DS foreskin issues

[Aggieisback1]

DS (16) had recurrent infections aged 7-10 which we thought had gone away. Had various creams at the time. It appears he now has more issues including lesions on his foreskin. Am wondering of anyone had any experience of this on older children and what the outcome was? Obviously a delicate subject..

Just wondering if anyone has experience of this

Hi OP

Has your DS seen a specialist at all? Our Ds is only ten but has been under the urologist as his foreskin is so tight he cannot retract it all. We have been told it is very likey he will require a circumsision but urologist will wait to se if any improvements occur when puberty hits. Have Doctors discussed circumsisin with you at all?

Have the Doctors daid what type of lesions they are....I have heard of askin issue ( sorry cannot recall the name) which can occur on the foreskin which causes tightness, scarring infections etc...

He needs to see a specialist dermatologist. They may suggest circumcision.

Hi
He has seen a specialist (before) and GPs this time around. Circumcision was mentioned but thankfully avoided last time.
I thought we had "got away with it" but perhaps not. I think it appears this is some kind of infection almost like chapped skin. He had phimosis and balanitis before.

Having a dh who had an excessively tight foreskin, I can categorically say that it is far worse to have an excessively tight foreskin than a circumcision! Have they identified the bacteria causing it? And are you sure it is a bacterial infection this time around? Does he still have phimosis, or did that improve over time/with stretching?

Roundabout he has been diagnosed with thrush.
I think he has by now gone through just about every foreskin related complaint you can have, but if I am honest I still would prefer him not to be circumcised. I realias that isn't terribly logical and will try not to communicate any negativity to him in the event that it comes to that.

imagine it was your willy that was constantly sore!
circumcision is not the end of the world and far better than constant problems

My DS had an infection on his foreskin and ended up having a circumcision. I didn't like the idea of it so I understand your point of view, but it was very straightforward and he's had no issues since then.

Not that easy to do but I try!
I am strongly opposed to cosmetic circumcision so perhaps this has coloured my views and I've held out longer than I otherwise might. Since speaking in confidence to a couple of acquaintances it does seem a more common procedure than I had thought.

Aggieisback - there comes a point when a simple operation is hugely better for your mental and physical health than constant, uncomfortable infections of the genitalia!! And so much better to go through that now than endure years more pain and discomfort and then have to endure it while trying to carry on a relationship with someone, as this added pressure tends to compound the psychological and physical issues! Please don't worry about a circumcision or keep going out of your way to avoid it if this keeps cropping up. If a circumcision would resolve the problem, then he should just go for it.

Ps Have any other possible causes been suggested? Does he have very sensitive skin elsewhere on his body? Any chance of diabetes, or some kind of dietary link? Or is the foreskin definitely still tight and difficult to retract?

He's never had any dermatological conditions elsewhere. Diabetes and dietary conditions have never been raised. He didn't mention to the nurse practitioner who diagnosed the thrush about the earlier issues, though he did say that he had difficulty retracting when being examined.

I guess it's possible the problems are recurring, now, because he is at an age where regular masturbation could be exacerbating the symptoms! A tight foreskin can make sex very painful and masturbation somewhat uncomfortable, too, aswell as increasing the risk of problems caused by, eg, causing small tears, which could increase scar tissue and tightness and also the risk of infections.

OP I would also say that i am feeling sad and worried about DS possbly needing a circumcision but logically it really is for the best if there are peristent problems not responding adequately to other treatments.
Ther are many millions of men who are circumsised innthw world and ths included my DP who says the only thing he regrets is that t was not done sooner ( also for medical reasons). I also had an ex boyfriend years ago who had a foreskin couldnt be retracted and he had sexual issues as a result.

A girlfriend of mine had an ex whose foreskin snapped during sex resulting in considerable blood loss and an emergency circumcision. Of course I want to spare ds this. I feel immensely for him having to go through his current discomfort and if it has to happen I'd rather sooner than later.

My DP had to have a circumcision as a teenager due to tightness of the foreskin and then issues with the skin arising from that. It didn't bother him, he has had no loss of sensitivity and there are benefits in that you are less likely to contract or pass on some sexually transmitted infections. He much prefers being circumcised both aesthetically and in terms of cleanliness. It's really not the end of the world if your DS has to have it done, it isn't the same as forcing the choice on a baby, if he needs it done he needs it done, no point agonising over it.

silk hopefully if it does come to that DS will feel the same was as your DP. I guess there's a cut off point where the discomfort of the op is outweighed by the lack of issues afterwards.

Rather than trying to imagine what this is like read about it from the male point of view

www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=6e122944f5265d04a7af1933c8a5937f&t=2054899493

They are mostly men based in Ireland so if you are in UK look into NHS criteria for getting this done

He needs expert advice. Worst, very worst case scenario, penile cancer can be related to long term inflammation and infections. If the inflammation is solely in his foreskin, he'd be better off without it. You also need to think about how he would cope with a sore willy inf he is having sex and gets to a stage of not needing to use condoms (in a safe long term relationship for example.)

Yes it is looking quite clear what needs to happen.

Ds (16) had it done recently after foreskin er got stuck and we were advised it might happen again. We had no hesitations.

No problems since. Phew.

My son (15) has had balanitis and phimosis and BXO.

Last year he had to have a circumcision and 6 months later, a meatoplasty. It has been transforming for him! Wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

That sounds encouraging. Just realised the double meaning of what I posted earlier re: cut off point!!! Thank God DS won't read this thead

Your negativity about it is a little illogical
Its a medical solution to a horrible problem that's all. Ds was out of hospital in a few hours and recovered after about a week.

X-post!

Sounds like it will be a relief to him- good luck.