Circumcision: When To Call A Doctor

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When to Call a Doctor

Your son's penis will be examined during routine well-baby visits. But it is important to call your health professional if problems develop after circumcision.

Call your doctor immediately if your circumcised baby:

• Is younger than 3 months of age and has a fever.
• Develops signs of infection of the penis or around the circumcision site. Signs may include severe swelling, redness, a red streak on the shaft of the penis, or a thick, yellow discharge.
• Bleeds more than the doctor said to expect or has a bloodstained area larger than the size of a bottle cap on his diaper or on the circumcision site dressing.
• Is extremely fussy or irritable, has a high-pitched cry, or refuses to eat.
• Has not passed urine within 12 hours after the circumcision was completed.

If a Plastibell device was used for the circumcision, call your health professional if the ring has not fallen off after 10 to 12 days.

Who to See

Health professionals who usually perform circumcisions on infants include:

• Pediatricians.
• Obstetricians.
• Family doctors.
• Urologists.
• Surgeons.

A urologist or surgeon normally will do circumcisions on older infants, children, and adults.

Last updated:	February 19, 2008
Author:	Debby Golonka, MPH
Reviewed By:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Peter Anderson, MD, FRCS(C) - Pediatric Urology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC