what does circumcision mean?

Answer 1

IT MEANS GENITAL MUTILATION!!!

MOTHERS, the feelings of mothers who observed the circumcision of their babies. Go here if you have the courage:
http://www.circumcision.org/mothers.htm
They do not remember the pain when they grow up, but I wonder what kind of neurological damage it does to inflict such severe pain to such a young one!

In the US circumcision started to stop boys from masturbating; they will take much longer to reach the orgasm, and the orgasm will not be as intense, but that will not stop them.
Nowadays the “medical” reasons to circumcision are for Doctors to make MONEY!!!

RELIGION--If God intended boys to not have "skin" He would have made them so.
http://www.nocirc.org/religion/

HYGIENE--Use a new invention, soap and water!!! Women produce much more “smegma”, all kinds of discharges, wetness, and smells; because of physiologic and anatomical reasons, and how would you feel if they cut your vulva lips??? Women, why don’t you answer my question, are you afraid? Baby girls are more likely to get urinary tract infections and no one suggests we surgically alter them at birth to reduce the risks! Just one of many double standards and laws that always treat men worse.

MEDICAL REASONS--No medical reasons. A extremely small chance of a complication do not justify the removal of the foreskin, if so, why don't we remove the tonsils and the appendix when a child is born, and the chance of complications of the tonsils and the appendix is much greater. And for infections of all the organs, including female organs, use a new invention called antibiotics. Talking about complications, in fact many baby boys die each year from circumcision and related complications.
EVEN if phimosis occurs, instead of chopping it off like barbarians!, use Conservative Treatments like:
-Topical Medication(non-traumatic and non-destructive)
-Dilation and Stretching(non-traumatic and non-destructive)
-Combination treatment(non-traumatic and non-destructive)
-Preputioplasty is the medical term for plastic surgery of the prepuce or foreskin(many methods).
If you want more detail on Conservative Treatments, go here:
http://www.cirp.org/library/treatment/phimosis/
http://www.circinfo.org/alternatives.html
And now they invented a new reason to make money, the risk of STD in uncircumcised men. Well actually uncircumcised men have more protection, but in practical terms that protection means nothing, because circumcised or not, if you have sex without protection and your partner have an STD you will be infected FOR SURE! That means, it is just one more stupid and desperate reason in order to make money with circumcisions.

SEX--Foreskin actually enhances the sexual experience for men because it constantly moves over the head of the penis causing more friction and pleasure. Men will also lose much sensitivity to the glans if circumcised.
Circunsized men will have to deal with disconfot and dry glans.
The foreskin have those functions: protective, erogenous, sensory, and sexual physiologic. After all, why would you want to lose all of those “Meissner corpuscles”, the same nerve complexes which provide fine touch to the fingertips?
It is there for many reasons, that is how a man should be(it is natural).
If women like it better circumcised because it looks better(strange, not natural) or gives them more sexual pleasure(strange, not natural), then too bad, they do not have the right! All men do not like mutilated vulvas, and all men like breasts with nipples, they do not like mutilated breasts, etc, etc, etc, because that is the way those organs are supposed to be, it is natural. Interesting, isn’t?!!!

