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Original poster

Phimosis - Circumcision

59 replies

Boymumma3 · 03/06/2025 09:22

Hi all, I have a little boys who's 3 years old who's had a few infections on his penis. I noticed when he was urinating that his penis was blowing up like a ballon and then releasing his urine. Last time we went to the GP I showed him a video of what it looked like and he was referred to urology. We had 1 appointment I explained how it ballooned up when urinating, he had a look and said he has quite sever phimosis and that he should be able to pull his foreskin back slightly to even just see the tip but you cant at all. He said he needs full circumcision and it is booked in for this month.
Is this a bit drastic? Does he need the surgery so soon? I am very anxious about this and would rather him not but obviously if really needs then thats fine, but I have read that sometimes this can be normal in toddler age.

Anyone help or advice please?

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AmyDuPlantier · 03/06/2025 09:25

My husband was circumcised as a toddler for this reason; sometimes it’s just necessary. He doesn’t remember anything about it and there’s no lasting effect.

OverlyFragrant · 03/06/2025 09:26

Just get it done before he suffers any more infections and becomes aware of it.

Povertytrapped · 03/06/2025 09:31

My DS10 has just had this operation for the same reason, and I wish we had been given good advice as early as you have @Boymumma3.

We saw any number of GPs with various related problems over about six years and all of them said "just wait it'll probably sort itself out"...and it didn't...and when my poor DS finally could barely wee at all (and I felt absolutely dreadful as I hadn't realised it was as bad, because you don't watch your ten year old wee do you?) I took him to a specialist kid's A&E who prioritised him for surgery a week later.

It was traumatic for him, and for me...and the consultant said it really should have been done a long time ago as it would have needed much less intervention and DS would have been much less aware of it. He actually wrote to the GP practice saying that it should have been picked up before...but whether they recognise their negligence I seriously doubt.

Anyway it's done now, but please get your boy done this month, the operation itself isn't nearly as bad as you think it will be...it's the psychological side of things that have caused my son problems - because obviously you're much more aware of everything "down there" when you're 10 - which wouldn't have happened at all if he'd had it done when we first took him to the GP.

Hope it all goes well, I'm sure it will as it's a very routine procedure at that age.

LoveSandbanks · 03/06/2025 09:49

My son had paraphimosis as a teen and had an emergency circumcision. At the time it was so severe they thought he was going to need an operation to release it and then a further operation to complete the circumcision at a later date. Fortunately they managed to do it in one. On the plus side we were at a teaching hospital and none of the trainees had seen it before so they were all very happy to have a look at ds was happy to show all and sundry.

Just get it done before it gets worse or he gets older. Far less painful now.

Easyforyoutosay · 03/06/2025 09:54

My son had the surgery at 22. It would have been much easier had he had it done as a child. We were told it would sort itself out, it didn't. He was then reluctant to get it sorted as a teenager. The issue was affecting his relationship and this led him to seek help, he then had an almost two year wait for the surgery. The procedure itself was manageable for him but time off work etc impactful as an adult

PorgyandBess · 03/06/2025 10:00

We were advised to leave it and it just got worse and worse. Son had to have circumcision at 13 AND a meatoplasty. I wish I’d not listened to GP’s advice and he’d had it done earlier.

DesparatePragmatist · 03/06/2025 10:05

Chiming in with PP - definitely get it done. My son had this at 4 after a bit of watchful waiting at the balloon willy stage turned into a terrible series of UTIs. The op is fine, recovery did involve a couple of painful nights (sleeping in my bed and getting cuddles helped) - and my top tip for post-op wees - in the bath with the hand-held shower running warm water over his penis to stop it stinging!

CatsorDogsrule · 03/06/2025 10:16

If the surgery is on the NHS and been scheduled so quickly, I would think it is a severe case. 2 of my sons had the surgery for this reason. The first at 4yrs, the 2nd I identified the issue earlier and his was done at 2yrs. No regrets.

Mosaic123 · 03/06/2025 10:41

Why would you not want this condition to be over with very quickly?

Better now than when he's older.

GuardRail · 03/06/2025 11:11

I have a son who’s 12 going through this in terms of discomfort with weeing due to foreskin. Saw our GP last week and they said to try a topical steroid cream to help stretch the foreskin and will review later on. I’d say if it is causing considerable pain for your son, then circumcision whilst he’s young may be best. Circumcision for my son is a last resort because he’s terrified of surgery

persianfairyfloss · 03/06/2025 11:44

My son had this and his gastro/urologist said he would do the circ next time we needed surgery. He didn't need any surgery and the phimosis has resolved. Gastro reckoned there was no chance it would resolve but it did.

