Circumcision

[Therunner11]

Hi. My son (17) has phimosis. Circumsision has been recommended. He’s dreading the after effects of the operation. He’s worried about the pain afterwards and how it will effect sensitivity etc He’s worried he can’t exercise for a long time. Worried about how it will look to the opposite sex etc etc he has so many questions. I’m at a loss what to say as I don’t know anyone who has been circumcised. Help

[Flip40]

Hi, for me it was pain about 2 weeks, but recovery about a year. I was back training after 6 months. I’m probably worst scenario. Some guys 1 week back in training. I recommend to to it as young as possible for better recovery. I was 39 when co op. Good luck

[Nudeglans]

Hi there. As Flip40 says, his experience looks like the worst outcome. It is likely that your son will feel little pain afterwards and will recover pretty quickly. Circumcision is usually not complicated at your son’s age (though the quickest recovery is usually in infancy, like when me and my sons were circumcised). He certainly shouldn’t worry about what girls will think - from my experience they prefer circumcised penises. I hope it goes well for him.

[ml66uk in reply to Nudeglans]

You only have to read this forum to see that there are lots of complicated circumcision outcomes. Recovery is usually quicker in infancy, but outcomes are usually worse, and in very rare circumstances can be horrific, including death. Only around 10% of the world's circumcised men were circumcised as babies, and most men never need to be circumcised at all.

Three national medical organizations (Iceland, Sweden and Germany) have called for elective infant male circumcision to be *banned*, and two others (Denmark and the Netherlands) have said they'd support a ban if they didn't think it would drive the practice underground.

"Routine" circumcision *is* banned in public hospitals in Australia (almost all the men responsible for this policy will be circumcised themselves, as the male circumcision rate in Australia in 1950 was about 90%).

Personally, I'd pay a year's salary rather than be circumcised or have my son circumcised. If he decides he wants to be circumcised though, I'll pay for it, and help him find a good urologist. His body, his decision.

[keithy007 in reply to ml66uk]

I think mentioning the banning of routine infant circumcision is not right. The gentleman is asking for advice for his son who is not an infant but a young man of 17, so trying scare the living daylights out of someone is not on.

Likewise in regard of your problems with circumcision comment, there is also a hell of a lot of males with problems with there foreskins, yet the only advice I have seen is never ending periods of stretching. I have known a couple of friends who would rather suffer with there continued problems rather then making the decision to get circumcised.

[ml66uk in reply to keithy007]

Nudeglans was suggesting that infancy is the best time for circumcision though, and several national medical organisations say the opposite.

There are indeed lots of males who have problems with their foreskins, but there are also lots of males who have problems with their circumcisions, sometimes many years after the operation. I don't think it's trying to "scare the living daylights out of someone" to point that out, and I already said that "some men circumcised as adults think it's the best thing they ever did".

Circumcision and stretching aren't the only options for phimosis. I already suggested steroid creams, preputioplasty or even a dorsal slit on this thread, and some men choose to live with phimosis (though personally, I wouldn't want to do that).

[Excitement1]

Hi iv just done mine and I'd recommend going at a younger age iv had pain for only 3 days very mild the surgery itself was painless just the injection hurt abit but that's human, being married id say don't worry about what you're partner will think about a circumcised penis as my wife met me with a uncircumcised and she was pretty excited about the op, do what's best for yourself and your sexual pleasure

[ml66uk]

I'd definitely look at getting a second opinion, especially if things like manual stretching and steroid creams haven't already been tried. If surgery is really required, preputioplasty or even a dorsal slit might be alternatives to circumcision.

Outcomes are mixed - some men circumcised as adults think it's the best thing they ever did, and some men think it's the worst thing they ever did. Some women prefer circumcised, some prefer intact, and most don't seem to care as long as it works.

[MrMac99]

Hi your son will be fine he will recover quite quickly it's not really that painful it's more having some discomfort than pain. The sensitivity will probably be the worst thing for a while especially after having phimosis. A lot of girls like the circumcised penis so he shouldn't worry about that. I think I started exercising lightly after 3 weeks but we are all different at healing so you have to see how it goes. All the best

[jimfromcalif]

A permanent cure can come from stretching.phimosisjourney.com

[Rood_A]

wikihow.fitness/Do-Phimosis...

[circblog]

I'm much older than him but he's welcome to read through my whole journey here - circ.blog - covers everything from the choice to be circed all the way through recovery.

17 does seem quite young to make this decision, have all alternatives been explored? Do you know how long he's been sexually active? Is this as a direct result of having had problems during intercourse?

One thing I will say is he doesn't need to worry about what future girlfriends think. Chances are these days they'll have seen so much porn they'll have seen every shape and size. They might have a preference but if it's the most important thing in the relationship for them then it's time to move on anyway.

As to exercise, it depends on what he's doing. Swimming you can probably go back after 3-4 weeks. Cycling 6 weeks (particularly if its MTB), contact sports perhaps a bit longer. Running probably 3-4.

[jaglad]

First I would advise getting a second opinion. it is a big decision and all alternatives should be explored.Recovery is different for each of us, some longer than others. Important thing to remember is do not rush things. Good luck

[BexyBoy]

Going by the posts on this forum, circumcision recovery can be very variable and often very problematic and bothersome. If he were my son I would do all I could to help him find alternatives to surgery (circumcision) and whenever I've had a problem with foreskin tightness, coconut oil has always helped. I, however, was never diagnosed as having phimosis.

[roddythescot]

Your son should not worry as nearly all circumcisions are totally trouble free. It is surgery and there will be some discomfort (but not really pain) for few weeks as it heals. He should be very wary of some of the remarks on boards like this which are deliberate misinformation put about by the tiny (but very vocal) anti-circumcision activists - most of whose claims don't stand up to proper scientific and medical scrutiny.

If he suffers from phimosis then it will seriously adversely affect sex and may also lead to severe infections under the foreskin because proper daily hygiene is compromised.Whilst stretching exercises work for some, they are most often ineffective after puberty and thus a lot of time and energy is wasteed before the only sure, immediate and guaranteed permanent cure - circumcision - is necessary anyway.

[ml66uk in reply to roddythescot]

There are also some very vocal pro-circumcision activists here, and the way you're portraying circumcision looks like "deliberate misinformation" to me.

Just searching this forum for "circumcision" shows lots of circumcisions that weren't "totally trouble free". To be fair, there are also lots of posts where men are very happy with the results, but some men circumcised later in life report issues with erectile dysfunction, reduced sensitivity, premature ejaculation, cosmetic issues, and even reduced size.

[Lowcut]

Hey. I was circumcised in October and was also very worried about time off from exercise. It took about 3 weeks til I was running again (with some caution) and by 4 weeks I was back to my normal routine. So, in the wider scheme of things it’s really not long at all. Stretching and exercises using my own body weight I started carefully after 3 days and again no problem.

[Tkf94]

Well, I try to have a positive outlook on the whole OP as it stops certain problems….but also comes with its own problems some operations go smooth some dont thats just the way it is. Mine personally has been horrible I’m 4 months down the line still in pain and pretty bad swelling I’m still back and fourth with urology probably will need another OP for correction! But again we just have to take these things on the chin and move on lol