery was painful for him and took a few weeks to get used to how sensitive everything was

I think circumcision might be the answer.

I hope you have now checked if your sons can retract their foreskins. A nephew of mine had to be circumcised at 15 and found it was very embarrasing. Very difficult healing with frequent erections and all in the middle of GCSE course. Most unfair on the boy. His parents had not checked he could retract.

In some kids it will never resolve however much cream and stretching they try.

We went private when he was 10 and have zero regrets. Far better to do it before puberty imo