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 4.53 (Highly recommend) from 21 votes (1227 Visits) |
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Information on circumcision |
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by OzBinky  (December 2006) (rank 13th) |
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Last year my youngest son, who was 11 at the time, needed to be circumcised. The foreskin had closed over nearly completely over, leaving a gap the size of a pin head to try and urinate through. Because it had closed over it made hygiene an issue, as he was unable  to clean himself and when he when to the toilet it would blow up like a balloon. Needless to say this problem produced a breeding ground for bacteria and infection was inevitable.I took him to a specialist who booked him in for an emergency circumcision. I should say that Mic did have a choice though. He could have opted for the area to be re-open over the circumcision. Obviously his choice was the latter as he did not want to go through this again and the chances were high that it would. Issues with scar tissue also could have seen him in later years with added problems.
Circumcision has been a topic of debate for some time now and despite both arguments raising valid points, it remains to be a controversial topic. I am not posting this article to incite debates but rather to provide information on the subject. Circumcisions occur despite who agrees or disagrees with it and I am writing this not about the choice to have this procedure but rather steps to avoid needing to have one and what happens if it has or is going to be carried out . This is not about if you should do it or not.
Prevention they say is better than the cure.....
Caring for an uncircumcised penis
The 'Caring For Kids' website explains that when the foreskin begins to separate, skin cells will are shed and work their way down the penis via the foreskin and can look like white, cheesy lumps which is known as 'smegma'. If you see them under the skin, you don’t need to force them out. Just wipe them away once they come out.
Besides that there really isn't any special way to clean an uncircumcised penis, however, when washing never try pull or force the foreskin back. Just gently wash the area during baby's bath. The foreskin isn't normally able to be retracted until around the age of 3 - 6 and occasionally not until after the child reaches puberty.
- When the foreskin is able to be pulled back teach and your child is old enough explain how to clean it and why it is so important.
- When your child is old enough to clean it himself make sure it is explained how important it is to keep it clean.
Caring for the circumcised penis
- The healing process takes normally around 7 to 10 days. It may appear red and have some yellowish discharge. This will decrease as it heals. Talk to your baby’s doctor about what to expect.
- Keep the area as clean as you can.
- Wash the area with a mild soap and water,
Contact your GP if you notice:
- Excess blood at any time
- If the redness and swelling has not subsided within 48 hours
- Fever
- of if baby becomes unwell
If you want your baby circumcised
Regardless if you have decided that it is something you want done, do not ignore the risks and make sure you have spoken to your GP about the them. There are complications in all surgeries and you should be aware of what they are.
Risks and benefits of circumcision
Serious complications are rare, however, they do occur. The most common one is the removal of too much foreskin. The 'Caring For Kids' provides the following information
Of every 1,000 boys who are circumcised:
- 20 to 30 will have a surgical complication, such as too much bleeding or infection in the area.
- 2 to 3 will have a more serious complication that needs more treatment. Examples include having too much skin removed or more serious bleeding.
- 2 will be admitted to hospital for a urinary tract infection (UTI) before they are one year old.
- About 10 babies may need to have the circumcision done again because of a poor result.
In rare cases, pain relief methods and medicines can cause side effects and complications. You should talk to your baby’s doctor about the possible risks.
Of every 1,000 boys who are not circumcised:
- 7 will be admitted to hospital for a UTI before they are one year old.
- 10 will have a circumcision later in life for medical reasons, such as a condition called phimosis. Phimosis is when the opening of the foreskin is scarred and narrow because of infections in the area that keep coming back. Older children who are circumcised may need a general aesthetic, and may have more complications than newborns.
- There is more than one way to do a circumcision. Studies show that the amount of pain depends on what method is used. The Mogen clamp seems to cause less pain than the Plastibell or Gomco technique.
- Your baby will need a local aesthetic (dorsal penile nerve block or subpubic block technique), given by a needle in the area where the circumcision is done.
- Anaesthetics do carry risks, and the needle can cause bruising or swelling.
- Sucking on a pacifier or gauze soaked with a sugar solution may help relieve the pain.
