Circumcision...whats in store for me?!?

Question

So i'm having to have it done for medical reasons (phimosis) but to be honest i'm really shitting myself :( I'm 15 and have no idea whats in store for me. Perhaps the worst part is that i have to wait about 4 months beofre i can even get it over with

What sort of effects am i looking at after the opperation and in the long run?!

Answer 1

How bad is your phimosis? You have to keep in mind that there are alternatives that you can try (such as stretching and even a cream that helps it get loose) before surgery is performed. For example, when I was a younger teen (I'm 18 now) I had a tight foreskin; after stretching it for a few weeks when I showered, it basically became perfect; it's never given me a problem ever since. I wrote this webpage, so see if you can try some of that out, and feel free to e-mail me from my profile if you have any questions:
http://tinyurl.com/3b8zaf

As for the risks and long term effects, here is research from medical studies and statistics to help you out. If I were you, I'd start stretching and see if you can heal it, since you still have months ahead of the surgery.

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

Circumcision is a simple external operation with excellent results. You will be given an anaesthetic so that you feel nothing during the circumcision. There will be some discomfort for a few days afterwards, but normal 'headache' tablets should be all you will need.

You have to refrain from swimming, sports and sex for the 6-8 weeks it takes to fully heal.

The waiting time before your appointment will be the worst part as it allows you to anticipate all sorts of problems that will never occur.

Please see http://www.circinfo.com/preparation/prep.html for some useful advice on preparing for your circumcision, and http://www.circinfo.com/post-op_care/care.html for after-care advice.

Once all is healed you will be able to keep your penis absolutely clean and hygienic. You will never again suffer from phimosis, paraphimosis, frenulum breve or balanoposthitis. Your risk of catching each of several STIs will be reduced by 60%. Sex will be at least as good as when uncircumcised - usually very much better if you'd had phimosis.

Answer 3

I'd check out alternative treatments. Many doctors believe that the vast majority of cases can be treated without circumcision. Did your doctor talk to you about alternatives? If he didn't, I would be very skeptical of him.

As for the Jewish thing, that's absolute nonsense. Most Americans are circumcised, so no one will know if you are Jewish or not.

Answer 4

What Jorge says ^ there might be alternative treatments for your phimosis. In the USA doctors often recommend circumcision when it's not necessary and wouldn't even be considered in places like Europe, simply because they make money and they have no foreskin experience.

Good luck anyway.

Answer 5

I would get a second oppinion about getting cut. While it is required in a very small amount of cases a lot of the time it can be treated without circumcision. check on the internet for more info and make sure you see another doctor

Answer 6

This has happened to me. Umm, I had it when I was five. It hurts alot... And I got an infection so it hurted even more. That's what I can remember. But don't worry! And what Vanilla Sky said is true, too!

Answer 7

You will be able to last longer during sex. You will be able to not have phimosis and will not feel embarrassed as most people now are circumstances.

As a Jew, (I am) you'll grow up to be a doctor or lawyer or film industry mogul.

You'll be able to tell jokes like" Hey, I'm an optimist, I had 20% cut off before I knew how big it was going to get."

See all the advantages?

Answer 8

Store them in you're brains & heart as the heart will inspire you and the brain will logically help you fulfil it :)

Answer 9

painful when hard, or painful when you sleep, but it will heal. just keep it clean and in a few weeks the pain will subside.

Answer 10

yeah like the guy above me said less sensitivity but I've never had someone think i was Jewish
it will be really sensitive for probably about 2 weeks
don't sweat it so much