Current Foreskin Standards

When I was younger they used to wait until 8 or 10 before they began examining your foreskin for retraction. Has this age range changed? My friend just had her son a couple months back and I was helping her with her son last week after coming back from his first newborn exam. She told me that they had separated his foreskin today and that she felt it was not right. I asked what she meant and she told me that when they went to take off his diaper the nurse asked her if she needed to show her as she performed todays procedure. She asked what she meant and the nurse responded that the infants first exam is retraction day and had she taken care of boys before. My friend was confused she said hes not even a year old yet cant we wait. The nurse said it was policy that all boys are fully retractable after their first exam and that she would show her how. Without any more explaining the nurse began pulling down forcefully on her sons foreskin. She stopped assessed the situation then pulled out a hemostat from the drawer and rammed it under his foreskin opened it repeatedly a few times around the glans then shoved it as far under the foreskin as she could. My friend asked what she was doing to his foreskin? The nurse responded with well hes a little tight but thats ok most boys foreskin are still tight In just stretching it out so it wont be a problem for you. She then opened the hemostat locked it into place and pulled hard until the foreskin popped off the tip of the hemostat and snapped down around the lip of the glans. The nurse wiped some blood off his bright red glans and then began to stretch his foreskin down towards the base till the rolled foreskin was taught then let go. She pulled it down again bending the glans and pointed to her sons frenulum. These always cause trouble the nurse told her. Its really tight we can try stretching it some more on his second exam but most of the time we just cut it they dont need it. My friend said she wasnt cutting anything and went to push the strenuously stretched foreskin closed and diaper her son. The nurse suddenly said no no no and yankes it down tight and diapered him for her. She asked why she did that and the nurse told her it must stay retracted at all times and to check him frequently. She told me he was now very sensitive and obviously he cried the entire visit. I told her I didnt know but I followed up with my cousin whos son is 1 and she showed me his foreskin is already completely retractable. She described to me a similar procedure and then showed me where they had already cut his frenulum so his foreskin would not close over the head. Is this just how things are done now?

Im guessing this is in a country that routinely circumcises, as the foreskin does not become fully retractable for many years sometimes as late as 16 and is still normal, tearing it away from the glans in this fashion is damaging as it would be to force open a kittens eyes before natural separation, the newly torn tissues would then if coming into contact heal together permenantly, I am an advocate of circumcision, but what this nurse did is wrong, do not forcibly retract a foreskin

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If this is true, then I would regard it as child abuse. A boy's foreskin should never be forcefully retracted.

I find foreskins on a man very sexy. But in the US we circumcize our infants the day after birth. It is cleaner and the infant does not remember. That nuse was abusive with that infant. Luckily for her that was not my son.

While that's not how the foreskin SHOULD be cared for on a boy that young, I can't say I'm surprised. There are huge misconceptions about foreskin care in the US because circumcision is still the norm. Even though the newborn circumcision rate has dropped significantly in the last 10-20 years, it's still the norm for the entire male population. At that baby boys age, his foreskin is still fused to the head of the penis (or at least it was before being seen by this nurse). My understanding is that no one other than the boy himself should try to retract his foreskin before he's 4 or 5 years old. As boys get older and the separation has occurred it's ok. But the initial retracting should be done by the boy himself.

the foreskin does not become fully retractable for many years sometimes as late as 16

True. This is also why I think all uncircumcised lads should be called in by the doctors for a mandatory foreskin examination, shortly after their 18th birthday. 😉

I don't know if when I was a Toddler any Doctor retracted my Foreskin during an Exam, probably he did but I was too young to remember. But growing up nobody taught me How To do it either. I started showering by my self at 7 yo (meaning didn't let my Mom bathing me herself nor seeing me Naked ever again 'from that day till her passing) My Dad would come into the Bathroom from time to time to shave or grab something when I was in the Shower, he saw me Naked up until I started growing pubes and I felt too embarrassed to let him see. He always told me "Make sure to wash up every inch of your Body properly, Son" but didn't mention anything related to Foreskin's Cleansing. I once discovered aged 9 that it could be retracted and I was kinda Freaked out when I found out that I had a Pink Red Head under all that Skin! Never tried doing that again (luckily never got any Smegma nor other kind of dirtiness) The first time that a Dr checked my Foreskin Retraction and the Glans was during that Surprise Examination we had at Elementary School when I was 11 (I've written about that on many Threats already) but we had to do it by our selves, mine retracted pretty easily despite I wasn't accustomed to do it often, my Classmate (and Friend) Roy's Prepuce was tighter and he couldn't let it slip during the first attempts (the Dr threatened him that He would do it with his own hands if my Mate couldn't) but he finally succeeded.

The next time a Dr checked both my Foreskin and Glans was the one that performed my very first Full Nude Examination when I was 13 (haven't written about that one yet) and he taught me how to clean it up properly on Daily Basis. Of course I was super embarrassed when he slid My Foreskin with his own bare hands and showed the way I should wash it up, but after that I put it in practice almost every time I took a Bath. Years later I taught my own Son to do it when he was 7 and we showered together. I thought he was Mature enough to understand the importance of a good Cleansing down there. I'm not sure if today's Doctors check that Area during regular Examinations nor if they recommend how to Clean it as well

My tight foreskin was flagged for treatment at an annual exam when I was 14.

Obviously the issue was present at earlier exams but it obviously wasn't a cause for concern to the medical staff. I assume they thought that there was still time for it to fix itself.

My mother explained to me that the doctor asked if she wanted me circumcised after I was born in 1940. She said no and he said she would have to retract it and wash under it at every bath. So I grew up always being able to retract it and was surprised to read that boys usually couldn't retract it until close to 16 years. My mother turned the job over to me when I was around 5 or 6. Actually I thought all boys could retract theirs because all the guys I knew were able to when we reached the age that boys play with each other. The neighbor girl was quite fascinated with that when we were about 6 or 7 as her older brother didn't have a foreskin.

