So, with what is going on in SF making the news, I was wondering, what are some of the pros and cons of circumcision? I feel like I have heard a lot of pros, and know if we have a boy we will circumcise, but I was wondering what you all know/have heard.
Re: Pros and Cons of Circumcision?
I dated an uncircumcised guy. He had to be extra careful in the shower to clean under the excess skin. They can get infections. And also he would experience pain during a BJ or handjob if the skin was pulled the wrong way.
While I haven't researched this myself, interestingly there was a show on one of the cable channels earlier this week, about this older guy who is trying to "reverse his circumcision."
He said that a lot of nerve endings get cut off with circumcision, so sexual health later in life can be affected.
On the other side, I know that circumcised boys/men are less likely to get infections due to that lack of "skin flap."
Honestly, our biggest motivator is the social aspect. I know growing up anyone who was uncircumcised was teased mercilessly about it and called all sorts of weird things like "turtleneck". Also, no one we know is uncircumcised and while I have heard mixed things about keeping it clean and infection free, I didn't feel comfortable with responsiblity of that and the whole "it should look like your dads" played into it. I would defer to the males choice in this because they are the ones who know what its like.
FWIW I know someone who waited until their child was older (about a year) and the boy was up and playing that same day with no discomfort and my exboyfriend had to have it redone in HS, so I don't think not doing it is bad if the child chooses to do it later in life.
My husband is not circumcised...he has never had any infections (any whoe cleans themselves properly shouldn't have a problem with this), he has never been made fun of, in fact he says the majority of guys he knows aren't circumcised, also...he has never experienced pain during sex, handjobs or blowjobs....
Like a pp mentioned, that's how they come into this world, why change it?? I don't understand why it's done..other than in certain religions for their own religious beliefs..
EXACT same thing for me/my DH.
Oscar born October 2011
Miscarriage at 8 weeks (August 2013)
DD due September 1, 2014
this, this, this, this. Educate yourselves beyond this board, ladies. All 'pros' have been medically debunked. There is NO medical reason. You are cutting off a piece of your baby's penis. WTF??!!
This!! My husband is not circumcised as well. Never had infections. Never made fun of. Never had pain during sex, etc. If you are going to circumcise your son, these are not "reasons" to do it. I completely understand the religious aspect of it, but that's about all that makes sense to me.
I really don't understand this argument. Your son also won't have pubic hair or a penis and testicles the size of your DH's. Will that be an issue? People look different - that's part of life. And by the time he is old enough to "look" like his dad, they probably shouldn't be seeing each other naked anymore, IMHO.
Oscar born October 2011
Miscarriage at 8 weeks (August 2013)
DD due September 1, 2014
Well, only 33% of current male babies are circumsized so...maybe the tide has turned.
"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." -- Dale Carnegie
"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." --Thomas A. Edison
Ditto. I HATE this way of thinking. On the same note, then, would you be that worried that your daughter will not have a chest or coochie like you? Probably not.
"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." -- Dale Carnegie
"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." --Thomas A. Edison
You don't need to understand it, it is my child and I will do what I want. You do what you want, I was just giving my point of view..
Just have to say - I haven't heard the word "coochie" in so long - brought a smile to my face....No, I wouldn't be worried - you brought up a good point....Will think more about this..
Please do not throw phrases like this around when, for some, it is a religious issue. Who cares why other people choose to circ or not circ. Don't circ your boy if you have one. But people have their reasons for choosing to do it or not do it. How does their choice affect you?
You clearly missed the part of my statement that jeann was agreeing with where I said *RELIGION ASIDE.*
It wasn't your statement I was taking issue with. It's the one that followed that I highlighted.
I completely agree.
Whether or not your are doing it for religious reasons, and whether or not it discomforts you to know the reality, if you circumcise a boy you are in fact cutting off part of his penis, period, end of story. Are you really suggesting people go along with things that make them uncomfortable in the name of religion?
OK, wait, you talk about penis cleanliness with your male friends?!?!?!?!?!
DMoney will be a kickass big sister
Alison, I appreciate that you and jeann were both quick to exempt religion from your posts, but honestly, jeann's comment, "You are cutting off a piece of your baby's penis. WTF??!!" whether she meant it to or not, carries a LOT of judgment IMO, isn't specific to the reasoning behind having the procedure done (i.e., religious reasons or otherwise), and could just as easily have been omitted in the interest of respecting people's beliefs.
