Circumcision Cost?

Question

I am expecting my first child (boy) at the end of October. I do daycare out of my home so there was no option for insurance. My husband is able to get insurance thru his work, but open enrollement isn't until March/April 2008 and last year it was going to be about $500 per month, which we couldn't afford. I wanted a home birth anyways, so we went with a midwife. My husband is circumcised and so is his son, who lives with us full time (he's 7). We are really trying to weigh the pro's and con's to circumcision, but in the meantime, does anyone know about how much it would cost being uninsured? We just aren't sure what to do and money is a big concern. Please answer honestly. I am not looking for rude comments...

Oh yeah... We live in Colorado (Denver area), so if anyone knows fee's from around Denver, that would be even more fantastic!!!

Answer 1

I don't know about money, but it could cost your son a lot. Males come with foreskin for a reason. It protects the most sensitive part of their bodies from friction during sex. Imagine your clitoris without a hood. Having no foreskin can (though not neessarily) eventually lead to pain and desensitization of the penis (I have a family member who is going through this right now). And the American Academy of Pediatrics says that there are not sufficient medical benefits to circumcision to declare it appropriate to do routinely. Good luck with your decision.

edit: I love when I get thumbs down for an entirely factual answer.

Answer 2

PLEASE: Watch one being done before deciding to do it

Good long term results -
Some woman like it
(Some research says) Side effects of STD's not as bad
(Sometimes) Not as sex crazed at puberty

Neutral long term effects -
Easier to clean (but when there young you can say that it feels good if you wash it they never stop cleaning it)
Only about 20% - 60% depending where you live are circumcised today he won’t be left out.

Bad long term results -
Not so much in the US but in other country’s males are
bullied for being circumcised
(Some research says) Higher chance of getting STD's
Head of penis desensitized
Having to push harder during sex
Almost all circumcised males need lubricant
Partner is less likely to have an orgasm
Foreskin can (sometimes) bleed during masturbation
Circumcised males can have resentment to there parents
The doctor can sometimes stuff up (1/100 loose there penis)
You can't go to Antarctica (high chance of getting frost bite
on the head of your penis)
Circumcised babies are more likely to get infections because of the nappy holding the urine and poo directly up onto the head of the penis.

There is research out there saying it protects against HIV and other infections but the thing is there have been tones of tests and they go both ways there is no solid answer to weather it protects or it doesn't I would say it makes no difference. They talk about this in Penn & Teller bullshit S03 EP01 Circumcision

The cost of circumcision will very depending on where you live. But they range from $40USD - $350USD. If you go for cheapness you are more likely to get a new person who hasn't circumcised before. BUT remember in the U.S. alone circumcision is a quarter-billion dollar a year industry. That’s why they say circumcision is good that’s a lot of money you’re dealing with here. Thats why you will see TV reports saying it's good they would get paid millions for just saying that. Most countries have banned it Finland is one of the new ones, New Zealand is going that way but not for a few years yet.

My advice - I wouldn't do it today, I am circumcised I don't like it and I wouldn't do my sons. In the 1800's when men had baths once a month they used to have problems occasionally, but we have baths every day and if your son does get an infection there is antibiotics out there and they are a lot cheaper then having half your sons penis cut off. When your son grows up he can always walk in to a hospital and he can do it to himself it’s his body don't make the decision for him. I wish I had the decision I wasn't even given a chance.

Answer 3

I would say it's not necessary to do it. I'm glad you're weighing the pros and cons and I'm sure you'll see that as long as your son is able to wash and practice safe sex, circumcision won't be necessary. As for the father/brother thing, it might seem like a big issue, but really I doubt he'll spend much time comparing with them, especially not if you take his whole life into consideration. Add that to the fact it's not recommended by any medical associations, and it's a lot of money, and you might be best off leaving him.

Answer 4

I live in California, so fees may be different in Colorado, but I've heard that it is between $200-$300 for a circumcision.

My husband and I are in a similar situation, but we are doing lots of research on circumcision and have found a lot of evidence saying that it is medically unnecessary. Do your research on it, and do what is best for your family.

Answer 5

I'm from Grand Junction, it was about $260 with an OB. You might call local OB's around there and just simply find out (ask to speak to the person in insurance-they know the actual cost (the cash cost is usually less than the insurance cost anyway)). Good luck and congratulations.

Answer 6

does your family have insurance through your husband's company? you don't have to wait until open enrollment to add a member whe it's a baby. when the baby is born most companies allow 30 days for the child to be added to the policy. you should contact the insurance company to get more information but birth just like marriage and divorce are exceptions to the "open enrollment" rules they have.

good luck!

Answer 7

In Oregon it's $200. And most insurances don't cover it anyway since it's not a necessary procedure.

Answer 8

When my husband and i were having our first child, circumsion costs around $250. Unfortunately, we had to wait until our son was 6 months old (he had health issues and was in the NICU for a month), and it was around $5000 at that point. Keep in mind that it was considered surgery at that point, so he had an aneasthesiologist, and was operated on in the OR. Oh yeah, he was also born last year. Anyway, also talk to your pediatrician too, and see if she or he would have an idea on costs. We moved right after our son was born, but the pediatrician clinic we would have gone with also did circumsions in their office for the same cost at birth. However, this was all in NC, so it might also be different here in Colorado.

Also, we decided on circumsion not only for religious reasons, but also because our son had grade three kidney reflux, and it became necessary for us to do so. It was highly recommended by his nephrologist, as well as the urologist who operated on him.

Kinda funny, I get four thumbs down and none up for something that was my husband's and my decision and our research into it. Also, kinda funny that it isn't recommended strongly by men but with my son, who had two or three UTIs since birth, and in order for the doctor's not to have to do anything more surgically to him in that area, we chose to as well.

Answer 9

You need to do what 's right by you and your family...not based on the opinions (and quite opinionated they are here) of strangers on the net.

Personally, we DID and I wouldn't have it any other way. That is what's "normal" for our family...I especially wouldn't leave one uncut when daddy and the other are...but that's up to you and your family.

Back to the financial aspects of it....you need to talk to your local pediatrician and see if they do them or can refer you to an associate that does, they will be able to give you a cost estimate. I doubt it's very pricey, probably less than half the cost of a month's worth of insurance...


Now brace yourself...you'll no doubt get all kinds of rude comments about the Do's and Don'ts of circumcision...This topic is a hot one as of late.

Good Luck.

Answer 10

I had to pay out of pocket for my second son it was only $180 but that was 3 years ago. Just call around to urologists and peds and see if they do and if so how much it costs.