By chance, I had an astonishing conversation with a couple of mothers I met at the beach yesterday.
Apparently, since our society stopped automatically circumcising boys,
there has been a significant rise in problems with uncircumcised boys and men getting infections under their foreskins,
and having pain during coitus because the foreskin won't roll back off the glans.
5 percent of boys develop have foreskin problems requiring treatment
and a third of these may need foreskin surgery for medical reasons.
Fathers who were circumcised have no knowledge of foreskin care and so couldn't inform their wives.
Apparently, when a baby boy's penis is kept intact,
the primary carer is supposed to be instructed by health professionals
on how to peel back, clean, and oil the foreskin with every diaper change and bath time,
and then as the boy grows more independent, teach him how to peel back, wash and dry himself properly every day.
If this doesn't happen, the foreskin grows too tight over the glans.
Now I understand why ancient desert tribes developed the custom of circumcision.
Are you someone who has had this experience?
Did your boy try to keep his problem secret?
When and how did you realise?
What remedies di you and he choose?
If you have had this problem, have you told other parents with boy babies and toddlers?