When I had my eldest son circumcised I looked into this thoroughly. I had it done a few days after he was born and I did not take my decision lightly. I have doubted my decision at times throughout my in life and only because I can see both sides of the argument. (I'm fine with it now though) No matter what you decide there is no doubt that it will be in the best interest of your child and being so, do not allow anyone to bully you into changing your mind. For or against this procedure, it is a choice that should be respected. |
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Almost NO medical reasons
Like I said at the start of this. The point of posting this was not to begin a debate as to whether or not this was 'right thing to do' and we all are entitled to our opinion. Fact is, it happens....doesn't matter who agrees or not. At the start of Mic having this problem I didn't go out and automatically insist he have his foreskin removed, I didn't just take the word of one doctor, with or without foreskin, I looked into it. I even spoke to my adult nephew who had to have one done, as an adult. He would argue the fact of infection though. As he delayed having a circ done for 4 years. This resulted in scar tissue that made his intimate life a living a hell. He had to have one done. Mic decided to have it as he could not take the thought of having his penis blow up like a water balloon and manipulate the urine from under the foreskin. He could not take the thought of always suffering infection, which he had, hence the reason I said inevitable. The doctors we spoke to all told us that he would be better off having the circ done.
NO stretching could have fixed what mic had. His opening had sealed closed and this is more common than people realize. When he went to the toilet it would not come out but rather fill the foreskin of waste.....when he was circ'd he had to use a cream for 6 weeks after as the infection was there, it was bad and it was due to not being able to clean it. On leaving the hospital we were given a sheet of information which basically said what I had on cleaning. I was given many info sheets about the whole ordeal....again, I only stated what information is available for those who need or are having it done.
Although a large percentage of people do not need one done due to medical reasons, it is a fact of life that it happens. Just as it is a fact that they get done as a precaution. I didn't want this to get into the rights and wrongs as that ends up with parents who have had their children done been made to feel like they are horrible people who have abused their children and they are far from that. Parents do not take this lightly, they do not just rush out and do it. I know when I had my eldest son done I didn't.
My late husband wasn't done yet he had an issue where he needed to be and if he had have survived his illness he would have done it too, his choice I guess this one also boils down to each man/boy have their issues and each to their own choice of what to do...
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Second opinions are worthwhile.
Like I said, I didn't just go to one doctor, there were several at different stages of Mic's life. When mic was your sons age he was told then, but because of the way people are, because of the way I was made to fee about circ's we waited as there was that chance it would have fixed it self, but it did not and it got worst and at 12 he had to have it done.
Ok, we could have opened it up, but then you have scar tissue and scar tissue does not stretch, so when reaching an age of intimacy, he would could have ended up with bigger issues again. Had I listened to the first doctor, the second doctor, the third doctor and so on...Mic would have been circ'd sooner and would not have had to go through it at the age he was. Something Mic himself wished we had have done.....
This is more common than what people think and if I could find the paper which was given to me from the Childrens Hospital, I would be able to provide numbers.....but again this is not what this is about.
What gets me so annoyed though is when someone tries to offer advice on something controversial that may benefit another parent, regardless of what anyone thinks, someone has to argue it as if these parents have not considered all the facts, all the options, I'm cutting and pasting what I originally wrote now, I stated to begin with that:
'I am not posting this article to incite debates but rather to provide information on the subject. Circumcisions occur despite who agrees or disagrees with it and I am writing this not about the choice to have this procedure but rather steps to avoid needing to have one and what happens if it has or is going to be carried out.'
Yet regardless of me saying this I feel as thought I and others are being questioned about an issue that we feel has to be done for one reason or another. That is why I wrote that at the start, to try and prevent people from posting negative comments that make others feel bad or to prevent someone slipping in their 'say no to circ's' voice. It was information in case of needing or getting it done......I didn't write it stating that it should be....
Most parents don't have this done for fun, for a spur of the moment decision. It is not taken lightly and I can assure people that we do think about all the risks, about all the pro's and con's of having it done.
I can't stress enough about why I offered this information to those in this situation. I gave it because I have gone through it with my son, because others go through it and I tried to do in a way that would avoid having anyone go on about stat's and other countries and why you shouldn't, and if someone agrees or not. It was not about that....
Infection can occur in some uncirc'd kids - FACT
Circ's are a viable option in some cases - FACT
Cleaning is important to avoid such infections - FACT
Parents have the right to this information without being made to feel wrong - FACT
This was what my post was about. Not opinions, not for mention of why those are against it, not to question the motive of parents and doctors. But to give good advice for the 'what if case'. Arguing against it, voicing opinions against it would be better off left for a post stating that you should have it done, for a question asking should I have it done, not for when someone is giving information for cases of needing to have their child circ'd.
and the only reason I say this is because I can tell you from personal experience that this only makes those of us who have had it done to our children feel horrible for something that we have investigated, considered and gone to great lengths to ensure it is the right thing to do. Doctors these days do not circ children lightly and either do the parents.
Those who have done it, are going to do it and are considering it respect and understand those against it, that same respect should be offered back....
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