/soapbox
My BFP Chart
Becoming a better role model for my daughter, one day at a time
I read this article about the ban in SF.
https://www.ktvu.com/news/27941438/detail.html
It's personally none of my business on what people choose to do with their children. Circumcision is something me and my DH have chosen to do with our son. It should be our decision and nobody elses.
You put this better than I ever could have. And this is the 2nd time I have seen that very poster write the exact same words.
then your ex was EXTREMELY sensitive. that is not the norm. I am so sick of hearing all these stories about infection, if you clean it like you normally would, you'll be fine. MH is uncut and has never had one issue. there is no proven pro to cutting of the extra skin, NONE.
one of the cons is having it re-done. I said it in a post last week but i will say it again. I know at least a dozen little boys though playgroups/my local board who have had to have it re-done between 8m-2yrs b/c the Dr. didn't take enough off and it was causing problems. they have to get general anesthesia and it's a lot more painful at that age. that alone sealed the deal for me.
also, to those w/ the "he should look like MH" argument...what if your future daughter had a small chest and you had a large one? would you get her implants to look like you ?? of course not! variety is the spice of life , not everyone needs to look the same. I also love when moms leave it all up the dad b/c they have a penis. it's a major medical procedure, it should be decided on by both of you , IMO.
I am not saying the poster believes this but I really don't think she is that out of line. If one (like many do) don't see much of a difference between female circ and men circ than why is it so shocking that someone might be appalled by the practice? To some mutilation is simply that mutilation and it is not acceptable regardless of the reason. I certaintly would not listen to someone telling me that I have to be respectful of FGM becuase it is someones religion. I guess all I am saying is that something being a religious practice should not exempt one from harsh criticism.
And all I'm saying is that one may criticize the practice without demeaning its practitioners.
Edited to make the whole thing smaller.
My BFP Chart
Becoming a better role model for my daughter, one day at a time
i found this article helpful when we decided NOT to circumcise. Basically followed what the surgeons at children's hospital said to us when we were deciding. We had to wait to circumcise our DS b/c DH has a blood clotting disorder so we had to find out if DS had it too, which he does have a mild case. So anyway, we went back and forth about our decision and all the doctors, pediatricians, uroligists and surgeons agreed, that circumcision is NOT necessary at all. I'm very content w/ our decision not to do it.
https://www.askdrsears.com/html/1/t012000.asp
Ugh...FGM and circumcision are NOT the same. Not by a longshot. Comparing the two is ignorant. DH is circed and does NOT suffer loss of all pleasure or sensation down there and neither do the majority of men who are circed. B/C if they did, don't you think they would speak up against circing their baby boys? To the contrary, I think you will find that the majority of circed boys have circed fathers.
FGM is done to deprive a woman of sexual pleasure, done at an older age and is done unsanitarily the majority of time. While there may be no medical reason to circ, there is no real medical reason not to either. It is a personal decision.
I couldn't have said it better myself. If we end up having a boy (don't know yet) we will be circing. My DH is circed and enjoys sex very much. It is a personal decision and does not need to be justified to anyone, not even your doctor.
You women on here who are trash talking those that are circing have absolutely no respect for other's decisions. This isn't an opinion post. The OP just wants to know WHY you made the decision that YOU made, not why you think other people shouldn't do what they decided to do.
So quit being rude, disrespectful a**holes and move on!!
BFP #1 3/13/13, MMC 4/17/13, D&C 4/19/13
BFP #2 8/7/13, Beta at 4w6d = 3,796
how would he know if he has always been cut? it's a medical fact that the tip of the penis is loaded w/ nerve endings that make sex better. he just doesn't know what he's missing out on!
Seriously? Circumcision is cutting off the foreskin...the extra piece of skin that covers the SHAFT. It pulls back during intercourse. Nobody is cutting the tip off of anything.
How would either camp know what the other feels like? This is entirely ridiculous.
The point is, unless you are doing it for religious reasons, do your reading, and that does not include this message board. Buy a book or two on the matter.
I really don't understand how some people are SO very concerned about other people's little baby boy penises.
Honestly, to get so up in arms over this just makes no bloody sense to me. Let's all look out for the penises in our own houses!
DMoney will be a kickass big sister
yes, it's the tip of skin and it does have nerve endings. sorry you are getting so fired up over this.
I agree completely. My issue is personal, as the vote on the ban affects me as a resident.