Circumcision - Not Enough Cut?!

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Troll.

Someone who wakes up a thread that has been dormant for four months only to twice call someone a troll is obviously a troll themselves.

Unless you have something more to add to the conversation than name-calling, I would ask that you reconsider your participation here.

I was doing some research into the subject of circumcision and read a lot of threads in a row. I responded to this one b/c it rang a bell with me. What the poster said didn't ring true (to me) and I felt it was fear-mongering on an issue i have an opinion about. I didn't check the date - I was looking at a bunch of threads - some of which were more recent. The fact that what I believe to be the same poster immediately responded in the same vein is the ONLY reason I answered. I'll check dates more carefully next time I do a search. I'm new here - are old threads not to be responded to or re-opened?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
I was doing some research into the subject of circumcision and read a lot of threads in a row. I responded to this one b/c it rang a bell with me. What the poster said didn't ring true (to me) and I felt it was fear-mongering on an issue i have an opinion about. I didn't check the date - I was looking at a bunch of threads - some of which were more recent. The fact that what I believe to be the same poster immediately responded in the same vein is the ONLY reason I answered. I'll check dates more carefully next time I do a search. I'm new here - are old threads not to be responded to or re-opened?

I'm not sure that it is ever appropriate to respond to not just one, but two posts with nothing other than name-calling. If you dispute the post, dispute the post. Don't just label someone a troll.

For what its worth, as a circumcised male, I clearly remember the one or two non-circumcised males in my middle and high schools being the targets of a certain amount of derision. I don't think it was enough to scar them for life, or if it was even to their faces (as opposed to behind their backs). But, I would not be quick to right off the account that bothered you.

Of course, as others have pointed out, circumcision is not as common these days and non-circumcised males are not as likely to stand out.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I was doing some research into the subject of circumcision and read a lot of threads in a row. I responded to this one b/c it rang a bell with me. What the poster said didn't ring true (to me) and I felt it was fear-mongering on an issue i have an opinion about. I didn't check the date - I was looking at a bunch of threads - some of which were more recent. The fact that what I believe to be the same poster immediately responded in the same vein is the ONLY reason I answered. I'll check dates more carefully next time I do a search. I'm new here - are old threads not to be responded to or re-opened?

I'm not sure that it is ever appropriate to respond to not just one, but two posts with nothing other than name-calling. If you dispute the post, dispute the post. Don't just label someone a troll.

For what its worth, as a circumcised male, I clearly remember the one or two non-circumcised males in my middle and high schools being the targets of a certain amount of derision. I don't think it was enough to scar them for life, or if it was even to their faces (as opposed to behind their backs). But, I would not be quick to right off the account that bothered you.

Of course, as others have pointed out, circumcision is not as common these days and non-circumcised males are not as likely to stand out.

Oh, gosh, Jeff. Thanks for, uhh, sharing. But seriously, great response. In my humble opinion, you've been a bit off your game lately in some of your responses and reactions, but this shows that you're back in form.

PP, I thought your last response made more sense, though I disagree with your assessment, and presumably you're views on circumcision. I'm in OP's boat and would love to hear from other parents.

[Anonymous]

I too am in OP's boat and am frustrated with the "lots of boys aren't circumcised today" response. I understand that there are lots of uncircumcised males and don't think that being uncircumcised would warrant any teasing. The problem is that a lot of our sons are half circumcised, and I think they will stand out as being somewhat unusual if their circumcisions are not corrected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I too am in OP's boat and am frustrated with the "lots of boys aren't circumcised today" response. I understand that there are lots of uncircumcised males and don't think that being uncircumcised would warrant any teasing. The problem is that a lot of our sons are half circumcised, and I think they will stand out as being somewhat unusual if their circumcisions are not corrected.

