Circumsize?

Question

I'm just curious who on here had their son circumsized? I'm feeling a bit confused as to what I should do and my son is almost 2 weeks old...I cant do it until his jaundice is gone, but I'm concerned as to whether or not I should do this for my son? What are the pros and cons of circumsizing?

Answer 1

I'm against infant circumcision. 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 it to a large number of newborns without religious or medical needs. (Europeans, Latin Americans, Japanese, and most Australians, Canadians, and Asians don't circumcise):
http://www.circumstitions.com/Maps.html

Christianity doesn't ask for circumcision, either. In fact, sections of the Bible are harsh against circumcision, and the Catholic Church even condemned the surgery:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circumcision_in_the_Bible#In_Christianity

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 a medical study, it was found that females are more likely to hit orgasm with an uncircumcised man:
http://www.healthcentral.com/drdean/408/60750.html

The lubricated foreskin (on the inside... like your eyelids) slides up and down during sex and masturbation to stimulate the head (which is why you don't hear of uncircumcised guys needing lube to masturbate).
http://www.cirp.org/pages/anat/
http://net.indra.com/~shredder/intact/anatomy/index.html

Studies have found that circumcision reduces sensitivity (this article also mentions how it has lost popularity in the USA in recent times):
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,285532,00.html

And despite being more sensitive, uncircumcised guys still last in the same six minute range (average) that circumcised guys do:
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2005.00070.x

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 circumcision was promoted 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

If too much skin is removed in circumcision, it can make the penis smaller since the penis needs some skin to expand during an erection:
http://drgreene.org/body.cfm?id=21&action=detail&ref=1125
http://www.altermd.com/Penis%20and%20Scrotal%20Surgery/buried_penis.htm

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.pslgroup.com/dg/1f21e.htm
http://www.cirp.org/library/procedure/plastibell/

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

Best of luck with your boy. =)

PS. 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

Answer 2

I didnt get my son circumsized - theres no need for it. He was born with it, and thats the way its gonna stay unless when hes an adult he wants to get done then (which i highly doubt). As long as you teach them from a young age when they bathe that its important to be hygenic, theres no reason that it will hurt him in anyway. People carry on and say its unhygenic, but as i said, if they clean properly, its not more unhygenic than a circumsized penis - my partner is uncircumsized and he cleans it i cant understand whats so hard about cleaning yourself properly. Someone mentioned that less bacteria is on the penis if you have it circumsized - well id say that would probably be the same for women, but that doesnt get done, why should little boys have to get this done? I couldnt bear to have that done to my little boy - it seems cruel. God made your little boy perfect - theres no reason to change him!!

Answer 3

Most men in my family are uncircumcised and don't have problems, either with infections or with attracting women. ;) Seriously, if infections and uncleanliness were problems, they would have all had it done a long time ago.

In the US, the percentage of circ'ed vs uncirc'ed boys is now about 50/50, so its unlikely that an uncirc'ed penis will be perceived as "unsightly". It will be perceived as normal for this generation. Personally, I didn't circumsize my son because I couldn't see any reasons to.

Answer 4

We didn't get our son snipped. My husband said absolutely not. "Au Naturale" My son has not had any complications, and as far as cleanliness, There is never a problem with being clean. The majority of people will tell you to have it done. But, it is a choice that you unfortunately have to make for your little on at the moment. My doctor was so happy when I told her we were not hving him circumcised. She said that everyone thinks that is the right thing to do, and it is un-neccesary-truely. God Luck with YOUR decision.

Answer 5

It is not the truth, that uncircumsized men get infection easily... I come from Europe and men in my country are mostly NOT circumsized and I haven't heard of anybody that got an infection. My husband and son are not circumsized and have no problems at all. I wouldn't do it.

Answer 6

I personally wouldn't do it. 1:It's a painful unnecessary medical procedure.
2: My partner isn't and has NEVER had a problem. I would wait and see if my child needs it when he's older.Most of the time is is unnecessary. People seem to think not having it done it unclean and they get infections. This is not true if they clean them self properly. Just like anyone. It's there for a reason. If it's not meant to be there, a baby boy wouldn't be born with it. Every male animal on the planet has one except for the platypus and the echidna. It is there to protect the glans and urethra.

Answer 7

There are actually virtually no medical benefits to circumcision. There is a tiny decrease in the risk of cancer and urinary tract infections, but the risk of these is so small anyhow that the benefits to any one child is basically non-existent. It is a surgical procedure, is often done without anesthesia, and is basically a matter of personal preference. If you do have him circumcised, you'll need to keep the area extremely clean until it heals, to prevent infection. And be sure his doctor gives you options for pain relief, both topical/local anesthesia during the procedure, and for afterwards. Many newborn boys "shut down" (go to sleep for an extended period) after circumcision, which can negatively affect breastfeeding.

Circumcision rates in the US are decreasing every year, so depending on what part of the country you live in, it's likely that most or all of your son's peers will have intact penises. And most boys don't compare their penises with their father's, so deciding so he'll "look like Dad" isn't really necessary (my husband and my brothers have no idea if their fathers are circumcised or not, for instance). Your son's penis isn't going to look like his father's anyhow, it will look like a little boy's! Some religions include circumcision as part of their beliefs, but since you're asking this question, I'm guessing you don't have religious beliefs that include circumcision!

If your son is intact, he'll need to learn to clean his penis properly. Don't let anyone tell you to forcibly retract his foreskin to clean underneath it; your son is the only one who should retract his foreskin. It's normal for it not to retract until he's a toddler, preschooler, or even until he reaches puberty. Your son's doctor might not be aware of the normal anatomy and care of the intact penis, so be sure you learn what to expect so you can teach your son.

Answer 8

good question i am pregnant with a boy and was thinking about the circumcision thing but i think i will leave him alone and not have it done. The main reason why women have their child circumcised is so that the area stays clean and to avoid infections.

But i am just going to make sure my partner shows him how to clean that reigon properly. My partner is not circumcised and there has never been any problems with infection or whatever so i dont think i could deal with him being in so much pain afterwards, i know he wont remember it but it will still hurt him, so long as he knows how to keep it clean, i think i will leave him alone.

Answer 9

I had my son circumcised. I was young at the time and did not know all the facts about it. Some people say that uncircumcised boys get more infections, but as long as it is kept clean, it really is no more or less. In America (not in the rest of the world) a lot of people seem to think it is disgusting not too. It is just a cultural thing.

Answer 10

When I had my son, I felt the same way as you did. I had no idea what to do. I asked my doctor what he thought. He told me that nowadays, there is no medical reason to have a baby circumcised and if he were me, he wouldn't do it. He also said that an uncircumcised penis is very easy to care for and there are generally no problems. At the time, my husband was going to school with several Canadians (who usually don't get circumcised) and he spoke to them about how they felt about not being circumcised. Every last one of them said that they were very happy that they had not had the procedure done. I ended up having my son circumcised for purely social reasons. I didn't want him feeling different from his classmates during gym class, etc. In the end, I think this is the reason that most people do it. Good luck with your decision.