Should I circumcise my son when he is born?

Question

I'm pregnant with a boy and wonder if I should circumcise my son. I have a cousin who is against circumcision, so she did not circumcise her son. She thinks I should have the same opinion as her. I thought everyone circumcised their sons and that's all I've ever known. I did not know it was a choice until my cousin talked about it to me. What's your opinion on it?

Answer 1

Recent research suggests that there may be some medical benefits of circumcision, for example:

Some studies have shown that infants who are circumcised have a significantly reduced risk of getting a urinary tract infection in their first year of life.
Circumcision eliminates the risk of infants and children getting infections under the foreskin.
Circumcision almost eliminates the risk of getting cancer of the penis, a very rare condition.
Circumcised men may have less risk of getting sexually transmitted diseases than men who are not circumcised

Some reasons not to choose circumcision:
Wanting to avoid surgery that is not essential and carries some risk of complications, even though these are small.
Concern that removing the foreskin may reduce sensitivity of the tip of the penis and, therefore, reduce sexual pleasure later in life.
Wanting to avoid the pain of circumcision that can occur at the time of the operation and for some time after.

Some older boys and men need to have a circumcision due to medical problems, such as:
Scarring of the foreskin that stops it from retracting (phimosis)
Recurrent inflammation or infections of the penis
A foreskin that is too tight and causes pain
A very long foreskin that can cause discomfort.
Some men choose to have a circumcision for social reasons, such as a belief that the foreskin is unattractive or pressure from their partner to have the operation.

Answer 2

If it's not your p.enis, leave it alone! There are many reasons against circumcision(check out the hundreds of questions discussed on Y/A), and all the ones in favor of it have been disproved. The risks of permanent scarring are real, as are the 220+ deaths per year in the USA. Add to that the loss of sensitivity and the keratinization(hardening) of the skin of the glans, and any caring parent would avoid it like the plague. (Yes, I know, cliches should be avoided like the plague too). Let him make his own choice when he is 18(very few men choose to be mutilated).

Answer 3

that's a personal opinion. we didn't get our son's snipped because of costs (our ob would've charged $500+) but also because my husband didn't care. usually though, it might be better for potty training later if dad and son are the same. either both cut or both not so that no odd questions arise.

i disagree with red_necksuck and tll. the foreskin is there for a reason. it's actually pretty sensitive so it won't ruin his sensations later. also, it's only dirty if you don't clean it (like everything else). in addition, there's really no evidence that it's medically necessary or better.

although, if it's done later in life, it's more painful and takes longer to heal.

whatever you do, ignore what everyone else says (except for your husband maybe ^_~) it's your choice.

Answer 4

I circumcised my son because me and his dad wanted it.
My husband is the 5th of 5 boys and thats all they have ever known. I have never known any different. I know i didn't want my son looking different than his daddy and wondering why.
And for all the health/sanitary reasons. why not cut the extra off is one less thing and easier to clean. But talk to your sons daddy , it should be a joint thing to decide. And i was wondering why some women are so dead set against it. They don't have a penis, they dont have to take care of it the rest of their lives, They won't know whats it like so they can bring their opinions on strong.

Answer 5

My opinion is: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Nothing wrong with the foreskin. No reason why it should be removed. Leave it alone.

Actually, the circumcision rate in the USA, on average, is about 65%. So, that means that 35% of boys are not circed.

The usual reasons people give when deciding to circ, beyond religious ones, are kind of silly when you look closely at them.

For example, the "I want him to look like his dad" one... I always want to ask those people if the dad's penis actually looks like a tiny baby penis in any way (circed or not). And, as adults, how many guys actually see their father's penis at all, ever?

Or, "I don't want him to be teased in the locker room". Now, I've never been in a men's locker room when guys were naked, but I'm guessing the guy who's more likely to be teased is the one who actually admits that he's even noticing another guy's penis.

Edit... Just reading through the other answers now & wanted to mention that you're going to have to teach your son how to clean his penis either way, circed or not (or, at least, I hope you will teach your children how to clean themselves, anyway). It's not any harder to keep an intact penis clean than it is to keep a circed one clean. Really.

And, people have all kinds of problems with all kinds of body parts throughout their lives. I can't imagine cutting them all off when they're babies, just in case they might have a problem with them later on in life (especially if they might go 80 years before having that potential problem!).

Answer 6

Follow your heart. Read about it. Ask your ob/gyn, ask a pediatrician, inform yourself. My son is circ'd, we were allowed to watch the procedure, he was asleep before and during. So if there is any pain, it must be minimal or else he was one heavy sleeping newborn!

This is a decision only parents can make themselves. Don't allow your cousin to guilt you into a decision you do not agree with.

Answer 7

More parents are choosing not to circumcise. I isn't medically nessessary, and thus an elective procedure.

Some parents make their decidion based on other males in the family - "to look like daddy..."

Others for religous reasons.

The choice is yours, go with your gut.

Answer 8

This is your decision not your cousins. Personally, it is a no brainer for me. If and when I have a son I will circumcise him. It is healthier, cleaner and more attractive than a non circumcised penis. When he is sexually active other girls will be horrified by that sight. It's really nasty. I worked in a pediatric office and witnessed a circumcision. The baby boy was screaming ONLY because he was strapped down. They need to restrict the infants and being held down makes them well, pretty much scream! It's not unheard of for babies to sleep during the procedure. Do it in the hospital or take him to his pediatrician. Good Luck!

Answer 9

Right now America is split about 50-50 on this issue. In my opinion, I would never circumcise my children, but I'm not against those who do.

Answer 10

A circumcised boy will have less feeling when having sex, that is a negative.

A Circumcised boy will have less chance of infection, that is a pro.

There is pain and suffering involved, also chance of infection from the cut, negative

If performed on new born, child will not remember the experience. if later on in life it is required by physician it is much more difficult.

I had to get circumcise late in life due to complications from Diabetes and constant infections. It was very painful. Negative.

The feeling during sex has diminished that is a big problem. Negative.

So my advice to you is be careful, in selecting this, if you want to circumcise for religious reasons do it while the child is new-born.