To Circumcise Or Not To Circumcise...?

Question

I'm 34 weeks along, just about to start my classes for childcare and birth... making all the plans, registering at the hospital, packing my bag.... when I came across some thing I have yet to decide for my family and son...

To Circumcise Or Not To Circumcise...

At first I thought the question didn't even need to come up, my husband is Circumcised, its the normal thing to do...

My mom however had to start it. Turns out my step dad and all his family (who I love to death by the way) don't believe in circumcisions...

Now its not going to stop me form doing it if thats what I decide to do, and they wont look down on me for doing it, but now I have a question... Should I? I just never considered not doing it before... and now I'm not so sure its the best thing to do...

Whats are the reasons to and not to? Ive been doing some research, but wanted some outside opinions... what do you think? Circumcise?? not Circumcise??

Answer 1

Hey Heather. It may surprise you to know that circumcision is no longer as popular as before. For example, in the 1960s and 70s the rates for circumcision rates were as high as in the 90% range. Now, it's as low as 14%, especially in states in the west coast. The USA is the last developed nation doing it to newborns.

I'll recommend to not circumcise. If he wants it done when he's older, it can still be done. Circumcision's benefits are often stretched and unfounded. Most get proven false (for example, before it was said that it stopped masturbation, wet dreams, retardation, penile cancer, etc). I'll give you some research from studies and statistics. Take it as if your mother had given it to you; as she may not have the resources/time to come up with it; but I'm sure it's the reasons she and your step dad's family don't believe in optional circumcision. I hope it helps; and let me know if you have any questions. =)

Circumcision is a traditionally Jewish and Muslim surgery, although it was introduced and encouraged to the Western, developed world (North America and Europe, but especially the USA) as a way to stop masturbation, especially with the help of Dr. Kellogg. (see link 1) However, although scientific studies have discovered that circumcision harms masturbation by up to over 60% (2), needless to say, it doesn’t completely stop masturbation. Many circumcised guys just find it more convenient to use a lube like KY or lotion as a result (3) since the typically moist foreskin (like the eyelids) is not there to rub the head of the penis with (4).

Most developed nations quickly rejected circumcision after noticing its ineffectiveness against masturbation (they were quite religious back then!), and as a result the United States remains the last developed nation doing it to a significant percentage of newborns. (5) This was done as a result of the for-profit American health care system promoting myths about benefits of circumcision (6), such as preventing penile cancer (6a, 6b), preventing HIV (6c, 6d) despite the USA being the developed nation with the highest HIV rates and circumcision rates (6e, 5), and preventing STDs (6d, 6f). As a result, circumcision now brings in hundreds of millions of dollars to doctors and the American health system. (7)

However, circumcision has been becoming less popular as years have passed by. In the 1960s over 90% of guys were circumcised in the USA, now circumcision rates are as low as 14% in some states. (8) More and more parents are discovering that circumcision carries more risks than benefits, and realize that by leaving their sons uncircumcised, their sons have the choice of choosing what they’d like, since the surgery is irreversible (you can't go back if you don't like it or if it goes wrong).

Circumcision risks include the loss of sexual pleasure according to multiple studies (2, 9, 10, 11). Those studies take into effect many sensation points, including the foreskin, and they involve many participants. There have been other studies that claim no difference, but they don’t even take into effect the nerve endings on the foreskin, which as seen in one study, are some of the most sensitive points on the penis (10). One study even found an increase in erectile dysfunction rates after circumcision (10a). In another study, it was found that females ended up reaching orgasm with and preferring uncircumcised males in 9 out of 10 cases (10b). In addition, circumcision is extremely painful on newborns (12, 13, 14), and you risk many bad conditions, such as a buried penis when too much foreskin is removed and limits the size of the penis (15), or adhesions or skin bridges that develop from the head to the shaft when the skin heals after the surgery (16), meatal stenosis [occurs in up to 10% of circumcised males!] when the opening of the penis becomes irritated from too much exposure and rubbing and begins to close up (17), and meatal ulcers (18). All those risks are, of course, not including the possibility of having too much skin removed, which can cause discomfort during erections due to lack of skin to allow the penis to expand, and could consequently cause a hairy penis by pulling pubic hair and skin to the shaft. Often a circumcision scar develops around the penis after circumcision. In addition, circumcision has negative effects on breastfeeding. (18)

To conclude, here is a link that describes the anatomy of the foreskin (19) and the development of the foreskin with infants, a link especially helpful for parents (19a). Ultimately, one survey found that although uncircumcised guys are a bit more satisfied percentage-wise, it’s within the margin of error. (20) The only difference is that those unsatisfied uncircumcised guys can simply get circumcised and end up satisfied either way. If you're cut or uncut and happy, you'll say that side is better. If you got cut later in life, you'll say cut because you had problems with your foreskin before. If you're cut and had something go wrong or wish to have had a choice, then you'll say uncut. One survey found that up to half of circumcised guys wished to have had the choice themselves (as in, been left uncircumcised and they could have chosen to get circumcised if they wished later on in life). That's a huge number. (21) That, along with the risks and negative effects that are being seen more with the help of the Internet, may be what is bringing down circumcision rates.

