Circumcision or not for boys?

Question

I am just looking for a range of opinions on the subject.

This does not influence any of my decisions right now. The last episode of Desperate Housewives brought up the issue.

Answer 1

The only person who has a moral right to decide to cut off part of your son's body is your son himself. There are many disadvantages to the procedure and no pressing reason to do it in infancy. If you have him cut, the foreskin is gone for good. If he wants it back, he's out of luck. If you leave him uncut and he doesn't like it, he can have it done at any time after he reaches adulthood. Let him decide for himself.

Edit: I saw that episode of Desperate Housewives and was sickened. Bree not only went against her husband's wishes (behind his back, too) without anything like an intelligent discussion, she lied to the mohel, thereby showing extreme disrespect for another person's deeply-held religious beliefs. Her character has no moral compass. I have lost all respect for her.

Answer 2

I think each boy should have the right to make their own decision. It is not up the parents to put their preferences on the child for something so personal, unnecessary and reversible. As you saw on DH the reasons given by Bree for circ were shallow - she preferred the look - she would never be having sex with that kid. Also only 21% of California newborns are currently circumcised, rates are plummeting all over the USA, and the USA is the last developed nation doing it. Doing it for looks is sickening and none of the "medical benefits" have been seriously proven, besides, they apply if you get circumcised at age 15 or 18 too, when you can choose for yourself and also get anaesthetic.

Answer 3

The real bad thing about circumcision is when the Doctor mess it up. Many things can go wrong with it. Even if they do perform it so the penis is straight and has a good appearance they can over do it and remove too much skin causing the scrotum to be very tight. The penile shaft to have hair on it and possibly some shortening of the penis. The scrotum can become very tight almost like a woman's labia thus robbing the man and his partner a soft swinging scrotum.

Answer 4

It's unlawful to even consider removing the clitoral hood of a female (female circumcision) yet it seems to be common practice to cut foreskin off boys. Seems to be a double standard to me. If ciircuimcision is supposed to be that good, it should be done equally to both genders.

Then again, there is no known medical reason for circumcision of either gender; at least not when they are below the legal age of consent. Sure, some boys have problems wiith their foreskin but 9 times out of 10 that's because their parents and doctors did not provide proper iinstruction on the care and feeding of foreskin.

If people would leave their little boy's penises alone and start ensuring proper cleanign and all that, then most of th ereasons against would disappear. Although those who still believe infant circumcision prevents masturbation and a whole range of other things will continue to try to justify cutting foreskins off little boys.

Answer 5

I think circumcision is a weird practice.

That said, I'm circumcised, and am happy that way. Most of the guys of my generation are circumcised, so it's pretty much the norm. If I ever have a son, I doubt he'll be circumcised. It's probably best if circumcision just dies out as a practice.

Answer 6

I'm against it on newborns. By leaving your son uncircumcised, if he's not satisfied with it he can always get cut and end up satisfied in the end. One survey found that about half of circumcised guys would have preferred to had made the decision themselves:
http://www.jackinworld.com/qow/q15.html

That may play a part into why circumcision rates have fallen so much. For example, circumcision rates were as high as 90% back in the 1960s and 1970s (that's partly why today's adults are so... brainwashed, I supposed you could say, about thinking that circumcision is better) but they have fallen to as low as 14% in some states. Here are the statistics:
http://www.cirp.org/library/statistics/USA/staterates2004/

The USA is the last developed nation doing circumcision on a significant scale without medical or religious reasons. That means Europe and Japan (and Latin America and China, for that matter) don't circumcise. Circumcision rates in Australia and Canada are low, and in Africa... it varies by nation/tribe. Here's a worldwide map that gives you a general idea of where circumcision is common:
http://www.circumstitions.com/Maps.html

So now there are many more uncircumcised boys. They don't get made fun of anymore due to that (I know, I'm one and I'm 18, a pre-med student).

In addition, there are medical reasons that I'm against it, too. For example, studies have found that it reduces sensitivity:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,285532,00.html

Makes masturbation more difficult:
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1464-410X.2006.06646.x

Which makes sense, that's how it was made popular in the USA:
http://english.pravda.ru/science/health/27-03-2006/77873-circumcision-0

Increases erectile dysfunction rates:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=14979200&dopt=Abstract%7C

There's pain involved, often why doctors don't want you in the room when it's done:
http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9712/23/circumcision.anesthetic/
http://www.cirp.org/library/procedure/plastibell/

If too muck skin is removed, that can reduce the size of the penis. The way that works is because the penis needs some skin to expand during an erection. Removing too much skin can limit the expansion. An urologist and pediatrician explain that below:
http://www.altermd.com/Penis%20and%20Scrotal%20Surgery/buried_penis.htm
http://drgreene.org/body.cfm?id=21&action=detail&ref=1125

