Circumcision problem with 6 month old baby

My child was circumcised when he was 2 days old and all seemed OK, but it never really looked how I thought it should.  I asked the doctor about it at subsequent check ups and he said it seemed fine.  Now just at his 6 month check up the doctor said it looked like the skin was trying to reattach over the glans (glands).  He said they don't take off as much as they used to and now I am supposed to apply a cortisone cream twice a day and try to push the skin back every time I change him.  This is not very comfortable for the baby and I really don't like to have to do that.  He wants to follow up in 1 month to see how it is going, I am concerned that this is causing a lot of pain for the baby.  When I told my mom about it, she said that she wasn't sure just by looking that he had been circumcised and it is apparently not obvious to anyone that has seen his penis.  I expected it to be completely different than it is and it really bothers me now that we have to do all this follow-up about it.  My question is, will this cause problems in the future for him and since he is already 6 months old I am afraid that some type of surgery will have to be done to fix it.  Why aren't the doctors explaining this better to new moms about how the procedure is being done differently now than it was even 10 years ago.  It is very frustrating for me and my husband to sit here and wonder now, was it the right decision or not based on how it looks at this point.  I would suggest all parents trying to make that decision talk to the doctor about how the procedure is done and problems they can run into.

[AnnieBrooke]

Hi, if you scan down the posts not very far, you'll find a pretty lively discussion of circumcision (the title is "Pulling out, rhythm and circumcision discussion from prev. thread").  Nel and greenpixie covered the "anti" side (leave things natural, teach the child to keep himself clean, no pain for the baby, possible better sex life later) and lib and jr's mom covered the "pro" side (no risk of penile cancer, possible better sex life later, less self-consciousness in a circumcised world) in our thread.  Your point, a somewhat botched circumcision, didn't arise, but it's good to know it can happen because an informed parent is a parent who makes better decisions.  In your shoes, I would talk to a pediatric urologist, if such a thing is available, or maybe even a urologist, and describe what is going on and see if they will see you.  As lib and jr's mom says, we don't always avoid hurting our kids (such as when we get them their vaccines) but we always try to do the best for them and would die for them.  If the urologist tells you the thing to do is keep at it with the cortisone, then you will at least feel like the seeming hurt to him now is for a good reason.    Don't let yourself be fobbed off by one doctor's comments if they are unexplanatory.  I wish you the very best with this.

[who_is_this]

Comment on the "pro" side you mention, NO risk of penile cancer--untrue.  The risk of penile cancer is extremely small to any man, and the risk is very, very slightly raised in an uncircumcised male.  Penile cancer in itself is extremely rare.  The statistical difference in the rates is so small, that it is not considered sufficient to recommend routine infant circumcision.

"Better sex life" for circ'd men?  That would be extremely hard to quantify.  Most men in the world are not circ'd.  If the grass was so much different on the other side of the fence, men would be clamoring to have it done.  I doubt there is much, if any difference.

No industrialized nation in the world besides the US, routinely circumcises its infants.  This procedure is not recommended or endorsed by any recognized medical governing body in the world, including the American Academy of Pediatrics.  Ask your pediatrician, he/she will tell you exactly that.  That it is an elective procedure done at the request of the parents.  

We all want to do what's best for our children, but the problem is that there is so much misinformation floating around about this subject, that it's hard to tell what is the best thing.  Millions and millions of the worlds men are left in their natural state without incident.  Circumcision is a surgical procedure performed on infant boys who cannot object, cannot decide about their sexuality or appearance on their own, and are unable to participate in the decision that THEY will live with for the rest of their lives.

Fortunately, the circumcision rates in the US are falling and it is not uncommon to see men in their natural states any longer.  It's a surgery with all the attendant risks of surgery, and little if any benefit except in the minds of the parents.

To the original poster, I'm not sure what to recommend to you. Perhaps see a pediatric urologist for furthur advice?  I just don't know enough about reattachment issues to give you any info.  I know it happens, but that's about it.   Good luck.

[AndiJ78]

Adhesions can happen with circumcision, better to care for it now than face possible surgery to fix it down the road. It seems as though some procedures are more prone to them than others. I had a friend who's son has the plasti-bell procedure and he developed adhesions, but the doc was able to retract the extra skin and release the adhesions. Much like any other surgery, it can happen. My boys didn't have plasti-bells, but rather the actual surgery that involved cutting the foreskin away. They both recovered very quickly, we numbed up before the procedure, and have had absolutely no lingering issues as a result of the surgery.