Answer 2

I don't think you should. My boyfriend is uncircumcised and has never had any problem. He is not dirty and the skin is nice. Most of my extended family are intact and healthy. Any girl who would have a problem with an uncircumcised man is not a girl worth that man's time.

Most men in the world are uncircumcised. Even in the USA, the rates of newborns being circumcised is about half-half, so your son will not be the "odd one out" or anything. (Even if he is, I doubt boys in "locker rooms" spend the whole time looking at other guys' penises (means they'll get called gay) nor are father-son penises brought out for comparisons during family reunions!)

In addition, the protection against sexually transmitted diseases which you hear about is over-rated. The diseases don't miraculously appear in uncircumcised men - to pick them up, they have to be having unsafe sex with an already infected person. Even if they have a slightly higher chance of getting something than a circumcised man (which has not stood up to rigorous testing so far), circumcised men still have a good chance of picking up a disease, so circumcision is not a replacement for using condoms and/or not sleeping around - which I hope you will teach your son to do anyway!

The foreskin on a baby is naturally attached and needs no special care - you don't need to retract it or use harsh cleaners - it is easier to look after than a surgical circumcision wound, and even girls' genitals. It takes a few years for the foreskin to naturally detach, until then you do not need to clean under it.

Part of the reason that people think intact boys get so many "infections" is because they incorrectly forcibly retract and disinfect the foreskin - this causes infections! A lack of understanding is the problem, not the foreskin. Stuff like urinary tract infections are incredibly rare in boys anyway, but circumcision is unlikely to be protection, and they can be fairly easily treated with antibiotics anyway.

I know a lot of people who were circumcised at birth and they regretted it. At least give your son the choice. It's his penis, not yours, and he will be living with it more. Yes, he will remember the pain if he chooses to get it done when he's older, but chances are he won't, and he will at least be having his own choice if he does. Just google foreskin restoration to see how many men regret that this irreversible procedure was done on them. If he does have a problem with being intact later on (unlikely), it would be better to have a son who is upset with your choice but can get it changed, than a son who is upset with your choice but can't do anything about it and will never know what he's missing.

There are some good web sites out there, I suggest you read a lot, after a while you will probably realise there is no evidence circumcised is cleaner, better or even more popular like some people will tell you.

Answer 3

I have two boys, ages 15 and 20. When the 20 year old was born, we made a conscience decision NOT to circumcise. I read up on it, and unless things have changed in the last 20 years (which I hope they have) circumcision was done without any anesthetic whatsoever. I saw the pictures, and it freaked me out! Also playing a part was that my husband is not circumcised, so this way there was no difference between the boys and their father growing up. As they were little, we taught them how to appropriately clean themselves, and there has never been a problem.

Just do your research (in looking this up I found out that according to the CDC, in 2003, the American circumcision rate dropped to a postwar low of 55.9 percent), and make an educated decision.

Good Luck!

Answer 4

Leave him intact. There is no medical reason to circumcise. A few bull reasons for the argument for... -it's cleaner Not really, you have to take care of the wound after. If he's left intact you wash it like you would a finger. You don’t pull the foreskin back, it’s fused there and will remain so until 4-5 sometimes up to puberty. -it looks nicer what grown parent looks at their child after babyhood to say "you have a nice looking penis"? Penises don't look nice, they're utilitarian. If when he’s older and has a partner that doesn’t like it, then that person isn’t right for them -he'll be made fun of in the change room The rate of circumcision is dropping, so by cutting your son is actually going to make him the odd one out. Plus most boys are too embarrassed to go buck naked in the change room anyways. The fear of being small or having a spontaneous erection is more embarrassing than a foreskin -he'll be less likely to get STDs safe sex protects against STD, not being cut -I want him to look like Daddy, because Daddy is Unless daddy gets a regular Brazilian or baby come out with full pubes they won't look the same. By the time they look the same they'll be able to communicate their differences It’s your son's penis, not yours. Let him choose when he can decide for himself.