Of course, there are other risks associated, but those are typically the ones due to surgery. You can also see rebuttals to common pro circumcision arguments below. You can research it more here:
http://shorl.com/rahytipustiku
http://www.mothering.com/articles/new_baby/circumcision/against-circumcision.html

As far as cleaning goes, it's really simple. For the first years in life the foreskin doesn't pull back. That prevents stuff like poo/fecal matter from touching the head. Later on all it takes it 5 to 10 seconds to pull the foreskin back and rub the head; it even feels good.
http://www.mothering.com/articles/new_baby/circumcision/protect-uncircson.html

And Christianity does not ask for circumcision. There are very critical parts on circumcision in the Bible, and the Catholic church actually condemned the procedure.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circumcision_in_the_Bible#In_Christianity

Answer 7

All I can say is to consider social, religious and hygienic reasons for doing or not doing it.
I am circumcised, however... had I had the choice about it, I probably would not have had it done, but that does not mean I am unhappy with my penis cause it has been circumcised either.
There is no right or wrong answer about having it done and it is up to each person to decide for themselves or for their children if it is something they want to do. Just remember, once it is done, there is no going back!

Answer 8

I saw that episode of Desperate Housewives. I didn't think Bree would do it, Orson is right though. I really wish there were more men like that; emailing that letter to the hospitals was really good.

Watch one being done FIRST before deciding.

My Opinion
Its there body not any ones else, you don't have to live your life in your sons body. It comes down to completely the person’s choice. I'm circumcised I wouldn't do it to my sons but if they wanted to be done in there teens I would be happy for them to be done. What gets to me is that innocent children are being sexually mutilated with out there permission.

I was emailed this by an internet survey company...
22% of circumcised men wish they weren't
48% of circumcised men don’t care
30% of circumcised men are glad they are circumcised

13% of uncircumcised men wish they weren't
21% of uncircumcised men don’t care
66% of uncircumcised men are glad they are uncircumcised

These were American figures the world figures are completely different.

Good long term results -
Some woman like it
(Some research says) Side effects of STD's not as bad
(Sometimes) Not as sex crazed at puberty

Neutral long term effects -
Easier to clean (but when there young you can say that it feels good if you wash it they never stop cleaning it)
Only about 20% - 60% depending where you live are circumcised today he won’t be left out.

Bad long term results -
(Some research says) Higher chance of getting STD's
Head of penis desensitized
Having to push harder during sex
Almost all circumcised males need lubricant
Partner is less likely to have an orgasm
Foreskin can (sometimes) bleed during masturbation
Circumcised males can have resentment to there parents
The doctor can sometimes stuff up (1/100 loose there penis)
You can't go to Antarctica (high chance of getting frost bite
on the head of your penis)
Circumcised babies are more likely to get infections because of the nappy holding the urine and poo directly up onto the head of the penis.

Circumcised sex
Positives
- You have feeling on the way in and out
- Some woman like it
Negatives
- You push harder because of the head being desensitized
- Having to use lubricant more
- Feeling not as good
- Hard to get orgasm for both partners
- Masturbation can get sore for men who have had tight circumcision

Uncircumcised sex
Positives
- Don't have to push as hard
- Easy for woman to know if you have cleaned it
- Woman have orgasms easier
- Not having to use lubricant
- Masturbation can feel more like real sex
Negatives
- Can feel like masturbating

A REAL baby boy being circumcised.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6555560541628380982&q=Routine+Infant+Circumcision&total=37&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

What’s lost when circumcised
http://www.norm.org/lost.html

Childs rights
http://www.eskimo.com/~gburlin/mgm/facts.html

Answer 9

Never! I am so happy to be uncut! Circumcision is completely unnecessary...period! I don't know about other Christians, but for Catholics, the Vatican even stated at one point that circumcision was not required (even though God told Abraham to do it...Jews and Muslims anyone?)

Any questions?

Answer 10

Not. I'm not cut. I've always wondered - why would we ban this for girls yet say it's ok for boys? If you do it to him and he doesn't like it when he grows up, who do you think he'll blame? I'll always be thankful my mom protected me!
Edit - I saw your additional info - WOW Hollywood is still pushing circ! That's pretty gross! I don't really watch TV any more for a bunch of reasons. All I can think is this little guy will find out his mommy's stupid reasons for doing it and it was on national TV. Wonder what kind of conversations that will inspire in like 18 years. (thanks MOM, since you care so little about me and what I would want, you're going in an old folk's home when you get old - turn about is fair play right?)