If he had been having regular infections or was uncomfortable I would have opted to do the surgery ASAP.

Original poster
Boymumma3 · 03/06/2025 13:13

We are booked in for this Friday, obviously I want whats best for him I was just wondering if a wait and see approach would be best. But as the advice says I suppose they wouldnt put him in for surgery so soon if it wasn't absolutely necessary specially via NHS. Thanks guys. Wish us luck!

Any advice on recovery would be great too.

Thanks x

OP posts:
ShesTheAlbatross · 03/06/2025 13:35

AmyDuPlantier · 03/06/2025 09:25

My husband was circumcised as a toddler for this reason; sometimes it’s just necessary. He doesn’t remember anything about it and there’s no lasting effect.

So was mine - well he was a bit older, about 7 I think. He doesn’t remember it really beyond that it happened, doesn’t remember the recovery, just that he got a few treats for a few days.

Original poster
Boymumma3 · 06/06/2025 18:39

He had his surgery today all went well and we are home. Any advice as everytime he needs to wee hes screaming in pain. Other than that he seems okay. He was so brave today I am very proud of him. 💓

OP posts:
floppybit · 06/06/2025 18:43

I had to put my teenager through this because I cancelled an appointment to get it done when he was little. I regret that decision now. He’s found it very distressing to deal with and wishes I had gone ahead with it when he was younger.

floppybit · 06/06/2025 18:44

Oh sorry, didn’t see that you’ve already had it done! I hope your boys heals well and feels better soon

Monkeyballz · 06/06/2025 18:50

Hopefully he’ll feel better tomorrow, make he’s taking regular pain meds. Let him just wear loose thin pyjama bottoms.

My DS had his done around age 7 and it took a few weeks to properly heal because he had a lot of scaring tissue due to recurrent infections.

GuardRail · 06/06/2025 18:52

floppybit · 06/06/2025 18:43

I had to put my teenager through this because I cancelled an appointment to get it done when he was little. I regret that decision now. He’s found it very distressing to deal with and wishes I had gone ahead with it when he was younger.

was surgery the first option or was steroid cream offered first?

Monkeyballz · 06/06/2025 18:54

My DS was offered steroid cream first, I was told there was a small chance it would work. We opted straight for surgery and didn’t even try the cream. After the op the Dr said there was zero chance the cream would have worked as the foreskin was welded on.

GuardRail · 06/06/2025 18:57

Monkeyballz · 06/06/2025 18:54

My DS was offered steroid cream first, I was told there was a small chance it would work. We opted straight for surgery and didn’t even try the cream. After the op the Dr said there was zero chance the cream would have worked as the foreskin was welded on.

Thanks for the info, I’m currently in limbo right now with the steroid cream. No improvements but it is still early days. But DS really really doesn’t want to go down the surgery route

Monkeyballz · 06/06/2025 19:01

It’s difficult when they are teens. My DH was 18 when he had his done and he found it far more traumatic than DS did. For both of them having a circumcision was the right choice it’s just a shame DHs hadn’t been noticed when he was younger.

GuardRail · 06/06/2025 19:03

Monkeyballz · 06/06/2025 19:01

It’s difficult when they are teens. My DH was 18 when he had his done and he found it far more traumatic than DS did. For both of them having a circumcision was the right choice it’s just a shame DHs hadn’t been noticed when he was younger.

Gosh yeah that must have been awful for him, I feel guilty that I didn’t notice it sooner for my DS, no doubt it would have been easier to handle

Walkden · 06/06/2025 19:04

Thanks for the info, I’m currently in limbo right now with the steroid cream.

The point of the steroid cream is that it thins the skin and reduces inflammation making skin stretching exercises more tolerable and effective. Adding the cream on its own does little.

Brumchum · 06/06/2025 19:07

When my son had this done just before he was 2 I was advised to let him sit in a bowl of salt water twice a day. It really helped him heal.

Yorkshiredolls · 06/06/2025 19:14

Hi sorry dont mean to derail but at what point does phimosis become a problem? DH was circumsized as a preschooler due to it. We have a DS who is now 5. His Foreskin is not retractable and he recently had a stint of balanitis/UTI which responded to antibiotics, it was the first time hes had it. I have always noticed that little balloon thing when weeing but until the balanitis hes never really had a problem so I havent even thought to see GP but now wondering if I should have done given his dads history? Not familiar with whats normal for little boys at all as its all girls in my family