A Penis question

[kellyc1987]

LO is 21 months and not circumcised, today for the first time while changing him I noticed a wormy looking thing hanging from his Penis (like a soap worm that you get when you have pierced ears, it was like it was coming from inside. I asked OH about it and he thought it was normal, I've googled and seems to sound like smethma. Have any of your DS's had this?

Also when I mentioned it to my nan (we were at her house when I saw it) she said pull his foreskin back a bit to see if there is anymore, and I said that I can't pull it back, it doesn't really go back, she said that my grandad, uncle and cousin all had a hereditary condition where the foreskin was fused, not sure if DS has this or not being able to pull the skin back is normal?

Thanks in advance for any replies

 

[_Meep_]

I don't have any experience as I have a girl. However, I do know that ALL baby boys have fused foreskins at birth and for months to years afterwards (some don't separate until the boy is in his teenage years or older). You should NEVER try to pull it back yourself. You could hurt him, or injure him, and cause an infection.

The only person who should pull back a boy's foreskin is the boy himself. Obviously he won't push it further than is comfortable. It should separate naturally he gets older.

As long as it isn't red, sore, irritating him, or ballooning when he pees then he's likely fine.

 

[SarahBear]

The first person to pull back your son's foreskin should be your son. Do not pull on it or really touch it much beyond just washing the outside. If you rip the connection between the foreskin and glans it can cause adhesions and scarring that will damage his penis. Smethma is normal and harmless. Also, some boys foreskin remains fused until puberty and although unusual, this is perfectly "normal" and healthy. DO NOT do anything to your son's penis except wash the outside of it. That's all that is necessary.

 

[SarahBear]

As long as it isn't red, sore, irritating him, or ballooning when he pees then he's likely fine.

Actually, ballooning when he pees is fine and just means that the separation process has begun.

 

[minties]

What is smethma? I thought it was called smegma?

I agree with all the stuff everyone else has said.

 

[Zephram]

What is smethma? I thought it was called smegma?

I agree with all the stuff everyone else has said.

It is called smegma.

Yes, like everyone says, leave his penis alone.

 

[kellyc1987]

What is smethma? I thought it was called smegma?

I agree with all the stuff everyone else has said.

It is called smegma.

Yes, like everyone says, leave his penis alone.

Sorry I copied and pasted it from somewhere yes it's smegma.

I didn't pull it back hard or far and definitely won't be doing it again, thanks for your advice everyone

 

[SarahBear]

What is smethma? I thought it was called smegma?

I agree with all the stuff everyone else has said.

yeah that....

 

[sequeena]

Yes leave it alone unless it becomes sore or anything other than pee comes out of it. Thomas' balloons when he pees and he pees in several directions the gp sent us to a urologist who said things have changed now and they tend to leave foreskin alone as they usually eventually separate by 16 years. My father had to be circumsised for it. I think he was early teens but I imagine it didn't really need doing.

 

[JumpingIn]

Leave it alone. It's like a vagina, it takes care of itself. So no pulling/soap/scrubbing etc. Like vaginas, stuff comes out and that's ok unless there's any sign of pain or infection. We're nearly all uncircumcised here in the UK and we're not touching our boys penises. They turn out fine

 

[happynewmom1]

Leave it alone. It's like a vagina, it takes care of itself. So no pulling/soap/scrubbing etc. Like vaginas, stuff comes out and that's ok unless there's any sign of pain or infection. We're nearly all uncircumcised here in the UK and we're not touching our boys penises. They turn out fine

Would this be the same for a 6 year old? Our sons pediatrician said the foreskin isn't pulling back enough and we need to help him tug it back 1-2 times a day or will be getting a cream to loosen it? I thought it was something that would happen naturally and my dh thinks it's ridiculous and should leave it alone. Which I'm leaning towards. The pediatrician said if this doesn't work or the cream then they would want to circumcise him which seems extreme for his age.

 

[JumpingIn]

Definitely the same for a 6-year-old. The foreskin doesn't generally need to retract until puberty

 

[sequeena]

Yup. The doctor we said anytime up to 16 is normal.

 

[happynewmom1]

OK thanks! I appreciate the responses.. I wasn't sure what to do.

 

[SarahBear]

It's scary that doctors give such terrible advice.

 

[rwhite]

Leave it alone. It's like a vagina, it takes care of itself. So no pulling/soap/scrubbing etc. Like vaginas, stuff comes out and that's ok unless there's any sign of pain or infection. We're nearly all uncircumcised here in the UK and we're not touching our boys penises. They turn out fine

Would this be the same for a 6 year old? Our sons pediatrician said the foreskin isn't pulling back enough and we need to help him tug it back 1-2 times a day or will be getting a cream to loosen it? I thought it was something that would happen naturally and my dh thinks it's ridiculous and should leave it alone. Which I'm leaning towards. The pediatrician said if this doesn't work or the cream then they would want to circumcise him which seems extreme for his age.

