6th May 2008
It is normal for a boy's foreskin to retract anytime between birth and puberty, or even later.
There is no need for a circumcision, under any circumstances, except for frostbite, or if the opening in the foreskin is so small that it prevents urine from passing.
There is a good deal more information in the Men's Health forum, in a sticky at the top, called stretching to fix a tight foreskin, or something close to that. It is well worth a read. Ballooning, or having the foreskin fill with urine, is normal for a boy who doesn't retract yet. I see no sign of a problem at this time.
The Oster study in Denmark will back me up on that.
If this ever becomes a problem, and that is a big if, the steps are:
him gently stretching his foreskin with his fingers
if that fails, stretching combined with a prescription of betamethasone cream applied to the outside of the foreskin.
if that fails, which is close to never, you should consider a dorsal slit operation, which cuts the tight part, but does not remove anything.
if that fails, you should consider a circumcision.
Doctors like to operate. It's part of what they do. You should keep this in mind, and arm yourself with as much knowledge as you can, before you see the urologist.
The reason I mention this, is because I had my three year old circumcised, on the advice of three doctors, because he was unable to retract his foreskin at age three. It wasn't until years later, that I realized this was normal, and that the doctors were ignorant of basic human anatomy. Be conservative. Nature put the foreskin there for a reason, and two out of the three main erogenous zones on the penis are part of the foreskin.
Best of luck with your little man.
There is no need for a circumcision, under any circumstances, except for frostbite, or if the opening in the foreskin is so small that it prevents urine from passing.
There is a good deal more information in the Men's Health forum, in a sticky at the top, called stretching to fix a tight foreskin, or something close to that. It is well worth a read. Ballooning, or having the foreskin fill with urine, is normal for a boy who doesn't retract yet. I see no sign of a problem at this time.
The Oster study in Denmark will back me up on that.
If this ever becomes a problem, and that is a big if, the steps are:
him gently stretching his foreskin with his fingers
if that fails, stretching combined with a prescription of betamethasone cream applied to the outside of the foreskin.
if that fails, which is close to never, you should consider a dorsal slit operation, which cuts the tight part, but does not remove anything.
if that fails, you should consider a circumcision.
Doctors like to operate. It's part of what they do. You should keep this in mind, and arm yourself with as much knowledge as you can, before you see the urologist.
The reason I mention this, is because I had my three year old circumcised, on the advice of three doctors, because he was unable to retract his foreskin at age three. It wasn't until years later, that I realized this was normal, and that the doctors were ignorant of basic human anatomy. Be conservative. Nature put the foreskin there for a reason, and two out of the three main erogenous zones on the penis are part of the foreskin.
Best of luck with your little man.
