2006-06-13 21:04:10 · 14 answers · asked by karen w 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
This should be a decision that the parents make. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend one way or the other. The most common reasons people circumsize their sons are (1) the father was circumsized, (2) religious preference, (3) presumed health benifits (which are minimal at best).
You will find that some people are very passionate about this subject, one way or another. But the bottom line is that the risks of the procedure do not outweigh, and are not outweighed by the benefits. So it is really a personal decision.
Here are some facts:
Of every 1,000 boys who are circumcised:
20 to 30 will have a surgical complication, such as too much bleeding or infection in the area.
2 to 3 will have a more serious complication that needs more treatment. Examples include having too much skin removed or more serious bleeding.
2 will be admitted to hospital for a urinary tract infection (UTI) before they are one year old.
About 10 babies may need to have the circumcision done again because of a poor result.
In rare cases, pain relief methods and medicines can cause side effects and complications. You should talk to your baby’s doctor about the possible risks.
Of every 1,000 boys who are NOT circumcised:
7 (as opposed to 2) will be admitted to hospital for a UTI before they are one year old.
10 will have a circumcision later in life for medical reasons, such as a condition called phimosis. Phimosis is when the opening of the foreskin is scarred and narrow because of infections in the area that keep coming back. **Note: Older children who are circumcised may need a general anesthetic, and may have MORE complications than newborns.
Circumcision slightly lowers the risk of developing cancer of the penis in later life. However, this form of cancer is very rare. One of every one million men who are circumcised will develop cancer of the penis each year. By comparison, 3 of every one million men who are not circumcised will develop penile cancer each year.
2006-06-14 02:53:46 · answer #1 · answered by cardboard cowboy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no medical justification for circumcision. This practice (as a routine in American medical practice) stems mainly from a lack of knowledge regarding sexuality during the victorian era. It was believed that if boys were circumcized it would prevent certain sexual practices that were looked down on at the time (sorry for being vague,I'm trying to keep it pc). While that belief has been disproven, the pervading thought from the mid 1800's that being uncircumcized was somehow unclean or wrong continued to persist. There are no cleanliness issues nor heath hazards. However, circumcision does decrease sexual pleasure (hence the reason they started chopping away in the first place!).
2006-06-14 15:57:00 · answer #2 · answered by seanachaipriestess 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Personally, I would recommend *not* circumsizing for anything but religious reasons. There are no medical reasons to circumsize young babies except very rarely as part of needed plastic surgery on the penis in the case of hypospadias.
A child can be taught to care for an uncircumsized penis, just as he can be taught to clean his ears. Nobody is suggesting cutting off baby's ears because it *might* reduce the risk of ear infections (which, by the way, are a lot more common than penile infections)!!
2006-06-14 06:29:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Each to their own but I think unless there is a medical reason for it then it shouldn't be done. The United States seems to be one of the last countries still with a large circumcision rate. I live in New Zealand and it is not commonly done here now.
2006-06-14 04:11:26 · answer #4 · answered by Christine P 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
METHODS OF CIRCUMCISION
There are three methods of circumcision that are commonly used in the newborn male. These are all include the use of devices: the Gomco clamp, the Plastibell device, and the Mogen clamp (or variations derived from the same principle on which each of these devices is based).
2006-06-14 10:29:54 · answer #5 · answered by xplaygirlx206 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Back in the olden days they believed getting your son circumcise was best to keep him clean and free of infections (they only bathed once a year back then). And religions believed it cut down on the sex drives of males. (It doesn't) Today we know neither one is true. So I wouldn't do it.. God made us that way.. Lets keep it that way.
2006-06-14 04:13:44 · answer #6 · answered by emanon 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my opinion circumcision should only be carried out for medical reasons. If you are doing it for religion reasons (eg jew or muslim) then that is up to you. See a doctor.
2006-06-14 04:09:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have 2 little boys and i got them both circumsized. its hard to explain to a 3 yr old child why your pulling the skin back on his penis to clean it...imagine doing that with a 13 yr old so that you don't have to worry about it getting infected!!! they do it when they're babies b/c its not so bad for them...yes it hurts them but better to do it when they're babies than when they're 16.
2006-06-14 04:16:30 · answer #8 · answered by hootsie321 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
whats the question?what do u need.they do it at the hospital before she leaves.see if ur insur covers it or else u will have to pay.some dr.s will bill u some want the money first or they wont do it.dont wait to long to get this done.
2006-06-14 11:34:49 · answer #9 · answered by georgemi74 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
do it. it is so much less to worrry about. my family is jewish and my husband is catholic and when he was born he wasnt circumcized. at 18 he was and was in the hospital for 10 days due to complications. i had my son circumcized and he hasnt had any problems and hes 8
2006-06-14 11:57:20 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