Now, i am pro circumcision. Both my boys had it done and if I have another boy, he, too, will be circumcised. I would hardly call the difference in penile cancer as insignificant. One of the reasons the US has one of the lowest rates of penile cancer is due to the circumcision rates. In fact the only person I have ever met that had to deal with penile cancer was my own father who contracted herpes in the 70's and was not circ'd. At the ripe age of 54, he had to undergo circumcision to treat it. Imagine being 54 years old, still sexually active and healing from that!! As the rates of herpes increase in the US and the rates of circumcision go down, I suspect the rates of penile cancer with rise significantly. I am extrememly comfortable with my decision to have the procedure done on my boys and it is covered by my insurance who still see medical merit in the surgery.

Anyway, after working as an NAC at a nursing home while in school for nursing, I worked with a variety of men, some circ'd, many not. I knew I would get my boys circ'd after seeing how difficult it was for men to care for something as basic as hygiene as they aged. Many were unable to retract their foreskin, the rate of infections in the penile area and UTI's was quite high for those patients, and overall it was just nasty to be honest.

Look at the American Urology Association's website for more information on penile cancer and circumcision. You will see the comparison of the rates of penile cancer as related to circumcision as well as the rates worldwide.

As with many other aspects of parenting, it is a personal decision. Do what feels right for you and your child.

Andi

[who_is_this]

Andi, again...if it were so clearly beneficial, there would be a recommendation from some recognized medical body endorsing routine infant circumcision.  Period. There is not.  I understand this is your choice, but it is not due to a recognized, scientifically proven fact.

From the American Cancer Society:

"The large variations in penile cancer rates throughout the world strongly suggest that penile cancer is a preventable disease. The best way to reduce the risk of penile cancer is to avoid known risk factors whenever possible.

In the past, circumcision has been suggested as a way to prevent penile cancer. This suggestion was based on studies that reported much lower penile cancer rates among circumcised men than among uncircumcised men. However, most researchers now believe those studies were flawed because they failed to consider other factors that are now known to affect penile cancer risk.

For example, some recent studies suggest that circumcised men tend to have certain other lifestyle factors associated with lower penile cancer risk: they are less likely to have many sexual partners, less likely to smoke, and more likely to have better personal hygiene habits. Most public health researchers believe that the penile cancer risk among uncircumcised men without known risk factors living in the United States is extremely low. The current consensus of most experts is that circumcision should not be recommended as a prevention strategy for penile cancer."

And also from the American Cancer Society:

"Portraying routine circumcision as an effective means of prevention distracts the public from the task of avoiding the behaviors proven to contribute to penile and cervical cancer: especially cigarette smoking and unprotected sexual relations with multiple partners.  Perpetuating the mistaken belief that circumcision prevents cancer is inappropriate".

[who_is_this]

And, if uncircumcised men all over the world have such a horrible time keeping themselves clean when they age, it would be a universal practice.  

Some women have trouble keeping their labia and vulvas clean, due to natural variations in anatomy.  An operation at birth to make it easier to clean them would not be appropriate, and female circumcision is banned almost worldwide.  Your personal experiences, as well as your family members experiences, are anecdotal and do not constitute proof to the world at large.

It's a personal decision, but I feel that the person IT IS HAPPENING TO should be the one to make the decision.  It can always be done later.  I reject the notion it is not as painful to an infant. It is an extrememly painful procedure, though recent use of injections have made it less so.  Just because infants do not have sex does not make it less painful afterwards.  

That American Urological Association statement is not as strong as you are implying.  They state that they "believe" that neonatal circumcision has potential benefits, as well as disadvantages and risks.  Potential, not proven benefits.  They do cite an increase in UTI's in uncirc'd boys, but what they DON'T state is that UTI's in male infants are uncommon anyway, and easily treated.  This is a group that has a vested interest in promoting circumcisions and later revisions.  So I would take the word of the AAP and the American Cancer Society over a group that may have a bias.

You and I will never agree on this subject.  Again, I feel it should be the decision of the owner of the genitalia in question to make a surgical change, when they are old enough to decide for themselves.