She described to me a similar procedure and then showed me where they had already cut his frenulum so his foreskin would not close over the head. Is this just how things are done now?

Good grief, I should bloody well hope not. Not only because it is obviously painful, but also unnecessary as foreskins can be normally retracted at a later age without any need of hemostats or bleeding or anything else forceful or painful.

And especially because a frenulum should never be cut off as a routine matter. It is a sensitive part of the penis/glans and hence a source of sexual pleasure when stimulated. But then, knowing how mean-spirited, eager and gleeful some people (even medically trained personnel) are about inflicting circumcision or partial genital alteration/mutilation on under-age boys, it is no surprise that this occurs, even though it should definitely not ...

Foreskin not retractable till 16-18? That simply is not true. It can be tight, there can be phymosis, but those are conditions that often resolve with stretching or when masturbations starts.

Foreskin not retractable till 16-18? That simply is not true. It can be tight, there can be phymosis, but those are conditions that often resolve with stretching or when masturbations starts.

It must be true for some boys but I never heard of it until the internet showed up. I never knew about any guys in school or my friends who jerked off together who couldn't pull theirs back. Some, like mine, were restricted in how far back by that damned frenulum.

I know how long it took to retract my foreskin not to mention how many times it had to be separated at the doctors. I know it hurts but their penises are both clean and healthy. Their foreskin moves freely and is loose and they arent very old so maybe they wont remember. If its a one time procedure I dont see why it shouldn't be done? Especially if it prevents a circumcision and leaves all their foreskin.

I’m crircumcised and guess I didn’t realize how complicated an uncircumcised penis could be. ?

especially because a frenulum should never be cut off as a routine matter. It is a sensitive part of the penis/glans and hence a source of sexual pleasure when stimulated. it is no surprise that this occurs, even though it should definitely not ...

Well I went with her to his second exam today because she wanted a second opinion if it was unnecessary. His foreskin was a little tight again the nurse had to stretch it with some rough retraction but no hemostats this time. Likely cause he hadnt been retracted yet today. Once it was back since my friend had asked not to remove his frenulum until it had time to stretch the doctor simply nicked his frenulum with the scalpel and stretched it a bit to aid in his retraction. She held the glans at the upward unretracted state and pulled down on his foreskin. She said the point was to stretch his frenulum so it would not bend the glans down as this was too tight and would close his foreskin. He did start to cry when she pulled as his frenulum did appear to have to tear until it could accomodate the pressure. But babies cry for shots and everything so Im inclined to think it didnt hurt as bad as it seemed. His glans remained exposed after the stretching so he is now fully retractable.

Incredible, the medic still cuts his frenulum !

he isn't being circumcised, (which I think would be best)

but,

he isn't being left intact either,

the medic is performing forced separation and frenotomy,

you and the parent are okay with this then?

Incredible, the medic still cuts his frenulum !

he isn't being circumcised, (which I think would be best)

the medic is performing forced separation and frenotomy,

you and the parent are okay with this then?

I wouldn't say a cut I mean his frenulum is still there. She just tore it enough that it wouldnt have any tension against the foreskin. Itll heal up fine and he will still be able to use it just wont have a tight sealed foreskin. Both of us are fine his foreskin has to be cleaned if she wants him to stay uncircumcised and healthy. Mine was retracted since the age of 3 I think this method looks more efficient. My wife and I will likely be taking our first son to this doctor.

Is this just how things are done now

I don't know about now, but my mother explained to me that this is what the doctor did to my foreskin when I was 4 y/o (1954). Then again at age 12 (1962). Was bleeding and PAINFULLY.

In the mid 60's mothers were told to retract their son's foreskins at bath time for hygiene so I grew up knowing that almost every bath time mum was going to retract it I hated it because it hurt mine was very tight and had a small opening that took a while to stretch over the glands.

Now mothers are told to leave it alone don't try to retract it ay all.

I don't recall anyone retracting my foreskin completely before early teens because it didn't retract fully but no one forced it including doctors or nurses. I don't know why they would expect a 1 year olds to fully retract? The only time it hurt was when I got an infection under the foreskin at like 13 or 14 I think, and there was some swelling which caused pain when they tried retracting it. My step mother applied the ointment after the pediatrician showed her how to do it and it got better after a couple days.

I don't recall anyone retracting my foreskin completely before early teens because it didn't retract fully but no one forced it including doctors or nurses. I don't know why they would expect a 1 year olds to fully retract?

Because some people, doctors included, used to be and some still are, obsessed with circumcision. Even though all evidence points to circumcision being immaterial to penile, reproductive and sexual health, they have gotten it into their minds that it is a defining procedure regarding males. that should be implemented universally.

One sees the same kind of compulsive behavior regarding circumcision when it is practiced in religious terms. It becomes a defining and obligatory procedure that takes on enormous importance in assuming a religious identity.

So it's actually a social norm above all else and therefore irrational. But social norms come along with deep and unexplainable convictions and feelings of anxiety if not followed by all members of a society/nation/social group.

A few years ago… maybe 6 years ago? A lady friend of mine mentioned how her doctor pressured the family so that the son's foreskin issues were sorted out as he was 6. He prescribed a cream (steroids, I guess), said the boy should try to retract his foreskin (he did so under his father's supervision, if I'm not mistaken) and if it did not work he'd have to be cut.

Thus it seems to me that the standard in France now is the same as it was 40 years ago: sort it out at 6, if necessary by removal!

My foreskin has always been a bit on the long side. When I was a teenager it became a bit tight as I think I grew quite quickly but when I got into my Twenties I found that my foreskin became much more loose and moveable.