circumcision question?

Question

When my son was born they said his penis was too small and we would have to wait. At his 4 month checkup I asked if they could do it because he was bigger. They said they won't even consider it until he is a year old! Im scared to have it done that late. My husband and I have been weighing the good and bad and we still don't know if we want to have it done. We have 6 months to decide. Im scared he will be in alot of pain. He will probably be walking then and it would hurt him. Im afraid he might resent me after its done. Do they give the baby a shot or something so it does'nt hurt? I think I would only be able to do it to him if I can be sure it won't hurt him. I think he would be fine uncircumsised except for all the cleaning issues and things like getting sand in it at the beach (ouch!!!) What do you think?

Answer 1

Wow, curcumcised at 1 year? Ouch! Me and my husband decided ot circ. our son when he was born and they did it the morning after delivery. I don't know if they give them anything or what they do but I'd be worried too about pain and keeping it clean...etc if I were in your shoes. Truthfully though there really is no real reason you should have him circ. in the first place. There are so many mothers who are not circumsising they're baby's because there's no reason for it. I let my husband decide because I figured he knew better than me about things like that but if my son were 1 when they had to do it, I wouldn't have gotten it done. Good luck!!

Answer 2

First off, I would seek a 2nd opinion. I have never heard about not being able to circ because of the size of the penis. And even more so, having to wait untill 1 year old. You do not, however, have to have him circumsized. What ever your decision, make sure you know the facts. After much research, I decided not to have my son cut. This is why:

Myth 1: It is cleaner.
Truth: It is actually easier to clean then a cut penis. The skin acts like a barrier from germs. All that must be done is wash it like a finger, and do not force the skin back. Once it goes back on its own, simply pull it back gently, wash it, and the the skin cover it again. Infections come form parents not cleaning it, and they will have just as many problems if it is cut.

Myth 2: It protects the baby from UTI
Truth: It actually has the opposite effect. A cut penis is far more likely to get infected. When you remove the skin, the head is exposed to the urine and poop in the diaper, and it is easier for germs to enter. Removing the forskin is like removing the outer lips of the female vagina. They are what protect the tender, delicate skin underneath from infection and must be kept clean. The skin under the forskin is like that of the skin under the fingernail. If the nail is there like it is supposed to be, the skin underneath stays soft. If the nail comes off, tha skin gets harder to protect its self.

Myth 3: It looks better cut.
This is an opinion. When the skin is pulled back, it looks the same as a cut one. It is actually bigger because it has more skin.

Myth 4: Uncut boys get teased in the locker room.
Truth: The ratio of cut to uncut has changed in the recent years, and there are currently more boys being left alone then boys being cut. So, if anyone is getting teased, it is the circumsized boys.

Myth 5: It can lead to problem later in life, and the adult circumsision.
Truth: The only reason this happens is natural. Some men's forskin does not grow large enough for their penis. In these men, even if they were cut, they would still need surgery to properly align the existing skin, and maybe even have more cut because there is not as much for the doctor to work with.

Myth 6: It does not hurt, and they do not remember.
They may not remember actually being cut, but they see the result every day for the rest of their life. Forskin can not ever grow back, and can not be reattached. And for those who don't think it hurts, would you cut your penis, or even finger for that matter? I don't think so. Just because he may not cry, does not mean he does not hurt.

Truth: Sex is better for uncut men.
When the skin is cut to be removed, there are hundreds of nerve ending that are destroyed in the process. This leads to lower sensations in the cut men.

If you do decide to have it done, do so before he is any older. The more avtive he is, the harder it will be to take care of it, and the more it will hurt.

Anyway, I am not trying to force my decision on you, I am simply concensing all my research here for you. It is ultimatley your choice. Good luck.

Answer 3

I heard a doctor once say that having a circumcision to keep your penis clean makes as much sense as having your eyelid removed to keep your eye ball clean.

I was never circumcized and never had any issues with cleanliness or sand at the beach. The doctor will give your baby a local anesthetic, but it will still hurt a lot for several days.

I do not understand the need for doing it, except for purposes of not looking different. Nowadays though, greater than 40% are not getting it done in US, and that number is rising yearly. Also around the world this is rarely done except in Israel and Muslim countries.

Also, it is said that having this done reduces sensitivity in the penis.

