Health benefits from circumcision?

Question

I am uncircumsized and want to know, besides for religious reasons why do people circumsize their children when babies?

I have heard there are health / hygenic reasons to have it done, but what are they
Also any reasons past that?

Answer 1

I'm uncircumcised and in terms of hygiene, I've never had any problems with that. It only takes five seconds to slide it back and rub the head, which even feels good when you shower. Nothing grows under it. People should read more.

I provided a rebuttal to these "benefits" yesterday or on Saturday. I'll repost it here, hope it helps! People on here have the tendency to believe anything they here and don't research anything. One recent news story (I'm sure it's on Google News still) claims that male circumcision puts the woman at a higher risk to HIV.
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/38002.html

Frankly, all the "benefits" of circumcision (such as being able to stop masturbation, stopping penile cancer, stopping wet dreams, etc) were all later proven false. In addition, in response to the HIV crap, the US is the only rich country that does this surgery, yet we have the highest HIV rate. Suspicious, no? Europe and Japan (which don't cut) and even parts of Latin America have lower HIV rates.
https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/rankorder/2155rank.html

Unlike many Americans think, a foreskin is not necessarily dirty, and it does have benefits (like keeping the head moist (don't need lubricant most times) and keeping the head sensitive). In addition, cleaning shouldn't be a problem; you slide it back, rub the head (feels good by the way) and you're done in 5 or 10 seconds when you shower. That's how easy it is. In fact, on young children it doesn't even slide back because it's attached to the head so nothing will go into it; you don't have to worry about it. Many Americans think that having a foreskin is so demanding and tough!

In addition, circumcision does carry quite a bit of risks of complications and negative side effects. I've summarized them here:
http://forums.govteen.com/showpost.php?p=3069995&postcount=2

Here's how the foreskin works and its anatomy:
http://www.cirp.org/pages/anat/
http://www.twbookmark.com/books/70/0446678805/chapter_excerpt15690.html

In addition, circumcision isn't done as common as before. The national average is now about 50/50, and some states its as low as 14% (Nevada). A few decades ago it was almost universal to be cut. The same was true in Canada; their rate of circ is now 9% average nationwide. Not covered anymore.

US Statistics: (as you can see, many states and some insurance companies no longer cover it)
http://www.cirp.org/library/statistics/USA/staterates2004/

My preferred source of information is at:
http://www.cirp.org and http://www.circinfo.org

simply because they back up their claims; they're not sites claiming to say that there's 90% circ rates with nothing to back them up. =)

The other thing is that I'm a moderator at a teenage puberty sites and have met quite a few guys who are disappointed to be circumcised as newborns; they can't do anything about it. On the other hand, an unsatisfied uncut guy can just get snipped, and from some of our members who have had it done, it's not that bad (in terms of discomfort). In addition, there's almost no difference between an erect circ and uncut penis (the foreskin slides back when erect), and the foreskin slides up and down to stimulate the head.

Example:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ak0wHRfT7jidHOWMkWmgGM3axQt.?qid=20070311113743AAHVqVI

I wouldn't risk anything with my son. He's not a "thing" to be treated in such a way; it's his body. He can choose.

There's very very few reasons for circumcision. If it's phimosis, there's a cream that works about 95% of the time:
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S1677-55382005000400012&script=sci_arttext&tlng=en

If it's an infection (girls get them too, but I've never had one) it can be treated to, and the guy simply has to wash when he showers (slide it back and rub) which takes like 5 seconds and feels good, since the head is sensitive. Doing that prevents smegma from forming (I've never had any since I started washing after puberty/masturbation)

People have a tendency of saying that they prefer something that they're used to, hence why many automatically assume circumcised is better (in America; since it isn't the case in Europe) but the statistics prove that many are questioning this procedure.
http://www.healthcentral.com/drdean/408/60750.html

And here's a link that doctor try to make you think that circ. is necessary:
http://www.mothering.com/articles/new_baby/circumcision/protect-uncircson.html

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Frankly, if you like your penis how it is, don't worry about it! About 80% or more of guys are uncircumcised in this world. =)

Answer 2

There are no good reasons.

Here are some of the specious reasons given for this practice:

Religion: It is an insult to God to say he made a big mistake when he designed men, and we have to correct it for him because we're wiser than he is.

Hygiene: Warm water. Soap maybe. Nothing more needed.

