To Circumcise or Not to Circumcise?!?!

runnergrl6675

wkfouts:

pam1005:

MrsGo4Hockeychick:

well, your options are to do it. or to not do it. 

 

it's pretty simple. do your research and make your decision.  

YES... these threads annoy me for some reason. Some people are very passionate about their personal decision and these can get out of control.  Do some research and go from there.

AGREED 100%

I agree, too!!!

liv97

leahabe1:

wkfouts:

pam1005:

MrsGo4Hockeychick:

well, your options are to do it. or to not do it. 

 

it's pretty simple. do your research and make your decision.  

YES... these threads annoy me for some reason. Some people are very passionate about their personal decision and these can get out of control.  Do some research and go from there.

AGREED 100%

I agree, too!!!

would you say the same thing if someone said they were going to circumcise their baby girl? 

damabo80

snip snip in our household.

Geekchick921

liv97:

leahabe1:

wkfouts:

pam1005:

MrsGo4Hockeychick:

well, your options are to do it. or to not do it. 

 

it's pretty simple. do your research and make your decision.  

YES... these threads annoy me for some reason. Some people are very passionate about their personal decision and these can get out of control.  Do some research and go from there.

AGREED 100%

I agree, too!!!

would you say the same thing if someone said they were going to circumcise their baby girl? 

Oh FFS, it didn't even take two pages for someone to make this ridiculous comparison. 

MrsGo4Hockeychick

Geekchick921:

liv97:

would you say the same thing if someone said they were going to circumcise their baby girl? 

Oh FFS, it didn't even take two pages for someone to make this ridiculous comparison. 

I think that's a bump record.  

liv97

MrsGo4Hockeychick:

Geekchick921:

liv97:

would you say the same thing if someone said they were going to circumcise their baby girl? 

Oh FFS, it didn't even take two pages for someone to make this ridiculous comparison. 

I think that's a bump record.  

how is it ridiculous?   they are both unnecessary surgeries done without consent with (in many cases) lasting issues. 

damabo80

liv97:

MrsGo4Hockeychick:

Geekchick921:

liv97:

would you say the same thing if someone said they were going to circumcise their baby girl? 

Oh FFS, it didn't even take two pages for someone to make this ridiculous comparison. 

I think that's a bump record.  

how is it ridiculous?   they are both unnecessary surgeries done without consent with (in many cases) lasting issues. 

Female circumcision is more cloesly related to castration than circumcision. A person is removing the clitoris (which can be classified as an organ). I take it you were referring to this practice? Which is usually done for the sole intent that the women not stray from the martial bed? Last time I checked, male circumcision does not make a guy more or less sexually faithful. And a circumcised male has no problem having an orgasm.....

Circumcision for boys is removing excess skin. If you want to make a more accurate comparision, circumcision for girls would be like removing a portion of the outer labia lips.

liv97

damabo80:

liv97:

MrsGo4Hockeychick:

Geekchick921:

liv97:

would you say the same thing if someone said they were going to circumcise their baby girl? 

Oh FFS, it didn't even take two pages for someone to make this ridiculous comparison. 

I think that's a bump record.  

how is it ridiculous?   they are both unnecessary surgeries done without consent with (in many cases) lasting issues. 

Female circumcision is more cloesly related to castration than circumcision. A person is removing the clitoris (which can be classified as an organ). I take it you were referring to this practice?

Circumcision is removing excess skin. If you want to make a more accurate comparision, circumcision for girls would be like removing a portion of the outer labia lips.

in both cases the skin that is removed is highly sensitive erogenous skin, foreskin is not just "excess skin". so while in some cases female circumcision can be more extreme, they are essentially the same procedure that serve to diminish sexual feelings.   

Geekchick921

liv97:

MrsGo4Hockeychick:

Geekchick921:

liv97:

would you say the same thing if someone said they were going to circumcise their baby girl? 

Oh FFS, it didn't even take two pages for someone to make this ridiculous comparison. 

I think that's a bump record.  

how is it ridiculous?   they are both unnecessary surgeries done without consent with (in many cases) lasting issues. 

Are you serious or are you really that dim?

