What do you think about circumcision?

Question

Does anyone have a good medical reason why a baby boy should be circumcised? I really have found no information except that it can reduce STD's, but then again so can a condom? I don't want to cut off a peice of my baby, if it's not medically needed.

I am not worried about the cleaning part. My fiance (the father) is not circumcised and he can explain all the steps to clean it.

Why does everyone think it's more painful to have a circumcision when you are an adult? How would you know? Babies just don't remember it later on to explain exactly how much pain they were in. It's going to be painful either way.

Answer 1

There is absolutely NO medical reason to circumcise an infant. In fact, No medical organization in the world recomends it, several condem it and some equate it to "mutilation".
http://www.cirp.org/library/statements/

More and more parents are realizing that circumcision is just an outdated, cultural ritual and are choosing not to subject their innocent babies to it.
http://www.cirp.org/library/statistics/bollinger2003/
http://www.courtchallenge.com/refs/yr99p-e.html

Here is a great article that touches on almost every concern that expectant parents have, including the cleaning myth(it's easy....just wipe and go!), trauma to the baby(it is actually more traumatic to a baby than to an adult) risks and more.
http://www.mothering.com/articles/new_baby/circumcision/against-circumcision.html

Here is a kink to what these poor boys have to go through when parents say yes:
http://www.circumcisionquotes.com/methods.html

And finally things that can go wrong:
http://www.circumcisionquotes.com/complications.html

Really, why risk it when there is no sound reason to?
Good luck!

Answer 2

It is, somewhat, up to the preference of the parents. The American Academy of Pediatrics no longer recommends circumcision. Clinical studies indicate a lower incidence of STDs. Today, circumcision in a hospital setting is less painful (they use anesthetic now...they didn't in the past). It is easier to clean the penile area of a circumcised baby, but the effort isn't that much more for an uncircumcised one. When potty training, it is a little harder for a toddler to pull back the foreskin and pee -- it tends to spray everywhere if they aren't careful, but time solves this little challenge!

I think you answer your own question when you state "I don't want to cut off a piece of my baby..." It isn't medically necessary, and if you are uncomfortable with it, don't do it.

Answer 3

You don't have to do it. I am uncircumcised, and I found that under the foreskin tends to trap bacteria. When I was younger, I had to "break-in" the foreskin during sex. My school nurse recommended K-Y Jelly to help my skin retract during sex as the first month was painful. During the summer months or when I play sports, I always got jock itch and redness from all the sweat that was trapped under the foreskin. Sounds disgusting, but that's what happened.

So, when I had my baby boy, I didn't want him to have the same problem, so I had him circumcised. I did it when he was still in the hospital and we had to take care of it very carefully for the first two weeks.

A lot of experts recommend it as it prevents bacteria from developing. He can get STD regardless if he is circumcised or not. I recommend that you do it. It is safe and it is a quick procedure.

Answer 4

I feel the same way but I just read an article (I think in Parents magazine) that said a new study shows that men who are not circumcised have a higher chance of infections in the area and a higher chance of giving his partner an infection. My husband also said that if he have a boy he wants it to be circumcised because all of the people he knew who were not circumcised had problems and they all ended up having to be circumcised at a later age (much more traumatic). I ended up having a girl so I did not have to worry about it.

Answer 5

If lack of circumcision really caused so much trouble, would the circumcision rate in Europe (where health and hygine are just as much a priority) be a fraction of that in America? It is primarily cultural and cosmetic.

Rates are going down in america as well, so fears of locker room humiliation are highly exagerated.

An actual family history of problems with the foreskin or diabetes (which makes infections of the foreskin more likely) are the only medical reasons to circumcise an infant, imo. If your husband in uncut, and you don't see the point, there is no cultural or cosmetic reason. So it sounds like for you, the answer is clearly no.

Answer 6

Wow, that previous poster sure sounds lazy! Ooh, pulling back the foreskin is such a chore! lol

OK, so my fiance is uncircumcised, and I have to say I much prefer it to a circumcised penis. There is no medical reason to have a circumcision anymore. You just need to teach your son to have good hygiene practices. My fiance's mom always told him when he was little about what circumcision was so that he would be prepared for the locker room, and that never bothered him. He knew he was natural, the way God made him, and that the other boys were cut because it is what their parents wanted. He never had a problem. (A previous boyfriend was also uncircumcised, and his mom taught him the same thing. The key is to inform your child.)

PS, keeping the foreskin does NOT cause cancer. That is a load of BS for sure.

Answer 7

If it were medically necessary, it would be made mandatory instead of by choice. However, it is standard practice in the US. If you choose not to have your son circumcised, you, now, and he, later in life, will have to take extra care in keeping it clean. Also, be prepared for question as to why his looks different than the other boys.

Answer 8

I've known 5 school age boys that needed it done due to infection and it's alot more traumatizing having it done later. It does not matter if your partner shows him how to clean it, that's no guarantee that the child will be doing it properly at the age of 9 or 10.

Answer 9

It is not medically necessary, but most people have it done for hygiene reasons. It is harder to keep the genitals clean if you are uncircumcised and this can be a problem for young boys. That said, if you do not feel comfortable with it, do not have it done, but do remember that if your son decides to get it done later, it will be far more painful.

Answer 10

Is circumcision painful? It wasn't for my boys and it shouldn't be if the doctor is at all decent:

www.circumcisionvancouver.com

Are there other benefits to the procedure? Yes:

http://www.circinfo.com/parents_guide/gfp.html

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/fishman/2006/circumcision.html

I'll let people research for themselves but hope the above links help.

Sara