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General health

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Original poster

What's normal?

6 replies

Cl · 27/10/2001 19:53

Call me the product of an all female household - but .. the doc says my three month old son has a tight foreskin. When you try to pull it back it only goes as far back as to leave a hole just big enough to pee through. Is this normal? My husband's particularly worried that the little chap's going to be in pain and I don't want to wait and see - as the doc suggested - and end up having to circumcise when he's much older? anyone else come across this?

OP posts:

Rhiannon · 28/10/2001 15:00

Cl, ouch! ask for a specialist referral, if it needs an op., it's easier to do it when they're tiny. R.

Wendym · 28/10/2001 15:57

My brother had a painful operation for this. I do not remember how old he was but he was at school. He was very embarassed about it. If you do leave it do it before they start school.

Pupuce · 28/10/2001 22:30

There was another thread on this not long ago... I have a similar problem Cl but my son is 23 months old.
The GP has told me to wait and see because he is going to start playing with it and we will see what happens (he has indeed started pulling and I am looking to see if he is able to pull it back more).
My mother's stepson had an operation (not sure what age but after 4 and before 6 yo) to cut the skin a bit but it was NOT a circumcision. I have seen him naked (he is 8) and I didn't know so he looks completely "normal".
You need to worry if it gets infected or if he is in pain or if you notice that he is not "peeing" straight ! That's what I was told.
I have relaxed a bit since then.

Mooma · 29/10/2001 06:58

30 yrs ago, my mum took my little brother to the doctor's because she was worried about his tight foreskin. The doctor's response was that she should be ashamed that she was even considering 'mutilating' her child. My mum was really upset, and was put off ever discussing it again.
Forward 20-odd years, brother now in relationship, experiencing problems due to tight foreskin, finally has to be circumcised. A week off work, extreme discomfort, both physical and emotional.
As Pupuce says, it may well be wise to wait and see a bit, but don't leave it until he's really aware, if you can help it. Also, choose your surgeon with great care, if you decide it needs doing. Many doctors here are general surgeons and very inexperienced in the procedure. Our health visitor puts parents of very young babies in touch with the local rabbi. Dh was 'done' in the Middle East at a week old (Moslem father), his brother by a British surgeon at a later stage, and had to be corrected at age 13, very traumatic, as you can imagine,

Snow · 29/10/2001 18:19

I didn't think that boys were meant to be able to pull back their foreskins properly until around age 4, risk of adhesions etc. I saw the most awful programme years ago on circumcision performed by a Rabbi, recently rerun on sky tv. As an ex-nurse if either of my 2 boys needed it done,a general anaesthetic and general surgeon for them! I don't touch my 15 months old willy, his also seems quite tight, I'll wait and see.

Boo321 · 29/10/2001 21:28

My thirdson had a tight foreskin that I managed to get my gp to refer us to the hospital for .He was probably about 6 months old,and by the time came round for the appt a few months later,the doctor was fairly easily able to pull it back and said " is that what you wanted to see" very embaressing........so I would hang on and wait and see until at least one or two as it does seem to grow but do keep an eye on it...

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