Does anyone NOT have circumcision done? Or know someone who doesn't have it done?

Question

I am really confused about this whole circumcision thing, my fiances sister says that its not right, that it puts the baby in unnessessary pain and they just tell you that they can get infections because it is their way of making money. and then my mom and friends tell me that they really can get an infection from not having it done, so I was wondering if anyone on here wasn't circumcised that could tell me what their experiences have been? I am just wondering in case I ever have a baby and it is a boy. I want to know what I am going to do.. I have also heard if you do not get it done that you could get in trouble for neglect, etc. ITS SO CONFUSING!!! everyone tells me something different!

Answer 1

It is all a personal opinion whether to have it done or not. I take care of people for a living, almost like a nursing assistant. I've seen my share of uncircumsized penises and they all have had issues with infection or sores of some sort. You need to be educated about how to pull back the foreskin and how to thoroughly clean and dry it. This can be hard at times with babies because they can poop everywhere in little diapers and if you are in a hurry you might forget to care for those "other" folds. Most people in America have had it done, which may lead to some teasing in a little uncircumsized boy who has to take a shower after gym class.

I was personally feeling really bad when the doctor took my first born to get it done. I was thinking about the pain but he assured me afterward that he cried for like 30 seconds and fell asleep. The same with my second son. If you choose not to have it done on your child it will hurt more if they want it done in the future. My grandfather chose to have a circumcision when he was like 65 so that when he got older it would be easier to take care of. He was in serious pain for over a week.

Answer 2

I just had a baby boy almost 3 weeks ago. We did not have him circumcised. It is your choice. Nobody can tell you that it has to be done. The main reason for having it done these days is for the appearance. In the US only about half of boys are circumcised. I don't believe there is a greater risk of infection if a boy is uncircumcised, as long as you teach him to clean under the foreskin, which is very simple. Also, the foreskin doesn't retract while a boy is an infant, therefore there isn't anything you have to do differently to clean it. It's actually easier because you don't have to deal with the healing of a circucised penis. My husband is also uncircumcised, and he has never had an infection. Once the foreskin retracts on it's own, start making it a habit for your son to pull back his foreskin and clean his penis while taking a bath. Very simple, and you won't cause your son any additional pain by cutting off a part of his penis. There are some who say circumcision reduces the risks of STD's, but so does a condom, which should be worn during sex anyway. I really couldn't find any good reason to circumcise my son, so we chose not to. Also, there are some websites that will show you a video of a circumcision. Once I watched the process, I could never let my son go through it.

Answer 3

OK some FACTS. Most men in the world are uncircumcised. It is an elective procedure defined as cosmetic. You can't get in trouble for not circumcising your baby.

Now you know those facts, you can hear opinions from both sides - but read enough medical evidence and you'll see there is no clear reason to circumcise.

Most of the infections in uncircumcised babies in the USA are probably caused by improper care - because people are used to circumcised penises and think that you have to retract and clean underneath with alcohol etc. Do not do it! It is unnecessary and will cause infections. The foreskin is attached and washing the outside is fine.

Where I live in Australia circumcision has been rare for the past few decades and we do not have a rampant need for medical circumcision, high rates of infection or anything. All the family members, boyfriends and friends I've known who are uncircumcised don't have any issues.

Answer 4

I am not circumcised and I'm 17 and live in California. I have never had a problem with anything. I wash under the foreskin everyday in the shower with soap and that has been enough to keep things clean down there. Like some obviously inexperienced people think its dirty or smelly if you don't cut off the foreskin, but thats only if you never wash for months (which is a non-issue for most people). I never had any infections or physical pain, and no problem with teasing or the ladies. I am happy with the way I am because it is natural and how God intended it. I don't really see why parents circumcise their boys.

Answer 5

It is not a required surgery and isn't even covered by most medical insurance providers. It is not neglect for you to refuse to circumsize it's a personal decision.
I did not have my son done because his father is navajo. They do not circumsize their boys. He is nearly 40 and has never had an infection and my son is nearly 4 and has had no problems with staying clean or getting infections.
The thing to do is make the decision for yourself if you are faced with the situation. Just remember that if you don't do it do NOT pull the foreskin back on an infant boy to clean. When he is born the foreskin is attatched to the glands. Just leave it alone. As he grows he will play with it just like all little boys do and that will eventually allow the foreskin to retract fully. If you mess with the foreskin it can lead to adhesions which can need medical intervention to repair and is painful as well. Personally the only reason a little boy should be put through that kind of surgery is if it is part of his parents religion.
Also another thing to think about is how they do circumsicion...It isn't pretty and it isn't nice. There is a reason why they don't want parents in the room when they do it at the hospital.