Just chiming in too and agreeing with the others I think a lot of the time American doctors are taught more on how to remove the foreskin as opposed to its purpose and functions. The average age of retraction is about age 10 if I remember correctly, but really any time up until teenagehood is normal for it to retract. Circumcision definitely isn't needed x

 

[happynewmom1]

I really appreciate all the help! His advice seemed off to me but acted like I was silly when I said I thought he had until he was a teenager for that to happen and it be normal.

Rwhite, I think you might be right about American doctors. Many times they are taught to do the easiest way or more expensive way but not necessarily the best and it does leave me questioning them. Thanks for the thoughts!

 

[redneckhippy]

Just chiming in too and agreeing with the others I think a lot of the time American doctors are taught more on how to remove the foreskin as opposed to its purpose and functions. The average age of retraction is about age 10 if I remember correctly, but really any time up until teenagehood is normal for it to retract. Circumcision definitely isn't needed x

I can attest to this, as a current American medical student. While I do have one semester left, so perhaps there will be some gems taught I haven't learned about circumcision (unlikely), it has already been covered in several classes and this is what we have been taught:

1) we have been taught multiple times about infections that can happen to foreskin in uncircumcised males

2) we've been taught uncircumcised infants are 90% more likely to get a UTI in the first year of life and that UTIs are very dangerous in infants

3) we have been taught that circumcision lowers the risk of penile cancer

4) that after the first year there's not really any difference in UTI risk

5) that it's up to the family and you should probably encourage them to just do whatever dad has

Even throughout my entire pediatrics course we were not taught one thing on instructing parents on proper care of uncircumcised boy (i.e. That they shouldn't pull the foreskin back) or any reasons against circumcision, just that it's "fine" if the parents don't want to circumcise. So if you wonder why Americans and American doctors hold the views they do (which I know is very confusing to Europeans), that is why. This is what American medical providers are taught on the matter. The only reason I actually know about not pullin the foreskin and uncircumcised penis "care" is because I was on these boards a lot during my pregnancy and learned from the European mamas on here!

 

[rwhite]

Just chiming in too and agreeing with the others I think a lot of the time American doctors are taught more on how to remove the foreskin as opposed to its purpose and functions. The average age of retraction is about age 10 if I remember correctly, but really any time up until teenagehood is normal for it to retract. Circumcision definitely isn't needed x

I can attest to this, as a current American medical student. While I do have one semester left, so perhaps there will be some gems taught I haven't learned about circumcision (unlikely), it has already been covered in several classes and this is what we have been taught:

1) we have been taught multiple times about infections that can happen to foreskin in uncircumcised males

2) we've been taught uncircumcised infants are 90% more likely to get a UTI in the first year of life and that UTIs are very dangerous in infants

3) we have been taught that circumcision lowers the risk of penile cancer

4) that after the first year there's not really any difference in UTI risk

5) that it's up to the family and you should probably encourage them to just do whatever dad has

Even throughout my entire pediatrics course we were not taught one thing on instructing parents on proper care of uncircumcised boy (i.e. That they shouldn't pull the foreskin back) or any reasons against circumcision, just that it's "fine" if the parents don't want to circumcise. So if you wonder why Americans and American doctors hold the views they do (which I know is very confusing to Europeans), that is why. This is what American medical providers are taught on the matter. The only reason I actually know about not pullin the foreskin and uncircumcised penis "care" is because I was on these boards a lot during my pregnancy and learned from the European mamas on here!

Ohh why am I not surprised, that is terrible! But does explain a whole lot! (congratulations on almost being done with your study, by the way! )

Interestingly, the figures I've heard quoted is that it would take >100 circumcisions to prevent one UTI...not to mention, of course, that females are much more likely to get UTIs and we are treated with antibiotics and cutting our bits would never even be hinted at! And considering point 4 that you made, it's a bit confusing as to what the fuss is about anyway haha.

As for the penile cancer risk, I'm surprised that there has been no mention that the American Cancer Society themselves mention that the risk of penile cancer is low even in uncircumcised men and do not recommend circumcision as a means of prevention, stating that it would take >900 circumcisions to prevent one case of penile cancer. Apparently breast cancer in men is more common than penile cancer.

And the whole "to match daddy" argument never made much sense to me - especially seeing as my OH and my brother both have their foreskins whereas their dads don't and it never mattered a jot to them, not to mention the whole hairy and bigger penis situation that dads have regardless .

OP - sorry for sidetracking your thread, your little boy sounds totally normal and it sounds like his parts are self-cleaning the way they should be, no need to worry at all

 

[sequeena]

It's amazing how different our countries are. In the UK the norm is uncircumcised unless for religious or medical reasons. My husband is uncircumcised and in almost 33 years of life he's never had an infection. Neither he or our son have ever had a UTI either.