1. Female circumcision (often referred to as female genital mutilation, FGM) is illegal and classifies as child abuse in this country.  Male circumcision counts as neither of those.
2. FGM is usually performed on older children, without any anesthesia, by someone other than a medical professional, and usually with instruments that you'd never see in an OR, like razors,  scissors, broken glass, etc.  Male circumcision in this country is generally performed with some form of analgesia and with proper, sterile surgical equipment.
3. Male circ involves removing the foreskin of the penis.  Even the most mild forms of FGM usually involve removing part or all of the clitoris.  The most severe forms of FGM involve "the entire clitoris and some or all of the labia minoraare excised, and incisions are made in the labia majora to createraw surfaces. The labial raw surfaces are stitched togetherto cover the urethra and vaginal introitus, leaving a small posterioropening for urinary and menstrual flow. In Type III FGM, the patientwill have a firm band of tissue replacing the labia and obliterationof the urethra and vaginal openings." or "different practices of variable severity including pricking, piercing or incision of the clitoris and/orlabia; stretching of the clitoris and/or labia; cauterizationof the clitoris; and scraping or introduction of corrosive substancesinto the vagina."  The anatomy is difficult to compare, but last time I checked, male circumcision doesn't involve burning the glans of the penis, sewing the urethra shut, or scraping the urethra with a pipe cleaner dipped in Comet.
4. There are no documented medical benefits to FGM that I have ever heard of.  There are several for male circ, but the thing is that they are for problems that are rare to begin with.  It is a matter of absolute vs. relative risk, which is likely why the AAP has the stance on male circumcision that it has.
5. Complications and life-long effects of FGM are more common and more severe than those of male circumcision, due to the manner and severity of the procedure.  There are a lot of them and you can read ALL about them in the links below.

Sources:

AAP Circumcision Policy Statement

AAP FGM Policy Statement

The best part is that Go4 presented a perfectly sensible statement.  Do it or don't, just do your research and make a decision, then you came in and compared it to FGM.  Asshat.

MrsGo4Hockeychick

if we want to compare apples to apples here, removal of the foreskin is comprable to the removal of the clitoral hood. 

It's not the same as FGM, as geekers has already pointed out. But it's not as simplistic as damambo says either.  

JuneBugsMommy

We are circumcising (sp?), just a personal choice for us.

zsharky

liv97:

I don't think its personal choice, anymore than female genital mutilation should be personal choice. 

my husband is jewish, but if we have a boy we're not having it done.  plenty of rabbi's say you can fulfill the ceremonial requirements without having to circumcise. 

Yeah, not true. I'm not sure what kind of rabbis you are talking about, but I'd love to see their halachic/talmudic sources on that one. Halachah is pretty clear about it being mandated, with the exception of a child with a medical/health issue that would prevent it (such as a bleeding disorder). Even adult men undergoing conversion to Judaism must get circumcised.

That said, it is still ultimately a personal choice whether or not to follow tradition. I highly doubt that outside of a very haredi (ultra orthodox) community that any parents are going to be dragged in front of a beit din for failing to circ their son.

klv

If we were having a boy, yes.

kxp004

STARTED A POST ON THIS ON 1-19-2011, there is a POLL in it and more opinions

https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/47962052.aspx

After more research, we decided we will not circumcise our son...

Roseallen112

I was seriously on the fence about this UNTIL my friend told me her 11yr old son isn't and for whatever reason the skin is too tight there so she can't pull it back to clean it. (this is when he was younger, he cleans himself now) Now at 11 he had to be circumcised. Then a guy I know 28 got an infection and had to have it done. So I haven't heared any negatives with getting it done and the hubby is so we will be a snip the tip family also.

kacelle

MrsGo4Hockeychick:

well, your options are to do it. or to not do it. 

it's pretty simple. do your research and make your decision.  

This!  These posts always end up in arguments between sides, and there are honestly good reasons (scientific, medical, and personal) for either decision.   Research the issue for yourself to make a decision; don't rely on opinions from people on a forum!

Mayra26

If I have a boy, I'll do it.  I just read somewhere that you can request local anesthesia for the baby.  I'm going to ask for that (if it's a boy).

I figure if the preference out there is circumcised penises, then I want my boy to have one!  Not doing it sounds so old-fashioned.  Plus, they're more beautiful that way and someday a girlfriend will really appreciate it!  LOL

I'm hoping to find out tomorrow what the sex is.  

nicsigni

Mayra26:

If I have a boy, I'll do it.  I just read somewhere that you can request local anesthesia for the baby.  I'm going to ask for that (if it's a boy).

I figure if the preference out there is circumcised penises, then I want my boy to have one!  Not doing it sounds so old-fashioned.  Plus, they're more beautiful that way and someday a girlfriend will really appreciate it!  LOL

I'm hoping to find out tomorrow what the sex is.  

Okay, I was going to stay out of this debate because I honestly don't care what you people do with your own kids, and we are having a girl anyway. But this comment made me spit water onto my computer, and I feel I have to say something.

A- Calling a penis (any penis) 'beautiful' is a bit of a stretch.

B- When they are erect they look the same- extra skin or not.

Carry on.

aecrowley22

zsharky:

Jewish. So yes, my son will be circumcised in front of about 50 family members and friends, with a party to follow.

Other than for religious reasons, it's a personal choice.

