Circumcision, ???? who, why, when?

Question

Please excuse my ignorance but I am from UK and was never circumcised. I now live in the US and my american wife says if we have a son then he will be circumcised as all americans are. Is this true? I actually was under the impression it was a Jewish thing. I don't know of any of my friends back home that had this. So is it american? Jewish ? and why so important?

Thanks....

Answer 1

Circumcision is done by Jewish and Muslims for what they clain to be religious reasons (And I am not going to dispute that since I have not studied their holy scriptures). thus coming form Europe where circumcision is not done as a matter of routine, you would not feel there is any need for it on other than religious grounds.

However, in the USA and certain other countries (notably the Phillipines), circumcision is done for cultural or other reasons. Fortunately the rates of circumcision have been dropping steadily in the USa for the past several years. Unfortunately there are areas where it is so widely practiced that the people feel it just has to be done since they really are not aware
a) that it is not medically necessary.
b) that it is not widely practiced in the rest of the world
c) that it can actually do more harm than good
d) that it is not the answer to cleanliness (soap and water do that quite nicely)
e) that it doesn't stop boys from masturbating
f) that is doesn't cure epliepsy
g) that it does not prevent becomeing HIV+

Basically yoru wife is really just falling into one of those traps whereby she only knows one way and she insists on carrying on the tradition regardless of what any body of knowledge says. Also she is totally ignoring the fact that only in the USA and synagogues would your son be close ot normal after a circumcision. In the rest of the world he would be missing an essential part of his body that was removed unnecessarily.

Oh, and for her information, all americans are not circumcised. Of my friends there about half are as intact as you are. Overall though the number with foreskin may be more lilke 30 or 40%. Worldwide however circumcized males represe3nt only about 20% of the male population.

Thus by circumcising your son, your wife would make him 'the same as most' in the US and 'totally different' in the rest of the world. However unles she is goign to run around showing his penis to everyone, how is him keeping his foreskin going to make him appear all that different anyway? Or does she plan on raising him as a nudist or exhibitionist?

Answer 2

To circumsize or not represents a lot of things to different people. It became more routine in the US at the same time babies began to be delivered in the hospital rather than at home (basically after World War II). There can be some religious origin to the procedure. I dont' think anyone in the U.S. thinks a male is Jewish based on them being circumcised (so your impression that is is a"Jewish thing" wouldn't be a quick conclusion here). There can be some ethnic influence....for example, in general Europeans /Scandinavian/Oriental Cultures don't get circumsized. So in the U.S. (in some regions) there are more first generation of those ethnic groups ...they have parental preference with the "natural" or uncircumsized design.

I grew up in northeastern OHIO (born in the 1950's) ...probably 98-99%% of my classmates were cir'd. The ones that were not ...where often born outside of my region in more rural settings. The trend prevails in this area to be circumsized. In the cases that they are not cir'd...usually the reason is strong ethnic influence. The father demands that the son have the same appearance as they do. ...or the parents are just totally into a general "natural lifestyle" like....eating organic foods only, natural childbirth, the Bohemian/artistic personality types and this just makes a further statement of their natural values. Generally, ...males tend to support the option that they have (is the best option) ...after all ...works for them!

If paying out of pocket...the going rate is about $100 for an infant circumcision which insurance companies pay for. As an adult would be much much more expensive with anesthesia involved.

My brother and I were cir'd. My brother became Canandian over 20+ years ago...he has a son. He and his wife decided to go with the "Canandian look" in British Columbia; so my nephew is uncirc'd. to match his peers. I am guessing there was British & "first nation" influence in the region.

There has been pro and con discussion routinely on the topic and you will find radicals on both sides. I am not one of the fanatics. I think there are many variables...and you have to step back and take an objective look. I dont think there is a wrong answer but might be a better answer for the parents after you do a pro and con list. Most doctors tend to stay pretty neutral...but, nurses' will be more vocal it seems (esp. if asked). [that is what I have noticed).

