What do you think of circumcision? Any Pros and Cons?

Question

I'm an asain and my husband is an african amearican. We have our baby boy in my country and i didn't let him do it as i'm not sure about it and we don't normally do it in my country. Now, my husband is saying that i should do it now as he's now 20 months, getting old. Shall I do that? What do you think? Is it a good idea to do so? Help please. I dont' wanna do it when I'm not sure about what will happen in the future for it?

Answer 1

There's pros and cons to both.

Circumcision on newborns in the USA has gone down, so don't think he's alone. The rate is as low as 14% in some states. So in some states he may actually be in the majority. Here are the statistics from the government. As you know, the rest of the world (Europe, Latin America, and Asia) don't usually circumcise newborns.
http://www.cirp.org/library/statistics/USA/staterates2004/

Personally I'm from California and am uncircumcised; I just turned an adult and haven't had problems with it. I like it, to be honest. Quite a few of my friends are too.

Circumcision has been found to reduce sensitivity and pleasure over the long run, since the head rubs against the clothes. Another study found that it made masturbation more difficulty in over 60% of men. Those new studies are in the British Journal of Urology:
http://forums.govteen.com/showpost.php?p=3069995&postcount=2

As for the 'advantages' of circumcision; it's mostly hygiene. But keeping a foreskin clean isn't a major issue in my view. You just slide it back and rub the head, which takes a few seconds and feels good (since it's the head).

There's studies that say that it reduces your chances of getting HIV, but keep in mind that that study was in Africa. When you compared advanced nations like the USA and Europe, the USA has both the highest circumcision rate and highest HIV rates. Even higher than Europe and parts of Asia and Latin America. That's using CIA statistics:
https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/rankorder/2155rank.html

As for STDs, different studies have found different results. Some found higher STDs for circumcised males, while others for uncircumcised males. I think it all comes down to your sexual life.
http://www.menweb.org/msnbcirc.htm

UTIs occur in 1 in 100 boys. But that's usually in the first year of life, and your son is already older, so I wouldn't worry about that. Girls get them more.

As for who lasts longer in sex until you orgasm or ejaculate, they're about the same. This study only found the difference to be a few seconds; the average was 6 minutes for both groups:
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2005.00070.x

And yeah, it's painful:
http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9712/23/circumcision.anesthetic/
http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/1f21e.htm
http://www.cirp.org/library/procedure/plastibell/

For those reasons I say since you already left him uncircumcised, you may as well leave him as he is and let him choose when he's older. His 'baby' era is almost over and that way he'll be satisfied no matter what. =) After all, when hard/erect they don't look that much different since the foreskin usually slides back a bit when erect. I just wouldn't worry about it and let him be as he is for now. That can always change if he wants to later on.

Answer 2

First of all nothing hurts more. It will be sore for a year or
more. Erections are uncontrollable and another source
of pain. Your husband was most likely a new born and
dose not remember the screaming. Tho it is rare, there
are reports of death from the pain. One must keep the
boy clean until he can clean himself. Baby oil on a cotton
swab is the best method. This method also prevents the
foreskin from becoming too tight. At 20 months he may
even think someone attempted to cut it off. I'm only on the
baby's side. Good luck.

Answer 3

Please leave your perfect baby WHOLE! Can you imagine how sore it will be with a wet diaper rubbing against an open wound when he's already walking (running!) around? There is no good reason to deprive him of his foreskin. It is his body, and he should have the choice when he is an adult. Most intact men would not give up their foreskins for any reason!

I suggest that you and your husband watch the video at http://www.cirp.org/library/procedure/plastibell/ -- is this something you want to do to the child you both love?

Answer 4

Complications from circumcision are said to be rare and usually minor. They may include bleeding, infection, cutting the foreskin too short or too long, and improper healing.There really haven't been many proven studies, but its said that circumcision can cut the risk of contracting STD's including HIV, lower rate of urinary tract infections and other infections.

Answer 5

Although I heard it has a less chance of getting infected, there are a lot of complications if you do it. It could get infected, God forbid. Don't do it. I am uncircumcised, and I love it!!!

Answer 6

pros are it takes longer for sperm to come out, cons are it hurts for about 7 weeks

Answer 7

Hmmm....there is a lot of misinformation on here. There are many health benefits from circumcising and rather than debate point to point; here are some links you should consider:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/index.php?feed=Science&article=UPI-1-20070307-12451700-bc-us-circumcise.xml

http://www.physorg.com/news86339340.html

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1141513

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

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15593753/

http://www.circinfo.com/parents_guide/gfp.html
even the World health Organization is recommending it now:
http://www.who.int/hiv/mediacentre/news68/en/index.html
http://www.who.int/entity

Hope these links help.

Sara

Answer 8

i agree with jorge. hes already an infant so i think you should leave him alone. at first i thought i wouldnt like uncircumcized ones since my previous boyfriends were circumcized but after i tried my current boyfriend i can say i like it. like he said he can always change if he wants when hes older.

Answer 9

Don't do it,your son will be very grateful later in life.Please understand that it is not your penis or your husbands penis that you are thinking of mutilating,it is another persons albeit your son's.