If that was a common practice to do that to baby girls, all the women would be in a big uproar about it(and men too!, men are not like women), but it’s ok to mutilate little boys. The great majority of the ones that agree with circumcision are women for their stupid selfish reasons. Even court cases reported in which mother and father fight because the mother wants to mutilate the son, it is always the mother!. You women should be ashamed to that to your son. Men that are not circumcised, will not get circumcised when adults, they would scream, kick, fight and run, if someone tries to mutilate their privates area, just like you women would run too if someone tried to do that to your labia. Men that where circumcised do not realize what they lost because never had one, and most of them that do realize try to justify it so they do not feel bad about it. Many circumcised men feel very bad emotionally because of what was done to them to such a private area.
It is mutilation of defenceless children in the most private spot, genital mutilation.
It is cruel and barbaric.
It is a human rights violation.
It is not the parent’s decision; it is the parents decision if they want to abuse him, rape him, or to kill him?.
I do not even agree that it is ok if an adult man wants to get circumcised. I think it is wrong, because if a man wants to lose a finger, the Doctor can not do that to him. Think about it, think, think. And by the way, adult men that decide to get circumcised, do it because they know most women like it, they just do it to be more accepted by women.
I think it is just like slavery and all other barbaric acts of the past, it was accepted because it was common practice or tradition, everyone accepted slavery without questioning the facts, but it is not accepted anymore in a modern and fair and civilized society. Circumcision must not be allowed, BY LAW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Many other reasons not to do it, check it out:
http://www.mothersagainstcirc.org/
http://www.cirp.org/library/treatment/phimosis/
http://www.noharmm.org/
http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/
http://www.circumcisionquotes.com/boydies.html

Answer 2

Circumcision is the removal of some or all of the foreskin (prepuce) from the penis. The frenulum may also be removed at the same time, in a procedure called frenectomy. The word "circumcision" comes from Latin circum (meaning "around") and caedere (meaning "to cut"). The practice of circumcision predates recorded human history, with depictions found in stone-age cave drawings and Egyptian tombs. The origins of the practice are lost in antiquity. Theories include that circumcision is a form of ritual sacrifice or offering, a sign of submission to a deity, a rite of passage to adulthood, a mark of defeat or slavery, or an attempt to alter esthetics or sexuality. Circumcision of newborn males is a religious requirement of the Muslim and Jewish faiths, commonly, but not exclusively, performed on the eighth day after birth. It is also practiced by the majority of Americans, South Koreans and Filipinos.

The American Medical Association, in a report confined to discussing circumcisions that are not performed for ritualistic or religious purposes, states that medical associations in the US, Australia, and Canada do not recommend “non-therapeutic” circumcision, which it defines as non-religious, non-ritualistic, not medically necessary, elective circumcision of male newborns. In the US when non-ritualistic elective circumcision is chosen, it is largely because of social or cultural expectations, rather than medical concerns.The genital integrity movement condemns infant circumcision as a form of male genital mutilation that they consider comparable to female genital cutting.Those who support circumcision sometimes explain their views in terms of the perceived medical benefits of the procedure.
Circumcision is recommended by some physicians to treat medical conditions in males, such as phimosis, chronic inflammation of the penis, and penile cancer while other physicians believe there are less invasive treatments for these conditions that can be tried first.

Answer 3

when a male is born there is skin that covers the head of the penis which means they are intact, most parents choose to have there male child circumcised which is the removal of the extra shin which will show the full head, also studies show that removal of the extra shin will make you lose 1 inch in size, if that matters now days...alan

Answer 4

when someone is uncircumcized there's a little extra skin surrounding the head of the penis called foreskin. what circumcision does is it cuts off that foreskin so the head is visibly seen without having any foreskin surrounding it. some men are circumcized and others arent. but more hygenic care is used with an uncircumcized penis because the foreskin can, in a way, hide infections.

Answer 5

removing the foreskin from the head of your dick so it is exposed versus covered it is best to be uncircimsied you have more feeling when the extra skin is there.

Answer 6

Something doctors do to pay for that new Lexus.

Answer 7

this is when the foreskin of a males doo-daa is cut off.

Answer 8

The foreskin of the penis is cut

Answer 9

What is Circumcision?

Circumcision is the removal of the foreskin or loose sleeve of skin covering the end of the penis so as to permanently expose the glans (or knob). Ideally it should result in full exposure of the whole glans and what is named the 'coronal groove' behind it. In such examples there is no bunching of shaft skin in the groove, leaving it smooth and unable to trap 'smegma'. Smegma is a disagreeable smelly cheesy-white substance formed in damp folds of skin on the human body. It accumulates when such places are not cleaned in normal hygiene routines and has been implicated as a possible cause of cancer of the penis in uncircumcised men and of the cervix of their partners.

