Does My 12-Year-Old Son Need A Circumcision?

Posting Date: 01/21/2000

Sally: My 12-year-old son is just starting puberty. We saw the pediatrician at the end of August and she says that his foreskin does not pull down far enough. She is concerned about hygiene as he gets older.

She referred us to a urologist who thinks my son needs to be circumcised.

Visit the Circumcision Center

Dr. Dean: That's not a reason to circumcise a kid. You need a more enlightened urologist.

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Just as many pediatricians learn little during their training about breastfeeding, the average American urologist has not dealt much with uncircumcised penises. These subjects are basically ignored in American medical schools.

The doctors may suspect that he has a condition called phimosis, which prevents the tip of the penis from retracting. First of all, phimosis can't be diagnosed until after puberty, so he's too young to decide now. Secondly, many men manage just fine with phimosis.

You can have some fun and say, "Hey, the Official Urological Society guide says you can't make this diagnosis in a 12-year-old, Doc, so what are you telling me?" You would find that in Europe doctors would have suggestions other than surgery. They use balloons for dilation, and they can even undo the retraction if necessary.

This is a vital part of his body. Removing his foreskin is like cutting off a woman's breast because she has a pimple on it. It just doesn't make any sense.

Arm yourself by contacting the organization NOCIRC. You can find them on the Internet.