Answer 6

First of all, it is perfectly legal and not "neglectful" at all to leave your son or daughter intact.

Second, there is absolutely no reason to remove a perfectly healthy foreskin from a newborn baby.

Third, it does hurt, and babies do react very strongly to this procedure.

Fourth, there is a VERY REAL risk of a BOTCHED circumcision, with FAR MORE DAMAGE DONE than if the child had actually gotten a "UTI" (which is easily treated with antibiotics or even cranberry juice). Babies have been turned from boys to girls, literally, sex-change operations have been performed on some little boy babies who've lost their entire penises, or had them so mutilated, the doctor changed him into a girl.
Link to that kind of occurence: http://www.sexuallymutilatedchild.org/deaths-d.htm

Don't believe me? Take a look.

http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=935169&fr=yfp-t-471

Circumcision is cruel, dangerous, unecessary and wrong.



My son is 9 months, he is intact. He has never had his foreskin retracted, and has never had an infection.


Proper care of an uncircumcised penis includes wiping down the penis with a diaper wipe during changes.
During baths, wash his genital area as you would any other body part, gently with a warm soapy washcloth, rinse and pat dry.

There is absolutely no need to retract the foreskin. In fact, early retraction of the foreskin is what often causes "problems" later on in life (resulting in the need for adult circumcision). As he gets older, teach him how to properly clean his genitals as you would teach him to scrub under his nails, properly brush his teeth, etc. He will need to move it back as far as comfortable to wash gently. For a similar comparison, think of how you as a woman clean yourself. You know how things need to be done, and you haven't had any of your parts removed. Did you know women have foreskins too? They're much smaller, but "smegma" collects there too. The united states is pretty much the only country to routinize male circumcision while being so very opposed to female circumcision AT ALL. They are BOTH completely unecessary and every newborn and child deserves genital integrity.

This answer is not "hostile" and if it feels that way please don't take this personally. I am very passionate about this issue..

Answer 7

Whoever told you that you could get in trouble for not getting your son circumsized is full of BS. It's a personal or often times religious choice. My son isn't circumcized & neither is my husband or any males members of my family & they've never had any problems to my knowledge. I personally would agree with your finances sister though about it not being necessary. Sometimes people like their baby boys to have it done if the father is circumsized so they will look the same & the child won't be confused or I've heard of many people having it done because it's part of their religion. I have heard though that having it done can reduce the rates of cancer in that area (my father had cancer). Overall though, I don't think it's necessary & wouldn't get it done for my children but I wanted to give you both sides.

Answer 8

Here in the USA circumcisions are 99% elective. Medicaid and many insurances are no longer paying for circumcisions. With proper hygiene, an uncircumcisd male will not get infection, unless as an adult he has sex with a person with a Sexually transmitted disease. Google circumcision and find out the pros and cons on the procedure.

Answer 9

Hey you :) I dated a guy for quite a while who wasn't circumsized. He said it helped with infection, preventing. But I just don't see how that is possible. Think about it..... if the skin is left there(and there's alot) to cover the penis then it's probably always moist.Where there is moisture there are living thing. Like bacteria,and infection.When the skin isn't there you avoid all of that. I have never heard of it causing you to get in trouble down the line if you didn't have a circumcision. You're really probably better off asking your obgyn about it to know for sure. because I have heard both, that it's good and that it's bad!!! xo

Answer 10

I didn't get my boy done, I don't believe in it unless there's a medical necessity. It's not guaranteed that your child will have an infection if you don't get them circumsised, my son is seven years old and because of his cerebral palsy he is still in a nappy at nighttime and he's NEVER gotten an infection because we keep it clean, and he's been taught (by his uncircumsised father) to wash it himself.

My hubby has also never gotten an infection. Neither has his or my uncircumsised brothers.

You cannot get into trouble for not circumsising your baby.