[myproblem]

Most of the people I know have had their boys circumcised just so they'll look more like daddy. I think this is silly. Why would you cut off part of your baby, and pretend that it doesn't hurt him just because everyone else does it?

[myproblem]

I didn't mean to sound like I'm slamming you. I'm not. I just feel sorry that things like this happen, and there is no good reason for it medically. I hope your little sweetie will be fine.

[nel06]

My son is NOT circumcised, and I am so glad I didn't do it!  He is 19 months old now and I have never had a problem.  The statistics show that there is barely a difference in the things like infection and cancer... what it comes down to is keep it CLEAN.  That's all you have to do.  I have read the studies and statistics and basicall what it comes down to is that it's a choice that the parent has to make.  It is NOT a necassary surgery.  For the person above who commented on they are worried that since the circumcision you have to do things to take care of his penis and you are worried that it is causing him pain... circumcision is painful!  My sons forskin is stretched out now so it can be pulled back and he has never had any pain.  I wouldn't worry about pain, just concentrate on keeping it clean and don't worry about what other people think.  The forskin is natural and think about it this way... they never used to did it and all of the sudden there was a bright idea to, but it is getting more common to not circumcise babies.  Why mess with nature when it's not necassary.

[cutiemama]

A lot of people think that circumcision is painful but in Judaism the rite of curcumcision dates back over 5000 years and even today, Jewish boys are circumcised WITHOUT anesthetic and they are perfectly fine within a few minutes. They are given a tiny drop of wine immediately following the ceremony and that's about all they need. Just a little FYI for all!

[AndiJ78]

Oh, don't worry about us, Annie : ) We get into this once a year over the same topic,lol. This is perhaps the one topic we disagree most on, despite being buddies and agreeing the other 99% of the time.

I am happy you feel like you are getting both sides, it is never about changing someones mind on a topic like this, simply about making sure both sides are heard equally.

Andi

[AnnieBrooke]

I wouldn't characterize it as an argument, just a clearly discussed and well-thought-out debate with both sides well presented.  (This is not like a "should someone give a newborn whole milk instead of formula" type of question -- it's one where reasonable minds can differ.)  I was really glad to learn new reasons and information I hadn't known yet and be able to check my own inclinations on the subject against the points you were both making.  I guess mostly what I am saying is that it helped me a lot to hear both of you.

[AndiJ78]

We will never agree on this, I have my views and supporting evidence, you have yours. An argument such as this is about as ridiculous as having a breast vs. bottle debate. I believe I have a strong amount of evidence on my side, as do you. We'll see what happens over the next 20 or 30 years with regards to the rates of penile cancer now that the circ rates are dropping and the rate of herpes transmissions are on the rise.

Andi

[Jenny77]

I have no inclination one way or the other really, but I do feel like a few things said on here about non-circumsicion is sensationalized a bit. 1.) I wouldn't say that "most" of the world doesn't circ boys, I would actually say that a majority of cultures around the world do indeed practice this and has been done for thousands of years. Ex: Judaism, Muslims, and not all but many Christians.Also,a majority of tribal groups in Africa still practice circumsicion and is a right of passage for men as adults (on their own desision).
2.)I am completely disturbed to hear someone compare male circumsision to female circumsion in developing countries. First of all circ a baby boy does not leave him unable to have an orgasm (the procedure is extrememly rare to leave a man unable to feel the penis or have any side effects at all, although it can happen every once in a while). There IS pain medication for boys, for these young women who are forced to be circ all of their outer genitals are cut off witout any medication and they are never to enjoy sex in their lives. Also, female circ is done to try to make sure young women never cheat on their husbands, very cruelly. There is a big difference.
As for the general debate over circumsicing baby boys. This is really not that big of a deal. All medical establishments say that there really is no right or wrong decision, the arguments are not great enough either way to cause the medical community to say which is better. So honestly, I think we should all be glad that we live in a free country where we have the right to make that decision ourselves and its not governed for us by the government.

[who_is_this]

It's a free country, except for the fact that the CHILD doesn't get a say in what is done to HIS genitals.  How is that freedom?  Freedom for whom?  If it is for a clearly defined, well proven reason that would be different.  But to perform surgery so the child can look like daddy or you don't have to take the time to show them how to clean themselves...that should be decided by the person whose genitals are being cut.