Update: One of the answers above suggested the following.
"However, be sure to pull the foreskin back when bathing your son and wash with non-soapy water."

Do not pull the foreskin on your child back. It will begin to retract on its own when he is about 4 put if you force it before then you could cause damage and pain. Just leave it alone and he will be fine.

Answer 4

I did not want to have my son circumcised, and was opposed by everyone in the family, including his mother. My father refused to talk to me "until it was taken care of." I showed my wife reams of stuff I printed off the internet, and when she wouldn't read it, I read it to her. How it's unnecessary, diminishes sexual sensation, is really a proper decision for the individual himself, etc. I finally "won" by getting on my knees and literally begging her. Now aged 13, my son has no problems with his intact penis. There was an issue where he was late in emerging from the foreskin. Two doctors casually said "What's the problem? Circumcise him." Fortunately, when he was around 7, a third doctor prescribed a hydrocortizone-based cream, and with a few stretching sessions, he emerged with no discomfort. Recently, they've been saying that an intact penis may be more susceptible to certain STDs, but the fact is that there is no concensus on this, and most doctors are of the opinion that circumcision is not necessary. Not all circumcisions are successful. A recent news story details how a boy lost about 1/3 of his penis in a botched procedure. I'll bet he'll be thanking his parents in years to come for that. And don't fall for that crap about being "just like dad." I was cut, and it's not an issue. Normal fathers and sons don't go around waving their privates in front of each other anyway.

Answer 5

it's not an issue to clean it, just as it's not an issue to clean a vagina. If you have him circumcised you will be cutting off valuable errogonous skin and since it is not your penis then it is not your decision, you will not have left him with an option. This should only be performed as often as amputation of legs, arms, fingers etc is done, as a last resort. if an adult had it done for medic reasons of course he would think if feels better just as friends of myne who had leg amputations. But since there is so much ignorance in NAmerica about about foreskin it is done much more often then needed in intact men. any health problem is rare and when happens is treatable w/o surgery. If you have the aids thingy in your mind all you need to do is teach safe sex practices. Not only will you be cutting off errogonous skin but baby's penis is attatched to the head of the penis until a few years to teens therefore it is ripped from the head, like a nail from the finger. and the head is naturally only suppose to come out when erect and if it is out constanstly rubbing against his shorts then it will be desentisized. hope you choose to respect your son enough to leave him with genital integrity. It stared in english countries about a hundred years ago with it stops masturbation which was also thought to cause problems, the ignorance has evolved from there

Answer 6

Circumcision is a belief in religion. Yes it will be very painful I would imagine. Since the skin will get thicker! It is very easy to clean w/ out getting circumcised. I have 4 kids. And I have my 1st 2 in my 20's. Back then if I have a boy yes in my mind I said " on yes " circumcision is the only way to go!!!" Thank god I didn't have a boy back then. I had my boy when I was 30 yrs old. ( I know age isnot the matter here) But I really looked into it and thought of it like if I was him not what I think he would like it. My son is 5 1/2 yrs old he is NOT circumcised and HAS HAD "NO" PROBLEMS.
When he was in diapers I would pull back the skin a little and clean the tip. Especially when he had a "bm" And now that he cleans himself, I teached him to clean it w/ a wippy. And yes my husband is involved.


Do what you heart feels its right! You and your husband are cleaning the area fine now, why do it? Why have your boy go through w/ it???

Answer 7

ok first of all circumcision is not all its cracked up to be.
it doesnt pose any greater health risks to not circumcise as apposed to doing it so unless you have a religous preferance... then I say dont bother...
As far as getting sand and such in there... unless someone pulls the skin back with sand on their hands (which I dont reccommend) its not that likely... the foreskin forms a pretty good seal to protect from that sort of thing
I've taken my son to the beach many many times and he has never gotten sand under his foreskin
when I found out I was pregnant with my son I studied up on it...basically... you dont have to do anything different if you choose to not circumcise him...
just keep him clean and when you notice the foreskin becomming loose then you gently clean under it occasionally and always keep the general area clean... by all means do NOT force it back... this is what causes irritation and infections...
my mom went through it with my brother and he had to be circumcised later... and he resented her for it... even tho it wasnt her fault...

as he grows up teach him how to clean himself well...
just keep in mind it is usually more sensetive... so its ticklish when you clean him...especially as he gets older...
the foreskin is natures way of protecting the penis... I think mother nature knows best
If it were me... I would leave him keep what God Gave him

