How to determine if a young boy needs circumcision

Generally speaking, methods to determine whether a boy needs circumcision include assessing personal hygiene, observing the length of the foreskin, examining the degree of foreskin orifice narrowing, monitoring urination, and penile ultrasound examination. Detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Personal Hygiene: If the foreskin is excessively long or if phimosis makes it difficult to maintain personal hygiene, leading to problems such as odor or balanitis, circumcision may be considered to improve hygiene.

2. Observing Foreskin Length: Normally, when the penis is flaccid, the foreskin should naturally retract to expose part or all of the glans. If the foreskin is excessively long, completely covering the glans, and the glans cannot be naturally exposed even during erection, circumcision may be considered. However, simple foreskin overgrowth does not necessarily require surgery; its impact on daily life can be observed further.

3. Examining the Degree of Foreskin Orifice Narrowing: Normally, the foreskin orifice is moderate in size and can be easily retracted to expose the glans. If the foreskin orifice is extremely narrow, making it difficult to retract and expose the glans, this condition is called phimosis. Phimosis may affect normal penile development and can lead to accumulation of smegma and infections, typically requiring circumcision for treatment.

4. Monitoring Urination: Normally, urination should be smooth without abnormalities. If the foreskin balloons during urination and the urine stream is weak, it may be caused by a narrow foreskin opening or phimosis. Long-term abnormal urination may adversely affect the bladder and kidneys, and circumcision is generally recommended.

5. Penile Ultrasound Examination: For cases where it is unclear whether circumcision is needed, a penile ultrasound is recommended. Using high-resolution real-time grayscale ultrasound and color Doppler flow imaging techniques can help determine whether foreskin overgrowth is affecting penile function, and then decide whether circumcision is necessary under a doctor's guidance.

However, each boy's condition is different. Therefore, when deciding whether to perform circumcision, individual differences and the doctor's advice should be fully considered. Additionally, circumcision should be performed at a正规 medical institution, and postoperative care instructions from the doctor should be followed.