And there are many different degrees of female circumcisions.  The most common of which is to simply remove the labia minora.  The clitoris is not always removed, so orgasm is not affected.  Thank goodness this barbaric practice is almost gone, but there are still places where it is practiced.  

Pain medication is NOW used during circs (it wasn't until about 5 years ago).  Unfortunately, the injection deep into the base of the penis itself is very painful.  Infants now are given sucrose (sugar) on a pacifier to try to quiet them during the injection.

I'm absolutely sick of presenting rational reasons to leave a male child in his natural state.  Go do to your children what YOU want, despite the fact that it is NOT an emergency, not ESSENTIAL to their health, and most assuredly NOT done to them with their consent as an infant. It can always be done later.  Once done, it can't be undone.  So why not err on the side of waiting?

For those that say it is more painful later, I reject that.  An infant can't verbalize his discomfort the way an older child or adult can.  That doesn't mean they don't feel the discomfort.  It just means you can rationalize their crying to be "fussiness", "gas" or other innocuous reasons.  They certainly cant tell you that they just urinated on their raw cut penis head and it burns.  It hurts an infant just as much as an adult.  We can just pretend we don't see it with an infant.

Twist the facts any way you all want to.  Show me a recommendation from the AAP that all male infants be circumcised to prevent these complications you all seem convinced that will befall a child left in the natural state, and I'll go along with it.  No such recommendation exists.
The AAP actually has every reason to promote circing, as many pediatricians circ.  The fact they do NOT endorse routine infant circumcision speaks volumes.  

[AndiJ78]

Healthcare workers are also in the high risk category for Hep B. Are you aware that Hep B can live on a dry surface for a week or more if not cleaned properly? It is not just a sexually transmitted disease.

I had my children vaccinated on time, every time. Not only for the sake of my childrens health but for the sake of those children around us who are not healthy enough to get vaccinated. It is not only my child I am protecting, but apparently all of these parents who find any shred of rationlization in the thinking that their children are better off without the protection. You can thank my children and their vaccinations along with all the other parents who vaccinate for your child never coming down with something as horrific as measles, rubella, or polio should your child be so lucky as to avoid it.

Do you realize the US had successfully erradicated many of these illnesses before a select group of parents decided to not vaccinate? Are you aware now that with each passing year the number of fatalities from these once erradicated illnesses are on the rise thanks to parents who are "sparing" their children from the unproven risk of autism? Research that while your at it.

Andi

[OKmom]

I have a 15 year old son and now am pregnant with what I think will be yet another boy.  When I had my son I did extensive research on circumcision.  Part of the reason that I had him circumcised was for religious reasons, no I am not Jewish, but the other reasons I had him circumcised is my uncle that had terrible probelms with infections and then was circumcised at the age of 13. It was a terrible experience for him. What my son had was called a partial circumcision which means that they cut the forskin off of the tip of the penis, yet there is a small flap of skin that is left.  When changing a diaper on a child the has not been circumcised or has had a partial circumcision, it is imparitive that the forskin be pulled back so that the area can be cleaned properly.  This may seem uncomfortable for the baby at first, but eventually the skin should stretch some and it should not be such a problem.  If it continues to hurt the baby after what seem to you like an adequate amount of time then take him to a differnet doctor and get another opinion.  Good Luck. Remember, always listen to your gut, God gave women intuition for a reason.
OKmom

[who_is_this]

Never retract the foreskin on an infant, or any child.  It separates natural generally by age 3-5.  Forcible retraction by well meaning people can cause problems.

The original poster needs to see a pediatric urologist for furthur instruction/advice.

[AndiJ78]

Wow, simmer down Chica!! I don't understand why you are so worked up over this, do you really think it is hcanging anyone's mind here or there? is that your goal? if so, I fear you may be beating a dead horse. Seems as though many people have their mind made up. I do believe however, that you are working awfully hard at making people who have made the decision to do it feel like they have somehow commited abuse on their child and I resent that notion.

I have yet to meet a man who was circ'd who wished he wasn't. In fact, I have yet to hear them admonish their parents for making that decision for them. I have, however met uncirc'd men who wished they were circ'd, but that fact that they are older, sexually active, and will remember for the rest of their lives the surgery, are hesistant to do so.

