We decided not to circumcise our son. What about your son?

Question

My husband and I have gone back and forth with this issue for sometime. I finally let my husband make the decision of not circumcising our son because he's a man and understands these things better than me.

I feel good about the decision because my husband is not circumcised and I want our son to feel he is like his father and totally normal. After doing some research, it is actually frowned upon by many countries. It's a huge money making racquet in the USA and I think more people are opting not to have the procedure.

The only dumb comment I've heard is...he'll be different from the other little boys in his gym class. I asked my husband this and he told me that growing up there were only two boys in his gym class that WERE circumcised. All there rest weren't. So I think this is a stereotype that the medical industry has tried to push on the public for years. It's a huge money maker every year. To get our son circumcised it costs $200. OMG! What do you think?

Mommyof4 - you're way out of line on this one. First of all, I didn't bash anyone for making the decision to circumcise their son. This is general discussion. And I'm intelligent enought to know that I don't believe everything I read. It's a personal decision. Secondly, my son isn't born yet. Dumb a$$. So go take your prozac and deal with your little circumcised children. Okay.

Scuba - If you don't like the question, then go elsewhere with your 2 cent thoughts and attitude. Again, this is a discussion. Not a judgement chamber.

Answer 1

My oldest is, my youngest isn't.

With my 1st I just assumed it was baet, with my 2nd I researched!

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

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?

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!


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.

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

I think it's a personal choice and the only person ho can have an opinion that is valid is the parent. I can see both ways, however there is lots of medical research to show circumsied boys get less STDS and other infections. i chose to circ my son to be like his father and for health reasons, but I don't care either way if other people do or don't. BTW - the circumcision was a part of the birth care cost from the hospital - not any more or extra. Also, so what if other countries don't do it! Many do. And, we wouldn't frown on other cultures for doing something "their way" and this is just somethign we happen to do "our way". Every culture is different so just becasue we do something that another culture doesn't doesn't mean it's invalid. I don't care if you do or don't, that's just my feelings on it.

Answer 3

I have three sons, before they were born I did allot of research on the subject and talked to their Dad and I choose not to do it, my boys are all older now, the oldest is married the youngest just graduated and none of them had problems of any kind with our decision to not circumcise. Now a days seeing how they are charging the big prices to circumcise it seems like fewer parents are having it done. I was more concerned with boys comparing them selves to their father and feeling totally normal, than comparing them selves to another child in school, buts that's me. You should choose what you and your husband feel is right, for your the ones who will have to answer any questions that may come up, right. I am just glad as parents we still have the right to make that choice, one choice they have not taken from us as parents. Trust your hearts, you will make the right choice!

Answer 4

Hi I think that your decision to not circumcise your son was a great decision. My husband and I had the same dilemma. We weren't worried about gym class and so on later on. We decided to get our first son circumcised because my husband was circumcised and we didn't want our son to be different from him. He is the most influential male in his life so we thought it was important. We also knew that this is a very painful procedure ..so finding the right Dr. was another difficult decision. We found a Dr. that uses an local anesthetic not that cream stuff that doesn't work at all. We also got to be present for the procedure which made all the difference. Everyone has a different opinion on this but i think it's important to do your homework on this one first..oh and by the way my Dr. charged me $225 for 8 minutes of work. NICE!!!
momof4

Answer 5

hi,

Circumcision is a practice that should be regarded in the same light as the ritual scarification carried out by some African tribes. It is barbaric and an abuse of the child.

There is evidence that children undergoing circumcision suffer trauma and it some cases this has lead to lasting harm.

There is no medical evidence that it is beneficial and no medical authority supports it, including the BMA and the American Medical Authority.

Sexual pleasure in the man is decreased and some women report that there pleasure is also decreased with circumcised men.

Well done, in not subjecting your son to this abomination.

Answer 6

Congratulations on making the right decision for your son. He will be born perfect, and your decision allows him to remain perfect!

If the pro-mutilation people were right, then Europe (with very few infant circumcisions) would have a lower rate of STDs and adult circumcisions than the US, where it used to be popular. In fact the opposite is true!

