forced circumcision?

vanceke08 · August 2013

We chose not to circumsize our son. he is now 18 months old, and last week he got a foreskin infection. they gave him antibiotics and now we are battling yeast. they want him to see a urologist next week, but the pedi said "if this keeps happening, we will probably have to circumcise him." I am sorry, but I don't think that's the answer. she brought it up again today (the pedi is a family friend who we see often outside of the dr's office). When he gets an ear infection, we don't cut his ear off; I don't think cutting is the answer. does anyone have any links, or articles, or info that I can research? I am going to exhaustively research it on my own this weekend, but I figured I would run it past you all too and see if any of you happen to have insightful articles

thanks in advance.

vanceke08 · August 2013

I just want to make sure that she is recommending it because it is the best for him and not for any other reason. she has kinda been harping on me to have it done since birth, stating the usual facts of cleanliness. I will do it if that is what's best, but it would be a last resort; I don't want it to be recommended just because it seems "easier" or what "should have" been done in the first place in her eyes, does that make sense?

violajack · August 2013

Instead of thinking of it like cutting his ear off because of ear infections, think of it as taking out an infected appendix or taking out tonsils that keep getting infected. The foreskin has more use than an appendix, but many people live just fine without it. Wait and see what the urologist says and try not to worry too much. Decisions like these are so hard, just weight the pros and cons of your current situation.

blush64 · August 2013

I would wait and see and possibly see someone else for an opinion. If she is bringing it up after only one infection it seems kind of early. I couldn't fully trust her opinion if she had been pushing it the whole time. He might never have another infection or he might. It just seems premature. Kids don't get tubes in their ears after one infection just because they might end up with another ear infection. They wait and see if it's really necessary.

I wouldn't rush to have it done. Ask a doctor who isn't so clearly pro-circ.

ObLaDi · August 2013

blush64 said:

I wouldn't rush to have it done. Ask a doctor who isn't so clearly pro-circ.

This. Honestly, if pedi has been pushing to circ even before there was an issue, I'd be pretty dismissive of her opinions on it now. I'd talk to the urologist and take it from there. But I can't imagine that one infection is a true indication for surgery.

st.augbride · August 2013

If it's a constant source of infection, I guess I don't see why you wouldn't want to. Do your research to feel comfortable, but if it's a chronic problem, then that's more pain for ds than the circ would be. FWIW, ds was born with hypospadias and needed two operations to correct it (very necessary). He did great both times and was back to playing in the same day, and these were 2 hour operations that looked terrible after and took 2 weeks to heal. LOs are quire resilient. Just do what's best for his health.

nosoup4u · August 2013

blush64 said:

I would wait and see and possibly see someone else for an opinion. If she is bringing it up after only one infection it seems kind of early. I couldn't fully trust her opinion if she had been pushing it the whole time. He might never have another infection or he might. It just seems premature. Kids don't get tubes in their ears after one infection just because they might end up with another ear infection. They wait and see if it's really necessary. I wouldn't rush to have it done. Ask a doctor who isn't so clearly pro-circ.

Yes, all this. Get a few more opinions about what other doctors have to say.

love4b · August 2013

I don't have any experience with this since I have a daughter, but she has had a few yeast related diaper rashes and coconut oil worked really well to clear them up. Here's a link to a study on it's anti-fungal properties: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17651080 Good luck!

blush64 · August 2013

st.augbride said:
If it's a constant source of infection, I guess I don't see why you wouldn't want to. Do your research to feel comfortable, but if it's a chronic problem, then that's more pain for ds than the circ would be. FWIW, ds was born with hypospadias and needed two operations to correct it (very necessary). He did great both times and was back to playing in the same day, and these were 2 hour operations that looked terrible after and took 2 weeks to heal. LOs are quire resilient. Just do what's best for his health.

Reading the OP it hasn't been a chronic problem. He had one infection and after a course of antibiotics he has a yeast problem. That's not chronic.

tokenhoser · August 2013

I'd look for a European-trained doctor, if possible. Someone that has actually dealt with intact penises routinely and doesn't think foreskin is a strange thing to see. A second or third opinion is totally valid before you cut off a body part.

PrincessPeach13 · August 2013

I would refuse. No way would I accept that answer. I"d find a doc who was willing to do anything else to heal my son.

JoyfulW&M · August 2013

Look for a intact friendly doctor and see them for a second opinion. I would disregard a doc who is pro-circ on this issue. I'd have it dealt with by a doctor who feels strongly about boys staying intact.

handsonthewheel · August 2013

tokenhoser said:

I'd look for a European-trained doctor, if possible. Someone that has actually dealt with intact penises routinely and doesn't think foreskin is a strange thing to see. A second or third opinion is totally valid before you cut off a body part.

This. I live in Europe and no doctor would suggest circ. in your son's case.

drcolleen · August 2013

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1124734-overview

even mainstream online medical resources do not emphasize a need for circumcision. One infection isn't recurrent by any means so I wouldn't even have sent your son to a urologist, however in your case it may be good, you can get the opinion of the urologist who will likely not push for circumcision and back you to your friend/pedi when you tell him you are not looking to circ your son.

musicalmama5 · August 2013

Second opinion for sure. But be open to whatever seems like the right choice (which might be circ). LO's health comes first.

Pickle9909 · August 2013

I'd look for a European-trained doctor, if possible. Someone that has actually dealt with intact penises routinely and doesn't think foreskin is a strange thing to see. A second or third opinion is totally valid before you cut off a body part.

This exactly. One infection and a case of yeast after antibiotics seems like a ridiculous reason to cut.

kanga1622Wed220857 · August 2013

I'd listen to the opinion of the urologist more heavily than the ped. DS1 was circed and for some reason started having irritation issues and bleeding when peeing around 2.5. The urologist was quite clear about not doing any surgery unless he absolutely had to. He didn't even want to do any scarring or wound checks inside DS's opening unless he healed badly and needed surgery.

The ped urologist was very hands off and didn't want to irritate anything by introducing more trauma to an already irritated area.

kcisthebombdotcom · August 2013

I think you're planning to fight a battle you're likely not going to have to fight. Your pedi said IF he has recurrent infections. She's right--if your child had chronic issues circumcision would be the best choice like how a child should have tonsils out if they're chronically infected. She's not saying you have to circumcise tomorrow. She's saying that it may happen in the future if your child has continuous problems. I would not sweat it at all.

jb2rn · August 2013

wait, all of this for ONE infection? I am not understanding that.

I would not even discuss surgery until it truly was a chronic issue.

vanceke08 · August 2013

we go in to see the urologist tomorrow. I am nervous!

neverblushed · August 2013

I am not reading replies because I'm sure they're feisty. I don't really have a dog in the "to circ or not" debate.

I just wanted to share that my godson was adopted from a country where circumcision is not routine. His parents were not planning on circumcising him at all. At about 18 months he started to develop infections -- pretty much like you're describing -- and his mom, dad, and pediatrician all decided the best thing would be for him to be circumcised. It is a more complicated procedure in a toddler than a newborn, and I think he had general anesthesia. Everything worked out fine;he was under the weather for about 2 days with a few more days of post-op care and a follow-up exam with the doctor.

I don't think my friend is happy that they had to have her son circumcised, but she is relieved to know that it's over and done with,and that she won't have to worry about it again. She feels that it was the right decision.

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