Should I circumcise my baby boy?

Question

My doctor has asked me to make my choice before my son is born. What things should I think about in making this decision?

Answer 1

This is a hard question to decide isn't it? Have you discussed this with the baby's father? Some Moms let daddy decide as he is the one with the penis.
When I have a baby boy I will consider the following:

Is this important in my family for any number of reasons - religious, social, other siblings, cousins etc.

How do I feel about the sanitary issues? Will it be easier to keep clean, especially when he is 5 to 7 years of age?

Do I have health concerns about risks of him having difficulties later?

I certainly don't want to hurt my baby unecessarily - will he be numbed if it is done, will he have discomfort while it is healing? At the same time will he remember any discomfort and would it be worse if he has to have it when he is older?

Properly, I now that a circumcision is not a vital necessity but is it easier to make this decision now rather than later when he has problems or decides he'd like to be like his friends. Is it important to me that if I decide one way with this baby, I probably should be consistent with future sons?

Some recent studies in Africa suggest that circumcising might reduce the likliehood of him getting HIV/AIDs. The risks are not as great here but can I guarantee he will never have unprotected sex with an infected female?

There are so many things to consider! But that's how I'll go about it.

Answer 2

It's totally up to you. Just to let you know and I'll include an article, they do use anesthetic these days because MOST doctors and hospitals are all for pain relief when it comes to this procedure in our world today. You can also request it to be used. Since your making a decision for a "unconsenting minor" like some people like to say, don't worry about it because I doubt your son will grow up wishing he wasn't circumcised. And plus it is a lot more risky when done at a older age. It is not a necessary procedure but I still had my son done, yes I can say that all in the same sentence. Why? Because I DID do my research and it was personal choice. I really think people make this a bigger issue then it needs to be. It is not cruel and my son wasn't "traumatized". He was numbed and he didn't even flinch, it is a very fast procedure and the healing time went great for him, no problems what so ever. Getting his heel pricked was much worse!! Good luck to you on your decision and don't listen to all these people that will put you down most of them don't even have their info correct because I've noticed they all think it's "painful" and barbaric and none of the above was in th room of my son's procedure.

http://www.aap.org/pubed/ZZZ13FOPIUC.htm

http://www.aap.org/pubed/ZZZJZMEMH4C.htm

***Edit I found another article and also wanted to add: I surely won't be the one here telling you that you should or shouldn't do it. Just make sure you talk with the ped and read info from RELIABLE resources......Also if you watch one of the botched videos these people give you, it's definitely NOT how it is done, why? Because I was in the room for my son's and the video's are sooooo far from what he had done. And others I know that seen them agree. One of the reason's it's not reliable is because no anesthic was used and the actual method they use to cut the skin is totally different. Bottom line the video is useless. I would still get my next son done after watching this video, why? because I know that's not how it is done. The people that watch these videos and ASSUME that there baby boy is going to get done like that are IGNORANT!People need to realize that this procedure is done wayyyy differently in our world today......

Answer 3

It's your own personal choice. A lot of Americans have their sons circumcised, most Europeans don't... most end up pretty unaffected by it either way. There are some risks involved though - but some will say the benefits outweigh them. You can read more about it here: For it - http://www.circinfo.net/ And against it - http://www.mothersagainstcirc.org/ :-)

Answer 4

The only reason anyone EVER has in support of circumcision is "to keep it clean". Could you imagine how dirty a vagina would be if it was not cleansed properly? Exactly. We teach our girls how to properly clean a very difficult and embarrasing area. But for the boys we say "Hey, lets just chop it off!!!" Good lord!

If you are still convinced that you should cut an appendege off simply because it might get dirty, please watch a video of an actual circumcision. It doesn't tickle honey. The childs screams are good enough for me.

Why are people so worried about an infection anyway? Is it really that life threatening when a woman has a yeast infection?? In my opinion, it would have to be life threatening before I would cut my arm off...or my leg...or my penis. Don't ya think?

Answer 5

You should not because it's not your body, it's the most errogonous skin on a man's body. and their is no benefit to it . he cleans his penis like a woman cleans her vagina, or otherwise he's gonna have issues just like you would if you didn't clean down there or any other body part for that matter. You wouldn't cut parts of yoru daughters vagina or fingers, ears, toes etc, so leave your son's penis alone, there's nothing wrong with it, but taking a knife and scarring definatly makes something wrong with it, it's common sense not to have a baby and then grab a knife and cut a piece off.
and on the religious note, you cannot force somone to be your religion therefore if a religion requires mutilation then it should be up to the individual, the body of the individual with the penis attatched

Answer 6

I had both of my boys circumcised, but I have to admit, it was hard. I'm pregnant again and hoping I have a girl because I don't want to go through it again. It's much easier to keep clean if you get him circumcised. The baby won't remember a thing if it's done as a newborn, even though it will be painful. I've heard of teens and adult men getting circumcisions and it is much harder to recover and deal with when they are older. My doctor claims that it's about 50-50 now with parents having their baby boys circumcised, but everyone I know has had their boy circumcised. Really, it's up to you and the father, but consider if he might want it done later in life.

Answer 7

I think circumcision is good. My poor father had to get it done in his 40's and it was a little rough. He had been having a lot of infections because where he worked was hot and it was difficult to stay dry down there. I have seen some kids where it grows closed over the end of the penis. I'd say just get it over with. If you are worried about pain, you can insist that your doctor administer a local anesthetic called a penile block...it's a shot that numbs the penis....most docs use at least a numbing spray. I say if you are going to do it, best get it over with when he's really young and won't remember rather than having him have to dread/agonize over getting it done as an older kid or adult.

Answer 8

yes you should


In the first year of life, circumcised boys have fewer urinary tract infections (UTIs) than boys who have not been circumcised. But UTIs are not common in either group. They affect only about 7 to 14 out of 1,000 uncircumcised boys and about 1 or 2 of 1,000 circumcised boys.1 The benefit of circumcision is more clear if a boy is at a higher risk for UTIs because of a urinary tract problem.
Circumcised males may be slightly less likely to get a sexually transmitted disease (STD), including HIV.4, 5 But circumcision should not be done to prevent STDs. Any man who has high-risk sex can get STDs or HIV, whether or not he is circumcised.
What if I decide not to have my baby circumcised?
Keeping the penis clean can lower the already small risk of infection or other problems.

There is a slight chance that a male might need to be circumcised later if he develops a problem with the foreskin (such as phimosis) or inflammation of the tip of the penis (balanitis). But these problems are rare.

Answer 9

My son is 6 months and i didnt have him circumcised. I didn't really care either way so I left it up to his daddy, who is un-circumcised, and he said he didnt want to get it done. I think its a cultural thing because most americans get it done but in most other countries they dont. Its a personal choice and i dont think it really matters either way you decide. good luck and congrats!

Answer 10

I would never circ my son. My husband is uncut & I love it. His is the most beautiful penis I've ever seen... and, just to add fuel to the fire, I will include some links with tons of info on why male genital mutilation is just as bad as female genital mutilation. No offense meant to anyone who chooses to circ... it's just not something I would ever personally have the nerve to do to any son of mine.

From personal experience, my husband is very clean, has NEVER had an infection, and has no foul smell or odor. I don't know any males who routinely inspect how their penis looks in comparison to "the other boys" ... that's ridiculous! You don't get naked in the locker rooms anymore... DUH!!! And the only truly valid reason to have it done is if you are Jewish and it is a part of your religious faith to have it done. That's totally different from doing it "just because" you *think* "everyone else is".... Please do some research and make a decision for yourself, based on actual facts and not the opinions of others.