What will an intact penis look like later in boyhood?

Question

We are thinking about circumcising our newborn, but have been told not to.

Answer 1

Here are some pages for you to check out:

http://www.cirp.org/library/procedure/gomco/
http://www.cirp.org/library/procedure/plastibell/
http://www.nocircpa.org/4642.html
http://josh.bakehorn.net/circ2.html
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/menshealth/facts/circumcision.htm
http://www.aap.org/_test/003.cfm?myURL=http://www.aap.org/policy/re9850.html
http://www.foreskin.org/

It is cosmetic surgery. Why put a baby through that when there is no medical reason for it?

I am the mom of 2 boys. One circumcised, one not. I had my 1st born circumcised as I thought it would be best. I did no research, just assumed. My 6 week old is NOT circumcised, because I did my research this time.

Before you decide to do this to your child you should know what it is you are doing.
These two sites will show you how an infant circumcision is done.
http://www.cirp.org/library/procedure/gomco/
http://www.cirp.org/library/procedure/plastibell/

Also, think about this, why does an adult having this procedure get put to sleep and is sent home with a prescription for narcotic pain meds while an infant is given nothing but a topical pain relief cream or at best a shot of lidocane in the base of the penis? It is painful and just because they won't remebr it being painful is no reason to do it! Would you throw your child up against a brick wall at one week old and justify it by saying he won't remember?!?!?

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. The circumcision policy statements of the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Academy of Family Physicians have concurred with this position. The AMA calls infant circumcision “non-therapeutic.”


Ignore the Myths, Get the Facts!


Cultural beliefs, or myths, are often used as reasons for circumcision. Here are some relevant facts 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.

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. The AMA calls infant circumcision “non-therapeutic.”

The prepuce (foreskin) makes up as much as half of the skin system of the penis. 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.

For the care of an intact penis, the AAP recommends, “Leave it alone.” 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. Other cultural myths about special cleaning procedures are just that – myth.

Overall, urinary tract infections (UTI) occur at about the same rate in male and female infants during the first six months of life. Regardless of circumcision status, infants who present with their first UTI at 6 months (or less) are likely to have an underlying genitourinary abnormality. In children with a normal underlying anatomy, a study found as many circumcised infants with a UTI as those who retained their foreskin. 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.

"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.''

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.”

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.

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. Circumcision appears to lower the pain threshold.

Some studies show that circumcision has a slight preventive effect for AIDS and some STDs; however, other studies show an insignificant or opposite effect, especially for chlamydia. The bottom line: sexual practices have a much greater effect on the chance of becoming infected than circumcision status. If someone acts on the misconception that circumcision alone will protect them, they are taking unwise chances.

Answer 2

Research, research, and the re-search. Looks are not everything, can't judge a penis by its cover. My opinion would be don't do it, but I would say look at the hard facts not peoples opinions, and decide what is right for you. If that was you on the table, or in the shower with a bunch of guys what would you want? But do the research, get the facts and make an educated choice!

Answer 3

Umm like a normal penis with a hood. If you really need to see what a intact penis looks like, there is dozens' of site on the net such as menonthenet or seancody that shows many pics of a penis, an adult one that is.

Answer 4

Natural Penis Enlargement Guide : http://LongPenis.uzaev.com/?SULz

Answer 5

Ultimately it is your son's penis and only himself can make that decision once he's old enough to do it. You can't undo it but you can always do it later.
But think! If you had a daughter, would you have her circumcised? Why should it be different for boys? There is no need for a circumcision. It has always been and still remains a barbaric act!

Answer 6

Just the fact that some "parents" have to use vulgarity to prove a point makes me sick. They can't state facts, just insults. And they are raising the future of our country. Pretty sad.

Here are some FACTS:
The AAP is neither for or against circumcision.
It is cleaner
The baby doesn't feel it and some babies will sleep right through it.
Prevents UTI's which are common in uncircumcised males
Just click on the link for more.

Answer 7

My advice: ignore the radicals and fundamentalists who fanatically oppose the procedure; these people are against simply because they are not happy with themsleves, they certainly need help.

I have four sons, all of them circumcised, none had ANY problem. I was there when the doctor did the procedure, and they were perfectly fine. Just a little normal crying at the beginning and then they relaxed as the doctor worked. They were peacefully sleeping by the time he finished. A week after the procedure their penises were completely healed and they were happy and joyful.

CIRCUMCISION IS PAINLESS with anesthesia, EASY AND VIRTUALLY NO-RISK.

I never had any doubt that I would have all my sons circumcised too, even after some people *tried* to convince my of their catastrophist and surrealistic theories against it.

It’s just SO MUCH BETTER TO BE CIRCUMCISED, CLEANER AND HEALTHIER.

Make the best decision for you son: have him circumcised.

Answer 8

My son's penis looks like a regular penis by the time he was eight. Obviously no one is checking it out now...that's just wrong. So who cares what it looks like.

Hygeine is the same.

Answer 9

An intact penis looks gross! If you don't circumcise, he will have a lot of problems keeping out disease and infection from the area as the extra skin holds dirt and bacteria in. They do numb the area when they circumcise, so it's way less painful than a shot. Good luck and God bless.

Answer 10

I just had a boy 10 days ago I had him circumcised. I felt the circumcision was the best option (my husband is as well.) It decreases the chance of certain sexually transmitted diseases and is more hygienic, I kept thinking about teenage boys in a locker room and him getting teased. My doctor said she gave my son a Binky with sugar water and he didn't even cry. It healed within the first week. Ultimately you have to make the decision in your heart discuss it with Dad, because you cant change it!

Answer 11

DON'T! Circumcision is a barbaric practice that the only the U.S still does for non religious purpose. More and more boys are being allowed to keep their parts and your son should as well. My son got to keep his parts and is happy for it. Would you give your baby a nose job to make it look better? Circumcision is the same thing. Cosmetic surgery.