AIDS: Maybe this is a reason to chop men in Africa where AIDS is mostly transmitted by heterosexual intercouse and condoms are a cultural taboo. It's not going to help in the US, where dirty needles and homosexual sex account for almost all AIDS cases. Condoms work much better than circumcision, and they should be teaching those guys in Africa to wear them instead of mutilating their penises.

Girls like it better: Maybe some young girls do, but 90% of women prefer intact men -- just how long will a guy be having sex with 14-year-old girls anyway? http://www.healthcentral.com/drdean/408/60750.html

He needs to look like his father: Sick! Is his father going to be comparing penises with his son? That's probably good enough reason to put the kid in foster care!

The other boys will laugh at him if he's not cut: Guess what, chances are nowadays that the other boys haven't been cut either. And kids can always find some differences to tease other kids; it's part of growing up.

He might have to have it done when he's elderly: Well, in that case he had the use of it for a good long time! We don't remove the breast tissue from baby girls because a lot of them might end up with breast cancer later in life, do we?

American women sometimes go on about what great lovers Frenchmen, Spaniards, or other European men are. Circumcision rates in Europe range from under 2% to about 5%. There is a connection between these two facts. And European women have much lower rates of cervical cancer than American women. Another bogus argument doesn't hold up.

In short, the only reasons to remove the foreskin are ignorance and a few VERY rare medical conditions -- and that does not include phimosis, which everywhere else in the world except the US is treated very successfully without circumcision.

Answer 3

It used to be thought there were medical advantages, but modern research shows there are no such advantages. The American Medical Association and the American Pediatric Association have issued statements saying there is no medical reason for routine circumcision.

It does not decrease the risk of STDs; it does not change the rate of penile cancer (a very rare cancer anyway) and it does not reduce the growth of bacteria - daily washing does that.

Although some studies show a reduced incidence of urinary tract infections in infants under 12 months old, there is only a small difference in the rates, and these infections are easily treatable.

Recent studies also show that uncircumcised men have a higher risk of contracting HIV from an infected partner if condoms are not used; in men who use condoms, the rate of HIV infection doesn't change between circumcised and uncircumcised men.

Circumcision removes thousands of nerve endings, reducing sexual pleasure; and it also permanently exposes the head of the penis, which becomes less sensitive.

There are no benefits to this operation.

Answer 4

This Q was asked yesterday
Several ansewrs had web siets to confirm their statemants.
There are no good reason but if the guy is not instructed to pull the foreskin back for cleaning the tisue will stick together.
God gave it to you. He will be up set that were foolish to believe the health/hygine excuse.
PS :
took a while
www.norm.org
www.crip.org
I did not visit either.

Answer 5

1

Answer 6

This is a very controversial issue right now. Studies now show that circumcising reduces the risk of HIV (and other STDs) transmission from female TO male (they have begun circumcising adult males in parts of Africa as an intervention against the AIDS epidemic).

Also, some men experience pain when their foreskin is pulled back when they have an erection or have recurrent thrush (yeast) infections. Some families circumcise because the father is circumcised and they want their sons to "match."

Some women prefer the aesthetic of the circumcised penis and aren't sure what to "do" with an uncircumcised penis (especially in the US).

Answer 7

Ultimately the choice is up to the parents. However, here is a link that may provide some information to help you make the best choice for your baby.

http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/55.html

On a personal note, we decided not to have our son circumcised.

Answer 8

From what i have heard circumcision helps boys from getting an infection under the foreskin. It is also much easier to clean the "yellow stuff" (guys u know what i mean) from around the glans of the penis. that stuff can cause an infection if not cleaned properly. When the penis is uncircumcised, that stuff may not be as noticeable since it is hiding under the foreskin of the penis. Also, it is a psychological thing. Nowadays most parents opt to get their newborn sons circumcised. Later in life, mainly in the prepubescent time of middle and then later in high school, many young boys may look at themselves weird for having this extra skin on their penis that many of their gym mates do not........ hope i helped you out!

Answer 9

comwoman wrote

"well...what do bacteria most like to grow in? moist, dark, warm places. it's fine as long as you clean "under there"...

You have just stated why, all women who are pro circumcision for those reasons you state, should themselves submit to the surgeons knife.

Answer 10

since most guys are essentially pigs when it comes to hygiene, it prevents infection and other nasties under the foreskin and is probably THE number one turn off for women if it is not squeaky clean