P.S. please dont allow the excuse he will be different from his peers to sway you... because you know what... when he becomes a man... I guarantee he will thank you for not having it done andmy cousin has a little boy who was circumcised and they did it wrong and he now has a deformed penis...
talk about what the other kids will think in the locker room?! and this is not the only case I have seen where things go wrong...It happens more often than they want you to believe

Answer 8

I have a 4 year old who has never been circumcised. I think circucision is bad and inhumane to males. Your son won't get sand in it at the beach because he isn't circumcised. The foreskin protects the tip of the penis and keeps it from getting anything. However, be sure to pull the foreskin back when bathing your son and wash with non-soapy water. I take a jug of water (now that he is older he does this himself) pull the foreskin back so the head is revealed and pour the water over it slowly. I don't touch the head since it is a sensitive area. He has never had any problems and since he has a "normal" penis the way it should be he can enjoy normal sex which circucised men are deprived of (in my opinion) since they lose some of the sensation they are supposed to have. I know I am going to get some comments about my opinion so let me explain further. We tickle when someone touches us lightly in certain parts of our bodies (underarms, belly, feet etc.). We don't feel as ticklish on our hands or knees. People who have soft, well-protected feet feel more "tickle" than people who have hard "toughened" soles. Similarly, a man "tickles" more when he is uncircumcised. Let your son be the way mother nature intended him to be...but CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN.

Answer 9

Yes he will be given a shot and it will be a painless procedure when done at that age but will give him the benefits of having a lifelong clean penis. Lots of people love to make a big issue out of nothing.

Answer 10

First off I appreciate that you are attempting to make an educated decision and that you have your son's best interest at heart! Way to go!
I have read lots on this very topic so I will let you know some of the things I read as well as some of my opnions on the topic and you just take it as you will kk..
Some Doc. do give a local anesthetic before circumcision and some chose not to so make sure you ask about that before you go through with it. Hate to unpset you but I feel you where asking the question to get the honest truth of the matter so I am just going to let it out as it is... He is going to be held down arms and legs and they are going to cut the fore skin off his penis. I have never heard of an anesthetic used that knocks them out as the risks involved with that are ushualy not worth doing it to most Doc. but I would request it if you are going to go through with it. Can you imagine haven that happen to you? I would just freak out if I where in his shoes... Just a reminder no where have I said that it is a right or wrong thing to do am just giving you the truth as I see it. Personally I think that is aweful and I know some people would say so that he is not going to remember it. But I wounder if he will remember the emtional trama if you know what I mean... And yes it's going to hurt one hell of a lot no matter which way its done (knocked out, local anestheic, or no pain meds.) as it is a surgery and skin is being cut regardless.
There are a lot of socail stigmas that go with being or not being circucised. Everyone has their opnions and I know that doesn't make it any easyer on you to make a decision. And I don't want to be another jerk complicating things for you...
Lets talk about not circumcising and the issues revolving around it. There maybe some social issues with it... However, form what I understand many more familys are deciding not to circumcise theres days than ever before. Also, from what I have read America is really one the few countrys the it is still common pratice. As far as keeping his fore skin clean, from what I read the foreskin will not detach from the penis for some time and maybe not until puberty which makes keeping it clean a non issue until that point. The fore skin cleans its self out much as an eye lid works for the eye. When cleaning becomes and issue it doens't seem to be difficult or time consuming from what I read. It should be something Dad can talk with him about and teach him about as well. And remember if you decide not to and he decides later in life we would like to its always an option for him. Yes, it will hurt to do it then to and there is dabte whether it hurts more as an adult or not but who can say for sure. Its not like you can ask a baby or toddler to express that sort of thing with any kind of accurasy. Know what I mean? There are lost of medical journals that talk about hygen of the penis in both situations but I have found a lot of mere opinion in those articales as well.
Ultimatley the decision rests on you honey. And untilmatley if you want to spare your child pain you will have to forgo it all together. Then agian you maybe allowing a social issue to appear later. What's your core value on the issue? What is your reasons to do it? Is it a valid reason or just something you have always been told to do? Is it a religious issue? Do you in your heart of hearts feel its right? If you can answer these questions with an honest heart (which I think you have) then I am confident you will find the answer to this issue. God bless and hugs!