Worldwide, around a quarter of all adult men are circumcised. This varies from country to country. Over 85% of Americans are done (in part because of the great economic emphasis placed on preventative health issues in that country). Around 20% of British men have been circumcised and higher proportions in Canada, New Zealand and Australia. It is the norm amongst most African tribes and a strict religious requirement for Jewish males, who are ritually done eight days after birth, and a custom amongst Muslims who have it performed at varying ages before puberty. Indeed almost the only groups worldwide that have not practised circumcision regularly are the Mediterranean Europeans, South Americans, Scandinavians and non-Moslem Asians.

Current national circumcision rates: U.S.: 60%, Canada: 20-25%, Australia: 15%.


The penile foreskin defined

The foreskin (or prepuce) is a natural, retractile, protective covering for the glans (head) of the penis, and is the most erotogenic area of the penis in terms of the quantity, concentration, and quality of specialized nerve receptors and stretch receptors that it is endowed with, especially on its inner mucosal lining (which gets redeployed behind the glans during erection).

The average adult foreskin consists of 1½ inches of outer skin, 1½ inches of inner mucosal lining – totaling a length of 3 inches – and is 5 inches in circumference when erect. This amounts to a surface area of 15 square inches, or a surface area equivalent to that of a 3" by 5" inch index card!

The foreskin contains over 240 feet of nerves and over 1,000 nerve endings, as well as being a highly vascularized structure.

The foreskin has rich sensations in and of itself. The foreskin also plays a mechanical-lubrication role. It serves as a gliding sheath during masturbation or sexual activity, rendering the quality of the friction between the man and his partner more gentle, less abrasive. This is useful to the woman, especially with prolonged intercourse and especially with age, when she provides less liquid lubrication. With circumcision, this natural gliding mechanism is lost.

Women have a foreskin as well, which covers and protects their clitoris. It is alternatively referred to as the clitoral foreskin, clitoral prepuce, or clitoral hood.



Myths about Circumcision

The following cultural beliefs, or myths, are often used as reasons for circumcision. After each myth, some relevant facts are provided to present a more accurate picture of this procedure. Parents should understand the full implications of circumcision before making this irreversible decision for their child.


Myth #1: Circumcision is recommended by doctors and medical organizations

Fact: Circumcision is not recommended by any national medical association in the world. Fifteen national and international medical associations have extensively studied infant circumcision and its effects and found no significant evidence to support this practice. In March 1999, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) concluded that infant circumcision is not recommended as a routine procedure.1 The circumcision policy statements of the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Academy of Family Physicians have concurred with this position.2-3 The AMA calls infant circumcision "non-therapeutic."


Myth #2: It's just a little piece of skin, he won't miss it.

Fact: The prepuce (foreskin) makes up as much as half of the skin system of the penis.4 It is an extension of the shaft skin that folds over onto itself, completely covering and protecting the glans (an internal organ) and provides the mobility of the shaft skin necessary for frictionless intercourse and masturbation. The foreskin has three known functions: protective, immunological, and sexual. It contains about 10,000 highly specialized nerve endings and several feet of blood vessels. An adult male foreskin, if unfolded and spread out, would be about the size of index card (3 x 5 inches), much more than a "little piece of skin." Many sexually active men circumcised in adulthood report a significant decrease in sexual pleasure and comfort because of the loss of sensitive nerve endings, skin mobility and natural lubrication.


Myth #3: The care of a circumcised penis is easier than an intact penis.

Fact: For the care of an intact penis, the AAP recommends, "Leave it alone." 5 No special care is required – an intact child should have the external surface of his penis (and the rest of his body) washed regularly to keep clean. When a male is older and can retract his foreskin (which typically occurs by puberty), a simple rinsing is all that is necessary. 6 Other cultural myths about special cleaning procedures are just that – myths.


Myth #4: Circumcision protects males from urinary tract infections.