I have a question about this and thought you may be able to help...We are going to circumcise...and I have done a little research and was wondering if rabbis perform circumcisions on non jewish boys...my reasons for preferring this is because the procedure is so involved at hospitals and from what I have read about Bris ceremonies it is much more relaxed and quick.  Any help you could ffer would be great.  TIA

NurseLaLa

tikitomban:

NurseMom1:

It is no longer the norm to circumcise (even in America), so that last point is mute. 

This is honestly not to be a jerk, and I know it's probably spell-check error. But just a well-meaning FYI, it's actually "moot," not mute. (I should probably keep my mouth shut, but I figured I'd correct you on the off-chance you've been using this word wrong. At least I'm a stranger to you, so who cares ... but I didn't want you to make that mistake out in public in front of someone you know!)  

 

I actually appreciate that! Thank you.    I blame it on baby brain. I say "moot" in person, but always type out mute, haha 

 

 

 

nicsigni:

Mayra26:

If I have a boy, I'll do it.  I just read somewhere that you can request local anesthesia for the baby.  I'm going to ask for that (if it's a boy).

I figure if the preference out there is circumcised penises, then I want my boy to have one!  Not doing it sounds so old-fashioned.  Plus, they're more beautiful that way and someday a girlfriend will really appreciate it!  LOL

I'm hoping to find out tomorrow what the sex is.   

Okay, I was going to stay out of this debate because I honestly don't care what you people do with your own kids, and we are having a girl anyway. But this comment made me spit water onto my computer, and I feel I have to say something.

A- Calling a penis (any penis) 'beautiful' is a bit of a stretch.

B- When they are erect they look the same- extra skin or not.

Carry on.

 

I wanted to add that I have been with both circ and non'circ men and the non-circ ones uh... Feel better during the deed. The sex is better for the male and the female. 

 

It's like they're born with French ticklers. Come on now! :P 

jheideman

I don't think its personal choice, anymore than female genital mutilation should be personal choice. 

Well, actually, it is a personal choice, since you cannot tell others whether or not to circumcise their son.  It is their personal choice, not yours.  

jheideman

liv97:

I don't think its personal choice, anymore than female genital mutilation should be personal choice.  

Well, actually, it is a personal choice, since you cannot tell others whether or not to circumcise their son.  It is their personal choice, not yours.  

chocoholicchick

We're having a boy and we are going to circumcise. 

jheideman

damabo80:

liv97:

MrsGo4Hockeychick:

Geekchick921:

liv97:

would you say the same thing if someone said they were going to circumcise their baby girl? 

Oh FFS, it didn't even take two pages for someone to make this ridiculous comparison. 

I think that's a bump record.  

how is it ridiculous?   they are both unnecessary surgeries done without consent with (in many cases) lasting issues. 

Female circumcision is more cloesly related to castration than circumcision. A person is removing the clitoris (which can be classified as an organ). I take it you were referring to this practice? Which is usually done for the sole intent that the women not stray from the martial bed? Last time I checked, male circumcision does not make a guy more or less sexually faithful. And a circumcised male has no problem having an orgasm.....

Circumcision for boys is removing excess skin. If you want to make a more accurate comparision, circumcision for girls would be like removing a portion of the outer labia lips.

THANK YOU!  Not to mention some cultures that do this, wait until the girl is at least five, do it with a rock or dull knife and then proceed to sew the girl up.  

https://www.mcclatchydc.com/2007/01/25/15599/female-genital-mutilation-persists.html (sorry, not clicky)

Or look up Iman's story about her experience with female "circumcision".  I WOULD have a problem with male circumcision if males were circumcised in the same fashion.

 

zsharky

aecrowley22:

zsharky:

Jewish. So yes, my son will be circumcised in front of about 50 family members and friends, with a party to follow.

Other than for religious reasons, it's a personal choice.

I have a question about this and thought you may be able to help...We are going to circumcise...and I have done a little research and was wondering if rabbis perform circumcisions on non jewish boys...my reasons for preferring this is because the procedure is so involved at hospitals and from what I have read about Bris ceremonies it is much more relaxed and quick.  Any help you could ffer would be great.  TIA

Actually, rabbis do not perform the circ or the ceremony. The term for a person who performs a brit milah is a mohel. Also, many people now have Jewish doctors perform the ceremony. As long as they know the correct ritual way to do it and the blessings that have to be said, it's perfectly legitimate for a doctor to do the ceremony.

ETA: A mohel may actually be a rabbi, but most rabbis are not mohelim.

ablou

We circ'ed our son for a variety of reasons, after discussing it with my OB.

A bit of a backstory: my grandaddy got circ'ed when he was 70 years old, because he hated the way he looked his entire life, and it truly affected his self-value.  It was major surgery & very painful.  I didn't want my son to live his life that way, so that contributed to our decision. 

Sazhrah

I know this can be a heated topic. I however like to get opinions even from strangers on a board since there are other view points I may not have realized before asking the question. As for this topic, I was very torn.