Answer 7

What a question! We didn't even think about it, we knew about the benefits of circumcision, so we had our three sons CIRCUMCISED right after birth at hospital.

I really think you have been a bit irresponsable when opting out for circumcision.



Oh that circumcision is wrong is a load of ****! Most boys and men do not keep themselves clean enough and it can and does cause women to get infections.. And honestly, its ugly.

It doesn't make the suffer. And I have seen what problems boys and men can have from not being circumcised..My nephew wasn't, but he had so many problems they had to do it when he was 2 years old!!! And it didn't bother him a bit.

Of course they did it while he was getting tubes in his ears so he wasn't awake. But he was up running around the next morning like nothing happened..

I had 2 other foster children who had problems as well.. One little boy, you could not pull the foreskin back at all... it HAD to be fixed. Another little boy got blisters (HUGE ONES) like my son did from their own urine, even with me keeping them clean!

I have know adult men who have had to have it done.. My first husband could not pee standing up, he could not pull the foreskin back at all and it took him a long time to orgasm as well.

And it's NOT true that more people are opting for not circumcising. About 65% of all newborns are circumcised at hospital, and some other 25% are circumcised at a later point, so about 80 of all American males are still circumcised.

Circumcision rates are INCREASING nowadays, both in the United States and overseas. Many African, Asian and South American countries with little circumcision tradition are starting to promote the procedure to help to reduce the AIDS-HIV infection rates.

Is it NOT true that the AAP (American Academy of Paediatrics) does not recommend circumcision. They simply say they leave the decision to parents. But recently, and specially after the recent studies by the US National Institutes of Health, the AAP has been discussing if it may be necessary to change their policy and recommend circumcision to all newborns as they used to do, so in the future we may see that the AAP advocates circumcision again.
Have a look at: http://www.baby-health.net/articles/381.html

Then you have the AIDS-HIV protection. Circumcision greatly reduces the risk of infection. See: http://www.torontodailynews.com/index.php/HealthNews/2006121404Circumcision

Circumcision is an easy and nowadays *painless* procedure, which has many benefits, and virtually no risks.
Circumcision is NOT an amputation. Circumcision is NOT comparable at all to female circumcision, which is something completely different.

I really think you have been a bit irresponsable when opting out for circumcision.

Answer 8

My kids are. Why, because I am intelligent enough not to believe complete strangers on the internet who for some reason believe incomplete facts and truths.

You said yourself that you didn't circ your son because your husband wasn't circ'd. Then you bash people for circumcising for the same reason. A little hypocritical don't you think?

I didn't pay anything for my circumcision but I would have if needed. You can't put a price on what is best for my boys.

And to let you know. There are more circumcised males in the US then not. People on here flaunt this 50/50 number around like they actually know what they are talking about.

Do what you want to your kid. I am doing what is BEST for mine.

ETA: I think it is pathetic you have to resort to name calling to get your point across. Aren't we all adults here? I thought your question asked "What about your son?" Last I knew, this was a public forum. If you didn't want to know then DON'T ASK!

By the way, leave Scuba alone. At least he/she shows you facts.

Answer 9

There are so many babies NOT getting circumcised these days that the gym thing is not even an issue any more! I think it's a personal choice between you and your husband. We chose to get my baby circumcised because my husband is. But, ya, it IS expensive, and I guarantee you that if my husband wasn't, our baby wouldn't be either! Also, most insurances no longer cover it, because it is becoming common knowledge that it's not medically necessary, and not necessary for hygeine, either, as people used to beleive.

Answer 10

Family background and studying the current research on the subject, I convinced my husband to NOT circumcise our son. I figured God gave him all these parts and if we didn't need them for some reason, nature would've evolved them out of us. Nowadays, only about 60% of boys are being circumcised in the United States and most doctors are not recommending it. My son's pediatrician actually thanked me and praised me for NOT doing it. Any parent that is thinking about it, other than for religious reasons, should watch one being done and if they still choose to do it, should be their while their son screams in pain and know that they choose that for him.

Answer 11

I adopted my son when he was age 3 and he was not circumcised. I would prefer him to be circumcised but it's no big deal.