Fact: Overall, urinary tract infections (UTI) occur at about the same rate in male and female infants during the first six months of life.7 Regardless of circumcision status, infants who present with their first UTI at 6 months (or less) are likely to have an underlying genitouninary abnormality. In children with a normal underlying anatomy, a study found as many circumcised infants with a UTI as those who retained their foreskin.8 The appropriate treatment for UTI, in males as well as females, is antibiotics, not prophylactic excision of the prepuce. According to the AAP, "Urinary tract infections are usually not life threatening and are easily treated in most cases." Breastfeeding provides some measure of protection against UTI during the first six months of life.9


Myth #5: Circumcision is effective in the prevention of penile cancer.

Fact: "The American Cancer Society does not consider routine circumcision to be a valid or effective measure to prevent such cancers... Penile cancer is an extremely rare condition, affecting one in 200,000 men... Perpetrating the mistaken belief that circumcision prevents cancer is inappropriate.'' 10

The American Medical Association, in a July 2000 report, states, "… because this disease [penile cancer] is rare and occurs later in life, the use of circumcision as a preventive practice is not justified." 2


Myth #6: Almost everyone is circumcised…I don't want my son to be teased in the locker room.

Fact: The circumcision rate for males worldwide is about 15%. Even in the US, the only country that circumcises a majority of its male newborns for non-religious reasons, the circumcision rate is decreasing. According the National Center for Health Statistics, the US circumcision rate is approximately 60% (varies widely by region) and slowly decreasing. According to many intact males, the "teasing" concern is vastly overstated. For many boys, genital status is neither an important issue nor one that is discussed. In the unlikely event of concerns later in life, at least the person can make his own decision about an irreversible body alteration that has no medical justification.


Myth #7: Circumcision is a simple and painless procedure… it only takes a few minutes.

Fact: While circumcision is a relatively quick procedure, it is extremely painful for the infant. The initial part of the process involves a forced separation of the foreskin, which is fused to the glans (head) in much the same way as a fingernail is joined to the finger. The AAP says the following about EMLA cream, one of the most common pain relief methods, "The analgesic effect is limited during the phases associated with extensive tissue trauma…" 1 Although they cannot remember the pain as adults, circumcised male infants have increased pain response in vaccinations 4 to 6 months later.11 Circumcision appears to lower the pain threshold.


Myth #8: Circumcision makes the penis cleaner and more hygienic.

Fact: Circumcision removes the protective portion of mobile shaft skin, which is intended to cover the glans (head) of the penis. The glans is the internal portion of genitalia (for both genders). Circumcision artificially exposes and denudes this highly sensitive tissue, resulting in a buildup of keratin and a dry, densensitized part of the penis. And contrary to popular myth, more sensation does not lead tp control problems. Based on reports from men circumcised as adults, just the opposite is true. With more sensation, a man has better feedback and can better determine his proximity to the "orgasmic threshold."


Myth #9: Circumcision prevents AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Fact: Some studies show that circumcision has a slight preventive effect for these AIDS and STDs; however, other studies show an insignificant or opposite effect. Either way, the bottom line is this: sexual practices have a much greater effect on the chance of becoming infected than circumcision status. If someone bases their actions on the belief that circumcision alone will protect them, they are taking unwise chances.


Myth #10: The history of non-religious circumcision is based on disease prevention.

Fact: Non-ritual circumcision evolved from a misunderstanding of bodily function by physicians of the late-19th century.12 Many doctors of that era believed that a normal foreskin could cause disease and lead to increased incidence of "self-abuse." John Harvey Kellogg, of cereal fame, was a proponent of genital cutting as a cure for this "horrible practice." He recommended performing circumcision "without administering an anesthetic, as the pain attending the operation will have a salutary [health-giving] effect upon the mind, especially if connected with the idea of punishment."

This fact sheet is a presentation of the Pennsylvania chapter of NOCIRC (National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers).