Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have any experience dealing with a son with a tight foreskin? I took DS to the pediatrician for his twelve year old check-up yesterday and during the genital exam, she was unable to easily pull his foreskin back. She said that it's not adhered anymore like a younger kid, but that the opening is just very tight (it's called phimosis). He was able to retract it fully when he was younger so she said this is most likey a result of him not doing a good job with hygiene. She believes that circumcision is justified at this point but she told us that we could also try a special cream or just hope that it loosens up on its own once he starts puberty. Anyone have any advice? If your son is uncircumcised, how old was he when he was first able to pull it back all the way?
I have two sons who aren’t circumcised and a doctor has never tried to retract their foreskin. Ever.
If your son is bothered, you can make an appointment with a pediatric urologist. My oldest son had a tight adherence at age 8. We went for a visit and the urologist did a 15 minute procedure to release the tissue. He healed within a day or two and didn’t need a full circumcision although we did give him the option (when he found out what it was, he said no.)