Would you circumcise your son? If so, why? If not, why?

Answer 1

I have a son and chose NOT to do it. There is no reason to have it done. Sorry, but having your son's penis look like that of his grandfather, uncles, or father isnt' a good enough reason for me.

If you teach your child how to clean himself properly, just as you would teach him to wash his hands after using the toilet or brushing his teeth, there is no issue with infection.

It isn't gross, it is the way Mother Nature made him, I would rather have him intact and have a healthy sex life as an adult. If he wants to circumcise himself later, then that is his choice.

Society won't dictate to me to put my son through a cosmetic procedure as a newborn. Believe it or not, it isn't really the norm anymore to circumcise. Thanks to those parents who are making the decision to NOT have the procedure.

Answer 2

Heck no! Circumcision can be done at any time in a males life and there is absolutely NO reason the decision cannot be left up to him.(just like any other cosmetic surgery)

No medical organization in the world recomends infant circumcision.
http://www.cirp.org/library/statements/

It is a painful, traumatic thing for a sweet little babe to go through.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6584757516627632617&q=circumcision&hl=en

It is NOT cleaner, or easier to care for....quite the contrary:
http://www.cirp.org/library/complications/vanhowe/

And the risks are wayyyy too high!
http://www.circumcisionquotes.com/complications.html

And to top it off, new research shows the foreskin is actually the most sensitive part of the penis!
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1464-410X.2006.06685.x

Besides, most people are not doing it now anyway.
http://www.cirp.org/library/statistics/USA/
http://www.courtchallenge.com/refs/yr99p-e.html

I read this article when expecting my first and thought it was great!
http://www.mothering.com/articles/new_baby/circumcision/against-circumcision.html

My husband is circumcised, but our sons are not. They are 5.5 and 3 right now and we will explain to them what circumcision is and how when Daddy was born doctors thought it was better, but when they were born, they knew it was not, so we did not do it to them.

We are very happy with our decision. So are our sons, at least they are enjoying their foreskins for now :) And if when they are grown, they want to be circumcised, they can be, not a problem! The same is not true if the boy is circumcised at birth, he is then stuck with what he has left :(

Take care!
T

Answer 3

I would never do that to my son/s. The main reason is that it's their penis, their choice. Other than that, it's not recommended for medical reasons by bodies like the American Academy of Paediatrics, and hasn't been routinely performed in Australia for a long time. The stuff some people will tell you about hygiene and STDs has never been seriously proven, and anyway, my future sons will be washing and hopefully using condoms. My intact bf doesn't have any problem with this, he does not smell or have smegma or anything, in fact I think it's good he's intact, and several studies show that being intact gives more pleasure to the woman.

In terms of looking after it when they're young, something intact is easier to clean than the surgical wound from circumcision (which can get infected and all staying in a dirty nappy); the operation also has risks. The foreskin doesn't retract for the first few years of life so there is no need to wash under it to prevent infection, you just wash the outside. It's a lot easier to clean than girls' bits! Stuff like urinary tract infections, if they do happen, can be treated with antibiotics rather than pre-emptive surgery. We don't remove tonsils and appendices at birth. Plus, a lot of the "problems" with foreskin are caused by people not knowing how to look after it, and forcibly retracting the skin before it's ready. You don't need to clean under it with a young child! When it naturally detaches (at any age before puberty) then you teach your son to clean underneath. It's not going to be difficult, if you think your son has the mental capacity to brush their teeth then they'll be able to handle it, and cleaning under the foreskin is going to feel a lot nicer than brushing your teeth!

I don't know where you live, but even in the USA now the rate of newborns being done is about 50% each way, so your boys won't be outcasts if you leave them intact. And that's assuming people spend hours noticing or caring about these things at urinals and places - now I'm not a guy, but I thought it wasn't good form to admit you were looking at another guy's penis? I would think that would apply in "locker rooms" as well, because no kid would want to be thought gay. As you're aware there is most likely a loss of sensation, is it worth it just to fit in? I'd rather look silly and have better sex, but that's just me. And of course if you leave them intact they can change at any time. They will get pain killers, which a newborn won't.

Answer 4

No. The only reason to circumcise is so he can be like most of the boys in the shower . I am not circumcised and have never had a problem. They will tell you because of infections and possible disease that this needs to be done which is crap he will have no problems if he practices normal hygiene.

Answer 5

I chose circumcision for my only son - absolutely! Main reason were health benefits. My husband had been in the first Gulf War (operation desert storm) and there were times when the guys on the front lines couldn't take a shower for up to 6 weeks - disgusting I know, but it was war. There were MANY uncircumcised that ended up with infections. He said - absolutely he was getting circumcised. I agreed.
This is not to say that I expect my son will be involved in a war, however, it's just so much easier for guys to deal with being circumcised.
Here were main deciding factors for me:
Less risk of infection
Less risk of UTI's
Less risk of cervical cancer for his wife (true!)
Less risk of STD's
Easier to clean
He looks like his dad
It is Biblically supported!

My cousins were not circumcised because my aunt thought it was "mean" to put them through and thought the risk wasn't worth it. There are very few risks with a circumcision - although it can happen. I think they do feel funny now in the locker room when EVERYONE else is circumcised. They are in high school.
My son was circumcised at 8 days old (there is something that skyrockets in boys that acts as a natural anesthetic and blood clotter on the 8th day). He had no anesthesia (there are risks if there is an allergy to it), it was done at an OB/Gyn's office. He wasn't tied down, I held his hands and a nurse held his legs. He cried for a little while, but was fine ever since. I have NEVER regretted it. I know I made the right decision for him.

Answer 6

No, its just a long tradition and was started to make it so men finish fast, and so they couldnt pleasure the woman for long periods of time.

There is female circumcision, where it takes the womans feeling parts away, and makes there vagina tighter. and its BANed in the usa, they should ban the other way to.

And before you do, check out this site, they have a few pictures of the babies faces... =(
http://www.mothersagainstcirc.org/

That is my personal feelings on it.
This here is a list of pros and cons.
To Circumcise or Not.
http://www tinyike com/to-circumcise-or-not/

Answer 7

I did circumcise my son. You never realize how tough of a decision that is until you have to make it. Contrary to popular beliefs out there today we circumcise in the US primarily for cultural reasons. It is not more hygenic (it's just that you need to be extra diligent if uncircumcised) and it doesnt' prevent disease. It's just what we're used to (that's what my doctor told me.) Ultimately, I left the decision up to my husband (since he has a penis I let him make all penis-related decisions). Let me tell you, when you see your son circumcised for the first time you will weep. It looks very painful, but rest assured it's not. He'll be all healed in about 10 days.

Answer 8

no i didn't. there is no reason to get it done. I was left intact and have never had a problem. We do not have the right to have cosmetic surgery on a child against his will.

To those who say it is cleaner, whats wrong with teaching him to clean it? I mean they learn to wash their body and clean their teeth dont they?

I have no problem with smell etc and never have had a problem with sex or being told no. It is the way nature made us so why change it?

If my son wants to get it done as an adult then thats his choice to make

Answer 9

I agree, I see no point. Many of the myths as to hygiene have been laid to rest. I think it's just tradition that was continued here in America. And was started as a Jewish tradition, to be seen later by other people as "cleaner". They normally don't use any pain relief for it so that's another reason I won't be having my son endure it. Just seems silly when there is no reason.

Answer 10

My son is circumcised. We got him circumcised because his father and all the men in our family are circumcised and we wanted him to be like the other men in his family. If my husband wasn't circumcised, then we would not have done it.