There are a group of parent who don't believe in vaccination, does that mean that those of us who choose to vaccinate are cruel for not giving our child the choice? I mean c'mon, there is an entire segment of the population who sees it as unnecesary, much like you see circumcision.

The pediatricians for both my boy's, who are members of the AAP, both recommended circumcision and NEITHER of them performed it. Seems like their decision wasn't based on them getting their pockets lined.

Anyway, I hope there aren't any hard feelings, but knowing you better than most on here, I know you understand me and where I am coming from. You know this isn't an attack on you, but rather and defense of my position, the position of a few of us on here. You know I am an educated woman who devotes alot of my time researching things. It is hardly a decision I went into lightly and to imply otherwise would be silly.

Andi

[OKmom]

Who_is_this-
Are you some sort of medical expert on Circumsion and where exactly is it that you got your Credentials? You seem very angry about the whole issue.  I raised a boy that I am happy to say has no penis problems and I pulled back his forskin and cleaned out the junk that had formed around it until he was out of diapers and then taught him how to take care of it in the bathtub when he was older.  My nephew never got his cleaned and had infections twice. So you have your opinion and that is great-I responded to the original posting and was trying to stay out of whatever argument you are having with the other poster.

[monkeyflower]

I am 100% with who is this - there is absolutely no medical reason to circumcise boys. And you can't liken circumcision to vaccination; there's no question that vaccination has saved many, MANY lives, whereas circumcision never saved anyone.

Moreover, I firmly believe our kids deserve to choose what happens to their own bodies. Both ear piercing and circumcision are essentially cosmetic procedures, so that's probably a better analogy than vaccination. Would you pierce your child's ears before s/he wanted you to? I think this issue can be another example of how many people treat their children as extensions of themselves, rather than individuals in their own right.

"I have yet to meet a man who was circ'd who wished he wasn't." There is an ENORMOUS group of people who do wish they hadn't been circumcised. They devote an enormous amount of time to regrowing their foreskins. There are tons of websites, workshops and support groups devoted to this very issue.

[AndiJ78]

And I am certain there are an "enormous" group of men who seek the assistance of a urologist as adults to be circumcised. As a parent, I make a lot of decisions for my children and circumcision happened to be one of them. I made the decision to nurse my kids, yet many parents make the decision not to despite the health benefits. I make the decision to start my children on solids at 6 months, many parents opt to do so much earlier, despite the proven health risks. I make the decision to not allow my children to play in the street, many parents don't. I make the decision to put my children in carseats, yet many parents don't. As a parent that is my RIGHT. My children are MY responsibility. My husband's parents made the decision to have him circ'd and I have yet to see him admonish them for making that decision.

I see the health benefits in it, so you don't, big deal. Am I asking you to have your child circ'd? No, so don't demean me for making the decision for my kids.

[OKmom]

To compare vaccines and circumcisions is silly.  I hate vaccines and have considered home schooling because I think that they are unsafe.  I have terrible reactions to vaccines, they make me physically ill.  I am sure that many well meaning parents don't have their child circumcised because they believe that it is wrong and then expose them to vaccines.  Do some research on chickenpox exposure to close to your child

[greenpixie]

DH & I are currently having the vaccine discussion.  We are probably going to go the selective and delayed route.  What most puzzles me is the HepB Vax.  Aren't prostitutes and IV drug users at the highest risk for contracting HepB?  How does a newborn fall into that category?  Where I am, they want to give the first shot before the baby even leaves the hospital.  I think we are not going to do it.  Besides, I'm immune to HepB.  I had the round of shots a few years back when I was working with people with HIV & AIDS.  Anyway, just wanted you to know you're not alone on this issue!

[monkeyflower]

Do you realize how serious hepatitis can be? And HBV isn't only a STD. But even so, your newborn isn't always going to be a tiny baby. Someday s/he will grow up, have sex, be exposed to all kinds of things.

And as for the other vaccines, do you have any idea how many more people got seriously ill/died before vaccines were available? You can't possibly compare the miniscule risks of the vaccines themselves to the much larger risks of actually contracting the illness, and actually think that vaccines are riskier.

That said, I'm outta this discussion ;-)

[nel06]

Regardless of what the circumstances are of cirsumcision, I hardly think that it's fair to say that the baby doesn't feel pain while and after having this done!  I have plenty of friends that had their babies done and it was very painfull for the baby.  Some babies heal fast and some slower.  But think about it, you are cutting a piece of skin off of a baby, that hurts!  And when a baby is born they have a very strong sense of feel.  If a baby cries when they have to have their heal pricked for a blood test think how it must feel to have a piece of his penis cut off.  Also I started pulling my sons forskin back after he was a few months old, and without hurting him I just slowly pstretched it a little farther over time, without forcing it, and it stretched out.  Some people say to wait until they are 3-5 years old, but I couldn't see why you would wait that long, all it is is stretching the forskin.  You just have to make sure to not force it or do it too fast and the baby will be fine.  This seems to be a pretty heated conversation, and I have my views as so do the rest of you.  I can't even remember the name of the person that started this conversation but to you I hope that your baby is fine and his little penis doesn't have any problems.

[Jenny77]

I just went back and read over my post again and to be honest, I do not think that I wrote anything that could be taken as trash talk or trying to force everyone to do what I think they should do. I can respect your opinion that you do not think its ok to circumsise a baby, but for you to come back at me and blast me when I didn't even say anything about you or even about what other people should do, is beyond me. It always makes me wonder about people who can't talk about their beliefs without getting mad right away at others who disagree and trash talk others. I was taught to treat others with respect whether they believe the same way as I do or not. Honestly, it really doesn't bother me one way or the other if you circumsise your chid or if you breast feed or what not. When I start being a concerned citizen is when people start beating their kids and neglecting them, those are the big issues for me. I have had so many friends and also some family members who have been molested or abused that it makes me sick, so I guess I really can say honestly that things like circumsision (where the risk of dying or being traumatized for life are, lets face it, are so completely small or non-existent)are small things in the grand scheme of things.

[OKmom]

I have done quite a lot of research, I was a phlebotomist and my best friend is a pediatrician, so I am not uninformed about this issue.  Hep B is a BLOOD BORN PATHOGEN and the transmission of the disease is quite similar to HIV/AIDS, so I do wonder why a newborn that is still in the hospital would need to be immunized for HEP B.  I realize that there have been many advances in the eradication of many diseases, however I wonder if there isn

[greenpixie]

Thanks, Okmom.  There is so much info on vaccines that it is sometimes overwhelming.  I think most people recognize how they have helped, but for some reason we aren't nearly as willing to look at the risks.  

I think it's interesting that mumps seems to be on the rise again even though the people contracting it were innoculated.  I'm in Boston, and just last week there were 4 cases of measles reported.  Also, from what I understand, the only cases of Polio in the U.S. since the 70s happened to people who had recently received the vaccine.  And yes, the mercury issue is a big one too.  I realize mercury is no longer in vaccines but there were no mandates for vaccines that were already produced with mercury.  Most DRs still give those if that is what they have.

I would certainly not tell anyone on here that they should or should not vaccinate their children.  I just don't think it's a decision that should be made lightly.  Everyone here makes acts on what they believe is the best choice for their children and no one should be made to feel bad about that.

[anonymous124]

I have boys and if I had it to do over again I would have never had them circumcised.  One of my sons ended up with a partial that requires more care than non-circ or full-circ.  The reason he ended up this way is because 2 days prior the doc cut too much off another infant who had to go through a reconstructive surgery (My situation could have been worse, huh?) I don't feel i made an informed decision....just did it because it's what my husband and father had.  do your research before making the choice Make sure you know ALL of the risks involved. And know the baby does feel it....every time I had to RIP his foreskin back (it tries to heal itself) to keep it clean he felt it.  I get sick to my stomach when I realize it could have easily been avoided with a more informed decision!

[tylermia]

I have another issue to address. When my son was born, the opening of the penis was very small so when he urinated, some urine would be retained and that because of that, it turned into a UTI. I took him in and the doctor recommended circumcision so I did it to prevent him from having anymore infections. A few weeks after the procedure I noticed that it looked as though they reattached the remaining foreskin onto the glands (head) and it did not look normal.  I asked the doctor repeatedly if it was normal and he said it was and instructed me to pull the foreskin  back whenever I changed his diaper.  I did this but nothing happened. My son is now 2 years old and whenever he has an erection, the penis just does not look normal. There is no ring around the glan. I don't know what else to do. Do I have to put my son through another procedure to correct it?????