Answer 5

My husband is circumcised and he doesn't see the harm in it. But I would never do that to my son. It's an unnecessary surgery that used to be regularly performed without anaesthesia. They only gave something to paralyse the baby. So he would feel everything. Sometimes they don't cry...that doesn't mean he didn't feel it. It means he's in shock.

They now use anaesthesia...usually. But then there's the unnecessary pain afterwards. The increased possibility of infection (which is the reason they to do it...to avoid infections!) If the penis is not circumsised, you have LESS risk of infection. Either way, you have to clean it. You must understand that it is not required or necessary, nor does it provide any benefit (medical or otherwise) to your son. It’s ridiculous to think that it won’t be painful for a baby or that consequences cannot arise. Often times males are circumcised because of religious beliefs, or because the parents don’t want their son to be different from Daddy or be teased. Currently in western culture, about 50% of boys are circumcised which is about a 30% decrease from twenty-five years ago. Keeping your son’s foreskin in tact can help to avoid many other issues in infancy and later in life medically, psychologically and psychosexually. I strongly encourage you to do your homework and weigh the risks and benefits. Circumcision is after all irreversible.


Here are a few links. Careful...it's graphic. I cried.
http://www.cirp.org/library/procedure/plastibell/
http://www.nocirc.org/
http://www.nocirc.org/publish/3pam.pdf

Answer 6

If I had it to do over again I would not have had my boys circumcised.
Would you have your day old baby get tubes put in his ears, or any other unnecessary operation, even minor?
I seen some answers that said it is normal or cleaner.. which is not true. Normal is a broad statement, things I think are normal you may not. As for the clean part, if you wash it and rinse it than it is clean.
If you are still considering it, ask if they use any kind of pain killers or numbing meds. when the procedure is done. (most places do not). Ask how they keep the baby still... alot of times the baby is strapped down. (these are the things I didnt think about, and why I regret putting my babies thru)
And whatever you do DO NOT stand outside the room the circumcision is taking place, the painful cries from your baby will be somthing you will not forget.

Answer 7

Personally I think NOT to circumcise. I don't believe it is in the best interests of the child due to ongoing factual information that states it is not of 100% medical and physical benefit to be circumsised. I believe that if the human body was designed with a foreskin it should remain. Female circumcision is abhored by most people and I don't see why male circumcision isn't seen in the same light.
I have researched this also as I have a son and after watching many videos and documentary's of circumcisions I do not know how I could let that happen to my child. If you have not seen a circumcision take place I recommend going to youtube and searching there. There are plenty of videos to watch on the subject and it may give you the answer you are looking for. I am not going to say that you shouldn't do it if you feel it is the right thing, I just personally couldn't do it to my child. WIth proper hygiene education for your son he should live a perfectly normal life, foreskin attached (and his penis will remain more sensitive than a circumsised one also).

Best of luck coming to a decision on this :)

Answer 8

I refused to have my son circumcised even after pressure from my mother and grandmother to have it done.
I didn't see any real need to do so.
Why is it important to some people to mutilate their newborn son's genitals, usually without anything for the pain - poor babies.
How could you listen to them scream from pain and shock knowing YOU wanted the procedure done?
Why would people do it so baby can be like daddy? how many little boys have pubic hair? circumcised or not they WILL be different!
Even circumcised boys who don't clean themselves properly will get infections.

Check out the links provided by mommy_2_bella especially the first one, I'm just grateful my baby didn't have to go through that.

Answer 9

circumcision is not natural and i am not circumcised, however there are some benefits, for example when i was really little my penis did get infected, and infections can happen with uncircumcised persons, not major infections unless they arent treated within a reasonable amount of time. also a reason against circumcision, is it is a jewish tradition that rolled over into christianity. so if your not religious, it doesnt make a whole lot of sense, except for the health benefit. circumcisions can be done later in life so you might want to leave him uncircumcised until he is old enough to make the decision himself.

Answer 10

I think you should leave it up to your son to get done as an adult if he wants to get it done. I'm intact and so is my son, we have never had a problem. nearly all the men in my family are intact and so are many of my friends.
Some people say its cleaner and less chance of getting infections-I have never had any drama and nobody has every said they will not give me oral sex because it smells or is dirty. All you need to do is teach him to clean it when he is old enough (my son learnt how at the age of 4) and all is OK

Answer 11

I was not circumcised as a baby, but I had to get circumcised at the age of 50. After the surgery it was painful and took a long time to heal.