I have 2 older boys that are cut. I did it simply because like father like son and personally had never seen an uncut penis before.

With this son I will not. This is my reasoning:

1. It is there for a reason.

2. Unless there is a medical need to remove it then it should stay there.

3. Cosmetically if my son wants to be cut then he can make that decision on his own when he is an adult and can pay for it just like if my daughter wants to cosmetically alter her organs (ie Breast Augementation) then she can do it when she is an adult.

Comparing male circumcision to female circumcision to me is ridiculous. It is no where near the same thing. I would say it is closer to having the labia minora on a girl "shaved" down for cosmetic reasons. This is just my 2cents.

MrsMiller1002

tikitomban:

If not for the slight benefits in preventing possible yeast infection, STD, health department

This. we WILL be doing it. DH is done and he wants LO if a boy to be done too. I 100% agree.

However I do understand and respect peoples decisions on not having it done also. It is a personal choice. so I'm not one to judge. 

NurseLaLa

MrsMiller1002:

tikitomban:

If not for the slight benefits in preventing possible yeast infection, STD, health department

This. we WILL be doing it. DH is done and he wants LO if a boy to be done too. I 100% agree.

However I do understand and respect peoples decisions on not having it done also. It is a personal choice. so I'm not one to judge. 

 So instead of teaching your son how to clean himself properly and how to have safe sex, you'll cut off a piece of his anatomy that improves his sex life? Cool beans.  

andrea922

Roseallen112:

I was seriously on the fence about this UNTIL my friend told me her 11yr old son isn't and for whatever reason the skin is too tight there so she can't pull it back to clean it. (this is when he was younger, he cleans himself now) Now at 11 he had to be circumcised. Then a guy I know 28 got an infection and had to have it done. So I haven't heared any negatives with getting it done and the hubby is so we will be a snip the tip family also.

Sigh. You aren't supposed to pull back the foreskin on an uncirc'ed penis until it retracts on its own, so she shouldn't have been trying. There is so much misunderstanding with uncirc'ed penis' it is scary.

And for the poster who said her sons future gf would be happier with a circ'ed penis I roll my eyes at you. BIG time. They look exactly the same when erect. 

Make the decision which is best for your family, but don't do it based on locker room fears or future girlfriend desires.

citygirl22

liv97:

 

I don't think its personal choice, anymore than female genital mutilation should be personal choice. 

my husband is jewish, but if we have a boy we're not having it done.  plenty of rabbi's say you can fulfill the ceremonial requirements without having to circumcise. 

"Yeah, not true. I'm not sure what kind of rabbis you are talking about, but I'd love to see their halachic/talmudic sources on that one. Halachah is pretty clear about it being mandated, with the exception of a child with a medical/health issue that would prevent it (such as a bleeding disorder). Even adult men undergoing conversion to Judaism must get circumcised.

That said, it is still ultimately a personal choice whether or not to follow tradition. I highly doubt that outside of a very haredi (ultra orthodox) community that any parents are going to be dragged in front of a beit din for failing to circ their son."

Exactly zsharky. Not true...I don't see how that is even possible from an ordained Rabbinic standpoint. But yes, it is still a personal choice to follow the tradition (outside of Hasidic communities).

We had a Bris for my son in our home. It was joyful, warm, beautiful and the actual circumcision was gentle and very brief. He was warmly held in his grandfather's arms (Sandek) and minutes later, I was nursing him. He slept most of the time actually. We had about 60 or so family and friends over for the occasion. It was wonderful so my feelings on this are very emotional, but in a joyful, proud sort of way.

It is still a personal choice and even if we weren't Jewish we would likely do the same. The AAP states there are potential benefits but they seem to not want to take a hard line stance on it. I'm not sure how I feel about hospital circumcision but as far as a Bris, anyone who has been to one (and it's NOT how they depict it on Seinfeld), knows it is a wonderful occasion.

I don't know about the statistics in our country, nor do I care really about other kid's penises, but I guess you can take a count of those who responded here and calculate a general percentage (or do a poll so people can respond anonymously). I also disagree with whoever said not to consider how he may feel down the road. It's important that any decision we make for our children be made with the child's best interest (not yours) at heart and recognize how this may impact his self-esteem and/or emotional well being.

jennaw21

We circumcised DS#1 and will again with DS#2.  I don't know how it is elsewhere in the country - but where I'm at (San Antonio, TX) it's the norm.  And while girls may not be naked in locker rooms...guys DEFINITELY are!

The procedure was really much ado about nothing.  It took no time and he did not seem to be in any pain afterwards.  I imagine it would be a much bigger deal to have it done later.

Random and it was fiction, but there was an episode of Nip/Tuck where the son of one of the doctors went on-line and found a "Do it Yourself Circumcision Website" and tried to circ. himself.  That was disturbing.