[ ARC forum 2 ]
Written by Charles II at 10 Feb 2004 01:00:49: Re: 9-YO Son Permanently Retracted Foreskin
As an answer to: Retraction of sons Foreskin written by Sara at 26 Jan 2004 16:56:11:
Q: (Beginning about age 5 I told my son) ... if you want to look like daddy pull it back every day until you can see the head of your penis. ... Finally (since my husband wouldn't do it and i think that it should be a man thing) I would slowly retract a little every day until the foreskin was loose and retract on its own... My son is 9 now and by doing gentle foreskin retraction his glans stay bare and his father and i dont have to always keep checking for dirt and grime under his foreskin. He plays football and said the other boys keep their skin back as well (i figure the boys are circumcised) but if someone didn't know any better they would think he was. The doc did say one thing, as parents check your child at least once a week to make sure the skin doesn't get stuck behind the glans (that could lead to being circed)...
I hope this helps parents decide that a foreskin is a little more work but from what ive read its worth it. With retraction it stays clean and dry but he still has his skin, also many of my friends had their sons circed so by keeping your sons skin pulled back he will never look differnt from his friends (and if he does all he needs to do is pull the skin back over the glans). Parents, let me know its going with your sons or if you would even concider something like this. Personally i think it stays cleaner and looks better.
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You have definitely pursued the best course, in my opinion. Not enough parents know about or will bother to try this alternative to surgical circumcision, although as we have found it provides ALL the same benefits.
A MILD case of paraphimosis (the foreskin getting trapped behind the penis head) is no cause for alarm or a call for circumcison. As long as it does not cut off circulation or cause discomfort, I believe it even preferable to helping keep the foreskin retracted.
Congratulations on your perseverence, and please tell others of your son's successful experience.