Deciding whether or not to circumcise our son - How did you decide?

Question

My husband and I are researching and working towards a decision on whether or not to circumcise our son when he is born.

Would you please share why you chose to or not to proceed with circumsion?

Answer 1

The only thing I can say is continue to research and educate your selves! I wouldn't go off of what others "say". You will get too much conflicting info and unreliable info/resources here. I know this is a forum to ask questions but it's beyond me why some ask serious ones like these and rely or take the info into consideration for their decisions.

The smart thing to do is what you already said, research and educate your selves.

We did the research and made a informed choice with what was best for OUR son and both have peace of mind about it. You can't talk about how bad something "potentially" is, until you witness it. We were present at our son's procedure and some go too far with words like painful, mutilation, barbaric ect. And NONE of the words above were in the room for my son's procedure. For one, anethetic was used and it is proven effective and I saw that it was effective. It's 2007 people, most doctors and hospitals recommend and are all for pain relief for circumcison. Anethetic is even recommended by the AAP and you can also request it to be used. My son's foreskin wasn't cut off with a butcher knife in the comfort of my own home! It was done in a hospitalized setting with licensed doctor (s). Don't preach about the "actual procedure" you know nothing about. Simple as that. Watching a video or looking at pictures online isn't witnessing it! That's why some shouldn't rely on info from the internet= it's unrealible. Sorry to sound defensive but I'm just talking from my point of view and from things I've witnessed and know to be true. And it's anoying to hear these ridiculous things because I've been there and done it!!

Answer 2

With my oldest son I didn't know enough about it so I let the father decide since he has the penis and I don't.
10 years later when I was having my second son his father wanted it done but I didn't (I had learned more about it by that point) but what ended up being the deciding factor was that it would have cost $500! I dont' know about you but I have way better things to spend $500 on. I did the math and it works out that I could buy 25 packages of diapers or formula. (Canadian money)
It was a no brainer for me, his dad still wants it done, just so they can look the same....To me that is also a stupid reason.
But like breast feeding it is a personal decision and don't let anyone make it for you.
As for people who think that it "looks funny" do they not realize that when it is erect they look the same?

Answer 3

I think its funny how so many people say"it looks better" Then why not fix his nose while you are at it!
Circumcision is an unnecessary and brutal act towards babies. Do you know they strap them to the bed to do it?
This is an ancient practice which main purpose was to diminish pleasure while having sex.
some insurance companies no longer cover this procedure, because is considered cosmetic surgery.
As far as te people that say they do it because they don`t want their child to look "different" I work at a daycare center and 90% of the kids are not circumcised.
My 2 year old was not circumcised but his father is. At first he wanted our son to have the circumcision as soon as he was born, but after some research, he realized is completely unnecessary if you teach them how to clean themselves at an early age.
Congratulation on your baby and also on wanting to make an informed decision

Answer 4

My hubby is circumcised. Our son is not. We couldn't find any strong argument that convinced us that it was necessary.

The "medical arguements" can be taken care of by teaching the child good hygeine and safe sex practices.

The American Academy of Pediatrics actually says, "Existing scientific evidence demonstrates potential medical benefits of newborn male circumcision; however, these data ARE NOT SUFFICIENT to recommend routine neonatal circumcision."

To us, the locker room arguement is a joke. Who do you think is gonna get teased? Probably the boy who admitted he was looking at another boy! AND the circ rate in the USA is approaching 50/50 anyway.

Also, I don't think it's important for the kid to "look like Dad" as many others will argue. Kids are SMART. They know not all people look the same. Some are skinny, some are fat. Some have brown hair, some red, some blonde, white, etc. Some have pale skin, some have dark skin. Eye colors are different. Grown up men have facial hair. Grown ups have pubic hair and kids don't. Looking different is NOT going to confuse a kid. We all look different in a million ways already! The boys I've heard of who did ask said something like, "Wow! Thanks for not letting them do that to ME Dad!" (BTW.....my 8 yo has never asked about the difference that I know of.)

An intact penis requires no special care as an infant. The foreskin actually PROTECTS the child by keeping fecal matter OUT! You don't need to retract it - it's actually still fused to the head of the penis at this age. Once he is around school age, he'll probably discover he can retract it. Then all he needs to do is rinse with water in the bath.

Did you know how circumcision became common in the USA? As an attempt to stop masturbation! Can you believe it?!

I wouldn't circ a daughter.....why would I do it to my son? His body part.....his choice. I think he was born with it for a reason!

Answer 5

I chose not to circumcise our son, much to the dismay of my mother-in-law. I chose a pediatrician before my son was born and asked what he would reccomend. He said he leans towards not doing it, because he viewed as a mostly cosmetic procedure. I was already leery of it because it seems so painful to cut off the foreskin of a tiny newborn. I decided that I would just let my son decide for himself what he wants when he is a teenager.

Answer 6

You got quite the response for this hot button topic. I only read a few of the answers but will go back to check out more.....

I did not circumcize our son. We decided not to do it because in my opinion circumcision is male genital mutilation. God put the foreskin there for a reason - it protects the penis. It is also an elective procedure done for cosmetic purposes. Don't let people try to convince you that it is not clean or sanitary if not circumsised because that is a bunch of BS.

Would you cut off your baby girls labia if it meant she would be cleaner?

check out the link and look at one of the videos and you will surely be able to decide if it is right for you or not.

Answer 7

I had my son at a birthing center not a traditional hospital, so they didnt offer circumcsions there. They offered to refer us to a doctor who did. We went but they advised me since my son was over 9lbs, he was 10 lbs 3 ozs at birth that they recommended that we wait till hes 5 months, they would then put him under and do it that way. The bigger the baby is the higher percentage of more bleeding. So now my son is 8 months and we have decided not to circumcise him. It is too much of a hassle. I read stats that only 50% of boys born after 2005 are now circumcised.

Answer 8

Well, I don't have a kid, but I might lean towards letting him keep his turtleneck-all natural, and all that.

I would be concerned, due to STDs (later in his life), but taught properly, he could take care of the other issues (hygiene) that come with it.

A female friend told me their son was circumcised so he'd "look like his Dad". I had the old snip-snip shortly after birth, but I don't know if it was because my dad was, or not. I'd truly rather not think about my dad's penis. Sorry, I just threw up. Anyway, sometimes I wish I had a turtleneck too. I hear the climax of sex is more intense if you're left intact.

Answer 9

When my first son was born, I was a single parent, and was unfamiliar with cleaning an uncircumcised penis. I chose to circumcise him to make sure that he would be clean and there would be less of a chance for getting an infection. When my second son was born, my husband and I chose to get him circumcised because when my husband was a child, he had to get circumcised at age 10 and he still remembers the pain and has scarring from it. Both my sons are fine and healthy, one is 8 and the other is 18. These are reasons why I chose for circumcision. But the decision is still up to you and your husband.

Answer 10

I made the decision not to circumcise our son who is 13 now. I asked my GYN, and our Pediatrician who both said there was no medical reason to do it. People in Europe do not routinely circumcise their males. I think that strapping a child down and cutting the most intimate part of their body is cruel.'
Also, people may tell you that it needs to be done for hygienic reasons-- NOT TRUE!! My son has never had a problem.
Good luck with your decision!

Answer 11

When I had my son, we didn't circumcise him. Our reason was because it's religious. My husband wasn't circumcise and he seemed to be just fine... (knock on wood)...This is a serious matter so do what you think is best, not because of others' decision.