You can find medical literature stating it is not a necessary procedure. They can pre-medicate babies before doing it...most go back to sucking a pacifier none the worse ...less than a minute after. You can have a dorsal nerve block done if you think it would make you feel better.

There is pretty strong medical literature supporting circumcisions for health reasons as follows:
1. Much less likely to get HIV and spread it if circ'd.
2. Female sex partners are less likely to get cervical cancer if their sex partners are circumcised.
3. Urinary tract infections are slightly more likely in uncirc'd males. (Children that can not retract foreskin and senile old men can be at a disadvantage).

In this day and age...society is far more mobile so the regional thing isn't as strong an influence...especially in the urban areas where you get a broader/wider mix of ethnic-cultural groups.

There are times when a circumcision is not done...like when a baby has a hypospadius or epispadius defect of the penis...the foreskin is then used for the surgical repair.
There are also rare times congenitally; when there isn't any real foreskin to be addressed.

To really throw a wrench into it....there are a couple of methods that can be used that sometimes give a slightly different outcome. That probably isnt worth exploring...what works best is ...which method the doctor uses the most and feels comfortable with.

One very odd and rare thing ...I have known to happen twice over the years ...any time a diaper is changed on an infant; you have to look closely, to be sure a long fallen hair from the diaper changer's scalp does not get wrapped around the glans of the penis in a cir'd. baby. It can cut off the circulation to the glans and causes necrosis or ultimate loss of the glans. It acts like a tourniquet. It wouldn't be noticed easily and a color change of the glans might the first clue and should be investigated immediately. Many people change diapers almost without looking. Babies can't tell you what is bothering them so you have to be on your toes.

"When in Rome do as the Romans do" might fit somewhat. I tend to lean in the pro circumcision direction for the health reasons cited and because it is the "local look". I could still support anyone wanting to go the other direction too. The best thing to do is to explore the two options...you should come to a mutual agreement as parents. Remember...you have a 50-50 % chance it will be a girl...and this is all a mute point!

I have tried to be as candid and open as possible to give you "MY" U.S./midwestern insight...hope it helps.

Answer 3

As a fellow uncircumcised member of society, and an American, I hope I can shed some light on this for you. Yes circumcision has its roots in Jewish heritage, but for the most part America has been dominated by a Christian morale that says circumcision is neccesary as well. I know that there are physicians that give reasons medically for either circumcising or not, but as a standard, the majority of most american males are circumcised at birth, and not many of them know why. It's more of a cultural habit. I see no reason to do it unless you somehow feel it would be better for the child.

Answer 4

Hi scotty, I'm from the UK too and I started to try and find out more when I first had a boyfriend who was circumcised. Seeing how uncommon it is in the UK, he was a good few down the line :-)

In the UK it is just never discussed because it is never seen as an issue - it is done to Jews and Muslims and boys who develop medical problems but never anyone else, so the attitude in America came as a bit of a surprise to me - I gues that is why I sometimes answer questions on circumcision.

There does seem to be a huge social bias towards circumcising male babies in the US. Nearly 100% of male children used to be done, but in many places this has now dropped to the 50% mark so it is growing less common. Most people cite reasons such as 'uncircumcised looks strange and circumcised is a lot more attractive' 'uncircumcised penises are not hygienic enough and circumcised ones are cleaner' and 'he should look like his father' (not in your case, obviously!). Many women seem to be taught to prefer circumcised penises and I have seen a lot on here say things like circumcised ones look funny and they don't want to give oral to any uncircumcised man.

Personally, being British I can't understand it. Both you and I know hygiene is not an issue, all it takes is for a boy to be shown how to wash himself - it is not like washing is difficult!

My preference is for uncircumcised natural men. I found that uncircumcised men seem to be a bit more sensitive, and more me sex feels better, I just like a man with a foreskin who is as he should be.

I saw a clip of a newborn circumcision online and I could never do that to my son. A man is perfect with all his parts. And of course as with any surgery however minor there is always the risk it won't go right.

