should I have my baby circumsized when he is born I don't want to but my husband insists?

Question

I just don't see the point and have reserched it I don;t think you should cut off body part just because everyone else does

Answer 1

I agree with you. Unless you have a medical (extremely rare) or religious need to circumsize, don't do it.

Presumably, he wants the baby to "look like him". Well...if the doctor misses and amputates the penis (yes, that happens occasionally), the baby *won't*. If you could surgically alter your child's eyes so that they're whatever color you wanted, but there's a chance you'd blind him, would you do it? Does your husband plan to spend more time looking at your son's face or his penis?

And, yes, there's a slight chance of infection. But *lots* of babies have ear infections. If you can teach a boy to clean his ears, you can teach him to clean his penis! I haven't heard of many people "trimming" the outer ear to make it easier to keep clean and avoid infections, either.

Answer 2

Benefits and Drawbacks
According to the AAP, research suggests that there may be some medical benefits to circumcision. Boys who have been circumcised are at reduced risk for:


Foreskin infections

Urinary tract infections

Penile cancer

Sexually transmitted diseases

Phimosis, a condition in uncircumcised males that makes foreskin retraction impossible


Here are some of the reasons parents may decide not to have their baby circumcised:


Surgical risks: As with any surgery, circumcision has some risks. Complications are rare and usually minor. The most common complications are bleeding and infection.

Penile damage: Very rarely, the foreskin may be cut too short or too long. Equally unlikely is improper healing from the circumcision. These complications may require another circumcision or--in extreme cases--penile reconstruction.

Alteration of penile sensitivity: Some people claim that circumcision may lessen the sensitivity of the tip of the penis, decreasing sexual pleasure later in life. However, this hasn't been proven to be true.

Fear of pain: Some parents choose not to circumcise their sons because they are worried about the pain the baby may feel.

Protection of the tip of the penis: When the foreskin is removed, the tip of the penis may become irritated, causing the urinary opening to become too small. This could lead to urination problems that may need to be surgically corrected

Answer 3

Here's a horror story for you. My step-son was not circumsized at birth. While they are little you are able to clean and wash the area for them. Thankfully though, they grow up and can do it themselves. However, you aren't really given an opportunity to ensure that this is happening, so you hope you taught him well and carry on with your day. Two years ago, when my step-son was 8 he started complaining about how it hurt to pull it back when he used the bathroom. So, we took him to the doctor and found out that he has a pretty bad infection. He was given medicine after medicine to try and clear the infection but NOTHING WORKED. Two years later (and one month ago) he was circumsized. His body could not fight off the infection and the poor kid was literally suffering when he went to the bathroom. Granted, this does not happen to everyone nor to the majority of people who do not get circumsized, but it's definately something to consider. All of my sons were circumsized at birth. You really aren't cutting off a "body part" ... just extra skin. Check out the website below ... it offers a lot of information regarding the procedure, risks, and benefits for you to consider. Good luck in your choice.

Answer 4

Ultimately this is a very important decision you and your husband need to make together. I did have my son circumcised when he was born. I understand that he could have made the decision when he's older, but it would be more painful and memorable for him. I didn't want that. I understand your point of cutting off body parts, but at the same time...it really doesn't serve a productive purpose, and it will mean more difficulty keeping your son's penis clean and infection free. It seems to me that most males that were not circumcised at birth are embarrassed by it and choose to have it done anyway. Think about your son's feelings growing up.

Good luck!

Answer 5

I've had 2 boys and both were circumsized at birth, it helps prevent infection, because if you dont pull the sink back and wash there it can lead to very bad infections, It does not hurt them when they do it, they use a numbing medicine when they cut it. I was with my last son when they did his, he never even cryed. I feel its best, and then you dont need to worry about the infections that can happen, or worry that they didnt wash it well enough, because by the time they are 10 they wont let you in the bathroom with them, and thats is one thing they dont want to talk about either.

Answer 6

First I have to say that trimming skin (foreskin) is WAY different than cutting off a body part. I was married to an uncircumsized man who grew up wishing he had been (he had painful infections as a kid and sometimes couldn't pull back the skin to clean underneath - the smell - REALLY FOUL). We couldn't keep condoms on because the foreskin would make them retract... There are some medical professionals who think that there is less risk of STDs in men who ARE circumsized...

Answer 7

This is a really tough question. Yesterday I might have answered undoubtedly yes. Today I am not so sure. I took my son to a new doctor today to get a physical for football. He is 12 years old. Of course they want to check for a hernia. After checking, she turns to me and informs me that he needs to see a urologist because his penis re-tracks into his body, which I guess happens as an infant sometimes but at this point he should have grown out of this. I have noticed this occur with him before but did not give it much thought, or just thought he was small and things will change with puberty which my just be the case. We will see after the visit to the urologist. Of course I come home and researched all I can. One of the major causes of this is a botched circumcisions. Also finding out that there are many problems to go along with this procedure that I was completely unaware of. Good you have done your research, something I should have done 12 years ago.

Answer 8

Don't listen to the lies about intact penises being more prone to disease or infection. A baby is far more likely to get an eye infection than a UTI, yet we don't suggest cutting out eyes to prevent them!

INSIST that your husband watches a video of a circumcision being performed before you will even DISCUSS the matter. It's not pretty. There's one online here:
http://www.icgi.org/birth_care_providers.htm

Lots of good info. on the 'net. Some of my favorites are here:
http://www.mothersagainstcirc.org/
http://www.noharmm.org/
http://www.circumstitions.com/index.html#mothers

This page is a particularly good FAQ for new moms:
http://www.circumstitions.com/FAQ.html#ric

I sure hope this helps. I know many, many moms who allowed their husbands to make this decision and will always regret it. Learn all you can and be sure that you're 100% OK with it before you make an irreversable decision about a body that isn't even yours.

Good Luck!

Answer 9

I would say yes, I had my son circumsized, my sister didn't, her son has had quite a few infections, cause you have to really stay on the task of keeping the foreskin pushed back and cleaned daily! I would also say yes for the fact that as my nephew has gotten older and has to use the bathroom at school, some of the other boys really have given him a bad time of riddiculing him about it! He wants it done now, and at least at birth they don't remember the pain of it.

Answer 10

Just make sure the doc performing the circumcision is experienced. We had no problem with my first son's, but my second son's circ we were not as lucky. Apparently the doc was not used to doing them (did not know this until after the fact) and got the clamp on wrong. Without being too graphic, too much skin was cut off one side and the other had not enough. We have to see a pediatric urologist now.

Before it is done, PLEASE ask questions. And, if you are not comfortable wait to do it until you are comfortable. Don't just get it done to get it over with.

Answer 11

It's kind of up to you, but..... imagine the trauma your son will endure when he's in high school taking showers with all of the other boys, and his doesn't look like theirs. Also there is a reason to have it done, it is proven that it is more sanitary. When they are not circumsized you have to pull down the foreskin and clean underneath it. This is easy when they are babies, but when he gets to be about 5 he won't want you to see him naked anymore, and well little boys aren't very clean to begin with, so the chance of him keeping it clean is slim to none, and the chances of infection increase.