Having worked in a pre-school and been in a coop playgroup, as well as having friend w/ lots of boys (3 friends w/ 4, 4, and 5 boys each - no kidding) I have actually seen quite a few little boy penises while changing diapers in the past few years. There are MANY boys with extra skin. It is the new look of a circumcised penis. There are many with just a lot of loose skin w/ the head all or mostly showing but I would say 1/3 of the ones I have seen (including my nephew) it's almost hard to tell at first if they are circumcised or not. I really wouldn't worry about it. If your kid's nose is big or if their ears stick out too much, will you get cosmetic surgery to try to avoid possible teasing? Kids will get teased - what about, who knows, but it's inevitable. It isn't worth actual surgery to try to eliminate it. Boys with penises that are the absolute norm WILL BE TEASED ABOUT SOMETHING. If a kid will tease about someone's penis - that will happen no matter what: it's too small, it's too big, it curves left, it's too reddish, too purple... There is no way to tease proof your kid from kids that want to tease.

[Anonymous]

PP poster here - BTW my boys are not circumcised. We told them that mom and dad thought that since their bodies were made that way and we couldn't find a good enough reason for us to change that through surgery, we left it alone. We explained that some boys are and some aren't and some kids will tease and some will not but that we chose not to cut that skin off and if they want to change that some day they can. The response has been a horrified NO WAY!!! Not judging - just relating our family's experience and how we dealt with the issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi, my DH is a pediatric surgeon and does circs himself. My son's circ was done by an OB before discharge. the head shows, but the skin left is more than it should be. So, according to my DH all circs should be done by a surgeon!!!!
Regardless, I didn't think it was a bid deal, like a PP said, it's better to have extra skin then not at all. I think for us, since we do circs for religious reasons, if there was too much skin left we would've gone for a surgeon! many times circs are not perfect, it's really upto you to see if re doing it is absolutely necessary or not.

Just a question, did your DH tell you that kids tease each other about imperfect circs? the thought didn't cross my mind, but if it does truly happen, I'd like to know! Thanx

why not ask your husband?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Troll.

Someone who wakes up a thread that has been dormant for four months only to twice call someone a troll is obviously a troll themselves.

Unless you have something more to add to the conversation than name-calling, I would ask that you reconsider your participation here.

I was doing some research into the subject of circumcision and read a lot of threads in a row. I responded to this one b/c it rang a bell with me. What the poster said didn't ring true (to me) and I felt it was fear-mongering on an issue i have an opinion about. I didn't check the date - I was looking at a bunch of threads - some of which were more recent. The fact that what I believe to be the same poster immediately responded in the same vein is the ONLY reason I answered. I'll check dates more carefully next time I do a search. I'm new here - are old threads not to be responded to or re-opened?

Excuse me, but you are WRONG. I'm the second poster that you called a troll, and I'm a woman. NOT the locker room guy. So you were dead wrong, and beyond rude, IMO.

Why on earth would you think that the only person who could disagree with you would be the original poster? I'm a woman and my husband comes from a family with three sons. I posted based on my experience and my opinion. If you want to participate, I suggest you do the same.

Since you are new here, let me explain: the point of this site is to share knowledge and adult discussion about parenting. Just showing up anonymously and throwing names around does NOTHING to explain your point of view on this topic. This isn't Perez Hilton, and if it becomes a site like that it loses all efficacy and purpose. Sharing your valid opinion can contribute to the discussion, name calling doesn't.

Since this is a website dedicated to PARENTING, I would hope we could act a little like adults.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS is now 6. He is circumcised. But there is skin that still hangs over his penis head. Picture a pig in a blanket, with the pig barely visible, sometimes not at all visible.

We have been told that he will "grow out of it" (literally). But my DH is not convinced. And truthfully, that's what the pediatrician told us when we first broached the subject when DS was 1, estimating that by 2 or 3, it would look like everyone else's. That hasn't happened. Still have the same barely visible pig in the blanket.

It doesn't bother me one bit. But my husband is not happy, concerned about teasing that will take place in the locker rooms. And I certainly don't want DS to one day hold this against me for not fully addressing it earlier.

Please, I don't mean to instigate a protracted debate about those for circumcision or against. I just would like to hear from any parents who have had a similar experience and: 1) whether DS actually grew out of it (i.e., penis head showing much more); 2) whether you considered or actually recircumcised.

Oh gosh, I hope that I'm not going to offend anyone or cause any internet alarms to go of. But this really is something that has been weighing heavily with DH for many years, and I'm feeling increasingly worried about this.

Bump.

[Anonymous]

My 11 month old had the same issue, I took him to a specialist who thought we wasnt even circumcised which made me extremely angry. He did give me a steriod cream to put on him for a few weeks and said to pull down the skin at every diaper change. After a month the skin went completely down and the doctor said it looks fine now
Good luck

[Anonymous]

My 11 month old had the same issue, I took him to a specialist who thought we wasnt even circumcised which made me extremely angry. He did give me a steriod cream to put on him for a few weeks and said to pull down the skin at every diaper change. After a month the skin went completely down and the doctor said it looks fine now
Good luck

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi, my DH is a pediatric surgeon and does circs himself. My son's circ was done by an OB before discharge. the head shows, but the skin left is more than it should be. So, according to my DH all circs should be done by a surgeon!!!!
Regardless, I didn't think it was a bid deal, like a PP said, it's better to have extra skin then not at all. I think for us, since we do circs for religious reasons, if there was too much skin left we would've gone for a surgeon! many times circs are not perfect, it's really upto you to see if re doing it is absolutely necessary or not.

Just a question, did your DH tell you that kids tease each other about imperfect circs? the thought didn't cross my mind, but if it does truly happen, I'd like to know! Thanx

This is so timely. My first son's circ. was done by my OB prior to discharge and we think he left too much skin. I am due again in a few weeks with a boy and was just starting to look into other options.

So, we should seek out a pediatric surgeon? How does that work? Do we need a referral? What does your DH say if the preferrable time to do it? I assume a surgeon wouldn't come to the hospital (we are delivering at Sibley).

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

My son also had excess foreskin after being "circumcised" by my OB. We had Dr. Gearhardt from Hopkins do the recirc when he was 14 months old. It went very well and I highly recommend him. I asked Dr. Gearhardt about his feeling re: infant circ and he advised that if it were his son he would wait for the circ until they were at least 11 months and have it done by an actual pediatric surgeon. He apparently sees this issue ALL THE TIME and I am very leery about having another OB do the circ if/when I have another son.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, we were unhappy about our son's circumcision and consulted with Dr. Gearhart, a pediatric urologist at John Hopkins, who ultimately did a circumcision revision. Said he did them all the time. If you want a consult with someone, I highly recommend him.

Thank you for this information. I am not the original poster, but stumbled upon this thread and its been bugging my husband from the beginning and our *skinny* son is turning 4 soon
We have been to the urologists at Children's twice and they said his "fat" would reduce and it would become normal......but my child is super skinny....like 2nd percentile skinny.

If anybody else had to go through a revision could you please let us know and at what age and the pain the child suffers through? Also if you could mention the urologist it would be extremely
helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My wife told me about this forum and this subject and I feel compelled to chime in. I know it may be hard to understand, and I mean no offense, but unless you are a male, with a penis, who has been in the locker room setting, you simply cannot appreciate this. All boys in the locker room can be cruel even if otherwise good boys. All boys will pounce on differences.

I am not circumcised. I was (am) popular and was a good athlete. But I was teased without mercy in the locker room and ultimately outside of the locker room. I was given the unfortunate nickname "Anteater," which I always shrugged off with a grin and a chuckle. But this experience haunted me for so long. Once I graduated from high school, I went to college as far away from home as I could get. To this day I have not returned to my hometown. To this day I no longer undress in a locker room.

I'm sorry, but this conversation is for people who are dealing with this problem. We are not asking for the opinion of people who are not circ-ed. It's honestly really annoying when
people add in their $0.02 and its not helpful.

I am concerned about the general anesthesia. I heard that it is not a good thing for young children to go through. Could a doctor enlighten us?