[amanda1982]

Unfortunetley we have just seen the GP and has said my 5 year old has a non retractable foreskin. I am very upset that he will be needing surgery. The GP has said sometimes cortisone creams can help but he is pretty sure in my sons case it won't. I now have a referral to see the surgeon.

Has anyone else been told this to then hold of on surgery and then for the foreskin to actually retract.

I will take the advice from the health professionals but was just wanting to see if there were any real life situations where they did the wait and see approach.

This post has been edited by amanda1982: 12/02/2013, 08:02 PM

[Bek+3]

I would say that your son not retracting at 5 is a very typical variation of normal. I can't see my son's doing so in the next 9 months before he is 5. I'd be very careful of older generation GP's who wouldn't know what a healthy uncut penis was meant to look like and function if it was right there in front of them.

Get another opinion OP and don't whatever you do try and forcibly retract the foreskin yourself!

I'd recommend this article on 'phony phimosis'.
http://www.drmomma.org/2010/01/phony-phimosis-diagnosis.html

[fairymagic]

Hey there. This happened to us - we saw a surgeon when he was around 8 though. They like to give them time. The cortisone cream used to be used for treatment - it didn't work with my DS. They don't use it now = they use another cream called Calmoseptine which you can get from the chemist. Applied 2 - 4 times a day this may help. For us, it didn't. My son had to be circumcised at 9 (the surgeon gave us nearly 12 months of the cream) under a GA and recovered well. A little uncomfortable the first day. Had I think two or three days off school and then the weekend - was back by the Monday.

Try the cream first. A friend whose son had the same problem went through the same as me. GP prescribed steroid cream - didn't work. Referred to same Paediatric Surgeon. Given Calmoseptine and it worked for them after 6 - 12 months. He didn't need to be circumcised.

Good luck. At 5 he may still be a little young in some surgeons opinions to need a circumcision yet.

[TheGreenSheep]

Interesting article PP!

[becstar101]

Is there a reason you're worried about his foreskin? Infection etc? If not, I'd leave it be, I think it's normal for a foreskin to not retract prior to puberty.

[in(s)ane]

DS is 4 and we've been told not to worry (unless he gets infections) until at least 6, then bring it up with GP.


ETA fascinating article PP, thanks!

This post has been edited by in(s)ane: 12/02/2013, 08:57 PM

[Kitty Fantastico]

My DS is only 2 so I don't know much about these things, but I've read in a few different places that it doesn't usually retract until closer to 8 or 9? I'm not sure if anyone can confirm this?

[Bek+3]

My DS is only 2 so I don't know much about these things, but I've read in a few different places that it doesn't usually retract until closer to 8 or 9? I'm not sure if anyone can confirm this?

This linked article gives a good description of normal function and changes.

[soontobegran]

Unless the fact that your son's foreskin is causing him medical problems then it is really is not unusual for a foreskin to be non retractable at age 5. The only surgeon I would contemplate seeing is a paediatric urologist who will give you an expert opinion on the necessity of circumcision.
Good luck.

[sir_mix-a-lot]

I know one man whose foreskin was unretractable until he was in his mid-twenties. That's long time to put up with the discomfort and the comments from sexual partners, but it did completely and spontaneously heal itself. He's now a doctor and a big advocate for avoiding surgery as long as possible.
As always, your mileage may vary.