There is scientific support for your beliefs. Uncir'ed men are more likely to contract infections and STDs after exposure. That fact alone is reason enough me to do it.
It is not merely "cultural" or habit. There are MANY research studies that show that men are less likely to contract infections and STI's if they are circumcised. I wouldn't feel right taking that chance.
@Luccie most of the studies that supported those conclusions have since been discredited, the only one that seems to hold water is a slight increase in syphilis rates. Teaching your boys to wear condoms is a more effective way of preventing STIs anyways.
@jennybean80 my pediatrician maintains that circumcision does decrease the rates of contraction for HIV in adulthood also, but only by a small percentage. Still a small enough consideration that we’re going to leave him intact and let him make his mind up as an adult. Honestly I’d be shocked if he decided to go through the procedure just for that reason. Condoms aren’t the end of the world.
@Luccie Please see links on page 1 of this discussion. Almost all of the studies citing a lower rate of STD and HIV infections in circumcised men have been discredited and results of these studies have not been able to be replicated. It's important that we stick to facts when making medical decisions about our children.
Ladybug - April 2013 Dandelion - October 2018 Angel "Aurora" - July 2020 Angel "Sawyer" - May 2021 Angel "Maxine" - January 2022 Angel "Violet" - March 2022 Baby Dove due March 2023
Goodness I love you ladies, and our shared love for science I got so tired of hearing that crap when we decided not to circ Ds. People love to use discredited or bias crap to try to prove their point. Research is important...
Just cuz a lurker posted that doesn't mean it's wrong, per se. There's certainly research that supports circumcision resulting in lower rates of certain STIs. However, because in the US, many of these STIs are not common due to safer sex practices, it's not considered in and of itself a reason TO circumcise. (For example it is shown to reduce HIV transmission, but in the US that's luckily rare nowadays).
Basically, as we all have been alluding to, there are risks and benefits, and are moderate on both sides, to the point where the AAP says there's not conclusive evidence for them to recommend one way or another and either choice is a valid one. Which I think should make us all feel good, I hope! One updated statistic is that in the US, 40% of boys are now uncircumcised, which is a high. And in certain states it's majority. (PS we are still deciding ourselves).
@HoosOnFirst I just got done with the podcast and how she said HIV made my eye twitch. H-eich I V maybe this should go in UO.lol. I was expecting different things from the podcast but with the discredited info about UTI's previous in this thread and other non confirmed sources saying it does decrease it but only like .001% it was interesting to listen to.
@HoosOnFirst I just got done with the podcast and how she said HIV made my eye twitch. H-eich I V maybe this should go in UO.lol. I was expecting different things from the podcast but with the discredited info about UTI's previous in this thread and other non confirmed sources saying it does decrease it but only like .001% it was interesting to listen to.
Ha yes, the host is from New Zealand so it takes getting used to!
We also just found out we are having a boy, so I appreciate all of this information! Ultimately, I am leaving it up to DH as many of you have also said, but we have talked about all of this information you have posted so thank you! We have decided we will circumcise since DH is and he wants his son to be the same. Now I just need to ask the doctor at one of our next appointments who usually does it (never thought about this until reading this thread), and ask our pediatritian about everything when we meet with them in August. I just wanted to say thanks to all of you!
So, this was weird. Apparently, Mom has started trotting out the pregnancy horror stories. Yay.
I was talking to my Mom last night about drafting my birth plan, and circumcision came up. I told her if Blast is a boy, I’m not getting him circumcised. In addition to questioning my decision (thank goodness for this thread and other research, I knew what to say), she told me about my older brother’s circumcision.
Apparently, it was done without asking their preference/consent (42 years ago- things were very different), immediately after he was born with her in the room. I can’t even.
I have a good friend who is a urologist. She said her only advice was to take him to a pediatric urologist if we planned to do it. She said I would be shocked at the number of times the OB effs it up. We opted against it for our A15, and this one is a girl. We have had absolutely zero problems with our almost 3 year old not being circumcised.
Re: The Circumcision Thread
It is not merely "cultural" or habit. There are MANY research studies that show that men are less likely to contract infections and STI's if they are circumcised. I wouldn't feel right taking that chance.
Dandelion - October 2018
Angel "Aurora" - July 2020
Angel "Sawyer" - May 2021
Angel "Maxine" - January 2022
Angel "Violet" - March 2022
Baby Dove due March 2023
Basically, as we all have been alluding to, there are risks and benefits, and are moderate on both sides, to the point where the AAP says there's not conclusive evidence for them to recommend one way or another and either choice is a valid one. Which I think should make us all feel good, I hope! One updated statistic is that in the US, 40% of boys are now uncircumcised, which is a high. And in certain states it's majority. (PS we are still deciding ourselves).
Science Versus Podcast, with references: https://www.gimletmedia.com/science-vs/circumcision-to-snip-or-not-to-snip#episode-player
AAP recommendations (from 2012): https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/130/3/e756.full.pdf
I was expecting different things from the podcast but with the discredited info about UTI's previous in this thread and other non confirmed sources saying it does decrease it but only like .001% it was interesting to listen to.
I was talking to my Mom last night about drafting my birth plan, and circumcision came up. I told her if Blast is a boy, I’m not getting him circumcised. In addition to questioning my decision (thank goodness for this thread and other research, I knew what to say), she told me about my older brother’s circumcision.
Apparently, it was done without asking their preference/consent (42 years ago- things were very different), immediately after he was born with her in the room. I can’t even.