Age old debate:to circumsise or not to circumsise that is the question!?

Question

As a woman who will one day have sons (I hope), was wondering what people thought about circumsision. Looking for both pros and cons and whether you (if your male) would change anything. And for women, which do they prefer.

Answer 1

mmm... i prefer circumcised. I've been with a few uncircumcised, and mind, there's nothing exactly wrong with it... it's just that circumcised is much more... boy this is difficult to say. First of all, circumcision helps prevent the infections that may develop when the foreskin is left on. Circumcision is also, just, cleaner. Stuff can't get stuck under the foreskin then. There's also this thing called "smegma" (check out wikipedia if you don't understand this). The production of which is reduced through circumcision. This is a good thing, not because smegma is harmful, but because it results in strong odors and taste which could be mistaken as bad hygiene.
IF you do though, do it as an infant. What man would willingly do that even IF he really really wanted to get it done because of... who knows what reason. Come on now.

Answer 2

There's no way to put this concisely as it's a controversial issue.

First of all, there's nothing wrong with being uncircumcised. The foreskin is very easy to keep clean (and shouldn't be retracted forcefully in children under 3) and is NOT significantly more prone to infections and STDs if kept sufficiently clean (which I emphasize is easy). The foreskin also furthers sensation because it possesses a lot of nerve endings.

But the foreskin is a problem in some, though that's only around 5% of cases. The ones that come to mind are phimosis (where the foreskin opening is too small to be retracted) and recurrent irritation/infections. Mild phimosis is easily corrected without circumcision, though extremem phimosis might warrant it. Recurrent irritation/infections could be due to hygiene problems or using really strong soap that the foreskin doesn't like. Sometimes it isn't and the foreskin just isn't working the way it should, it happens.

Now, circumcision will prevent phimosis and reduce irritation of the foreskin, if those become severe, but since it IS a surgical procedure it will carry risks of its own. It's not widely publicized that circumcision has a complication rate between 1-10%. Complications can range from excessive bleeding, to local infections, to skin bridges (where the scar/inner foreskin fuses to the glans during healing in infants), to things MUCH worse. It's been stated that an uncircumcised infant boy has a 1 in 100 chance of getting a UTI (girls have something like a 5 to 9 in 100). A circumcised infant has a 1 in 1000 chance. While this looks good, keep in mind the complication rate. If even 1% get infections, that's 10 in 1000 or 1 in 100, and thus negating that "benefit." Most "benefits" of circumcision are essentially negated by its risks.

Personally, I'm uncircumcised and have never had any problems. My opinion is that if it isn't broken, don't fix it or else you could potentially end up making something that's okay worse. If you choose not to circumcised your sons, they can always opt to have it done later if they're unsatisfied. If you do circumcised your sons and they end up wishing they weren't, they could end up resenting you. And there's the small possibility that something can go wrong, and that blame would partly fall on you. If your sons develop problems because they're uncircumcised, then you know what to do - but if you circumcise them, not only do you not know if it would've been fine anyway, you do risk the complications that go along with all surgical procedures. So my question to you is, will you trust them enough to take care of themselves so you won't have to make this decision?

Answer 3

Would you cut off your daughter's clitoris? I hope that would be no. The part under the head is the most sexually errogoneous zone on the penis and the tighter the circumcision then the less of the sensiteve skin you left. Also the head isn't naturally suppose to be exposed unless aroused. And it's said to be more pleasurable for the woman during sex as well because the extra skin rubs the inner wall and the men doesn't have to thrust as hard.
It should be illegal to cut a part of someone else's body off w/o their consent. Leave your sons alone if you have them and if their unhappy with their penis then they can get it cut when they're old enough to decide for themself. I was circumcised as a baby and now I know about it I dont want to be, but unfortunaly my parents didn't respect me enough to let me make that decision. If you leave your sons alone then your allowing them the option of cutting themself. What option do I have, it isn't going to be back.
Most of the world isn't circumcised but in America mostly they think its' healthier and cleaner when it's not, the new studies prove this. Some people get cavities but we dont' pull their teeth out unless it's neccesary and it's very unlikey this will happen unless the individual doesn't clean themselves properly just like what could happen if you dont' wash any part of your body you'll smell bad, and your hands could get you sick and others while handling food. We don't remove breast in woman so that they don't get breast cancer.
It just doesn't make any sense why it's allowed. Boys aren't born with it by a mistake, its' there for a reason.

Answer 4

2 of my children are boys (both in their 30's now). My 1st born was a boy - I was asked in hospital if I wanted him circumsised and to be honest I didnt really know what that meant, I asked if it was medically necessary and they said no. I was asked if my husband was done and I didnt even know!!! He was away working at the time so I couldnt ask him. anyway I returned to work 6 weeks after his birth and the girls in the office asked me about it as one girl was pregnant - I said no and they made me feel like I had done something wrong!! I took my son to the Dr's immediately and he told me my son was fine and there is no need for the procedure. As the boys grew up I taught them to wash properly in the shower especially their 'doodles' and neither have had a problem. Religion was not an issue to do it in our family and there was no medical reasons to do it(no excessive foreskin etc.) some fathers like their sons done because they are done - but it is there to protect the penis and I believe is makes sex better for the boys - more sensativity - permanently exposed penis' toughen up a bit. My eldest son joined the armed forces and still did not have any prolblems. So i believe it is un-necessary to do it generally, unless it causes medical problems - but teach the boys to wash it thoroughly

Answer 5

I've never had a son, but I'm very torn about circumcision. I really feel that is isn't necessary... and anyone who says its about cleanliness doesn't properly teach their children to take care of themselves. I guess the only thing that worries me is my son would feel too different from the rest of men in the US, but people are opting to not do it more and more now. I have NO idea... lol, guess I'll have decide when I have a son!

Answer 6

I asked my friend, a nurse, about this when my son was born. She worked in the operating room. She said a lot of older men end up having to come in and get circumcised when they are older because of repeated infections. She saw so many of them, it convinced her that it was better to be circumcised. I also think that it is the "norm" in America, so any boys not circumcised tend to be made fun of. Anyway, i'm sure you'll get opinions on both sides of this issue!

Answer 7

There are kazzilions of nerve endings in the foreskin and I think its cruel to deprive a man of the pleasure associated with sex. Its not unhygenic...if you can brush your teeth, clear your ears then you can wash your slong to ensure its clean. Give him the choice to have it done if it become an issue. It would be cruel to remove a women outer labia, for the same reasons (mostly hygiene related)...let him decide when the time comes.

Answer 8

There are three types of a "must be" circumcision:

1. When you are a Muslim
2. When you are a Jew
3. When you have a phimosis, that's a mostly very painful constriction of the foreskin of the penis

When you don't belong to one of these groups, then you do it because of hygienic or fashionable reasons.

It can also prolong sexual activity of men who come to early.

But there is also a negative side. Many men complain about a lessened sensitivity of their glans of their penis. Therefore they can have difficulties to come.

Answer 9

The truth is there is no pros and cons per se. No one has proven that having it done leads to better health by having fewer infections. and No one that hasnt had it done can prove that there is a loss of sensitivity or that its butchering your child (LOL)

If you question it that much why not wait until your child is of an age to make up their own mind on this

Answer 10

It's only hard to keep it clean if you are a moron or a dirtball... Infections happen from bacteria and stuff getting caught under the foreskin... Simply pull back the foreskin and and wash the penis during bath/shower... Pretty simple...