Does this mean she wasn't happy that you weren't circumcised?

Studies have shown a woman is more likely to have an orgasm with an uncircumcised man. See http://www.circumstitions.com/ The foreskin is not a redundant part, it has lots of nerve endings and can be very sensitive and contribute to the pleasure of a man when he grows up, I could never take that away from my son or mutilate him for no good reason.

Answer 5

The topic of circumcison is very controversial. I have actually experienced life both uncircumcised and circumcised. Despite what others may believe, it has been actually more beneficial being circumcised.

In the United States 80% of males are circumcised. However, nearly 60% of babies are currently circumcised at birth. The sharp decline in infant circumcision is mostly due to the increased number of births by the Hispanic immigrants that usually do not practice circumcision. The Jewish religion like you stated also practices circumcision, as well is the Muslims, Koreans, and The Phillippeans.

I'm not here to pick sides. I just wanted to give you information from someone that's experienced both sides of the arguement. Hopefully you and your wife can sit down and come to an agreement regardless what you choose. Best of luck man.

Answer 6

No, your wife is incorrect. Although circumcision is a tradition in America, now only about half of boys born are circumcised, less in some states.

I think it is ridiculous that your wife, not having a penis, thinks she is entitled to make an irreversible decision about your baby boy's penis based on what country he is born in.

Doing it for reasons of him being the "odd one out" (unlikely given the statistics anyway) is insane. What if you want to move back to the UK sometime, or to California, or Canada? Even if you raise him in the US, will his penis permanently be on display? Maybe a few people can see it, if his school has public changerooms, but half of those boys will be uncircumcised anyway.

You should try and talk her out of this. Evidently neither of you have problems with your uncircumcised penis, and there is no reason for performing such surgery on your son given all the risks and no real benefits.

Answer 7

If you have a son, he will be born perfect. There is no reason to try to "improve" perfection. As you know from your own experience, there is not a problem functioning sexually or keeping clean when you have a natural penis.

Circumcision rates have fallen dramatically in the US, partly because some insurance now refuses to pay for a procedure that does more harm than good. And partly because the Internet is educating more parents about the harm inherent in this practice. So it's now about 50/50. Your intact son will not be "different" from his American peers.

Unless it is done for religious reasons (Jews & Muslims cut their sons) it is mostly poorly-informed people who still insist on doing this to babies; once they have educated themselves about it, the vast majority of parents will leave their sons intact.

The myths involving the foreskin are hard to eradicate (dirty, smelly, etc), but as an intact man yourself, you KNOW that they are totally untrue! Why do a painful and potentially dangerous surgery on your child because of myths?

By the way, the Bible specifically tells Christians not to do this, because baptism replaced circumcision as a sign of religious dedication. My very religious grandfather always said it was an insult to God to say that he made a mistake when he designed the male body and that we know better how the body should look than God does.

Have your wife look at this video -- is this any way to welcome a child into the world? http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1736954830543671382&sourceid=searchfeed

Answer 8

Circumcision isn't an American thing, it is not a surgery that is in one particular area of the world. Some say it's natural, but the bottom line, is yes, if you are Jewish, they give young men a bris(sp?) where they cut off the excess skin from the tip of the penis. Some guys prefer being (cut), some enjoy being uncut. PersThey say to circumsize a penis is to keep it from getting a lot of bacteria in there, but I think either way is beautiful.

Answer 9

Who?
Jewish people
Why?
As a symbol of devotion to God
Why today?
It's a crossover from Juddaism into Christianity. It has no affiliation whatsoever with being American. If you want to show devotion to God by circumcising your son, go ahead, allthough I'm pretty sure that it's no longer necesary in Christianity.

Answer 10

"All Americans" are not circumcised. That's completely untrue. And no, it's not necessarily a jewish thing. I'm technically Catholic, and I'm circumcised. It's just something many Americans do. It also helps hygeine (no offense)