Circumcision

Wiscisbliss · August 2011

kleMcK:
I've kind of left this decision up to DH, as he's the only one with the relevant "equipment" so I feel like he'll be able to make a better decision than I will.

If it were up to me, I don't think we would. DH wants to have it done though, so I'm deferring to him. It may not matter, though, as we still don't know the sex.

This is us too.

CalMum_Momma · August 2011

sunnyday016:
CalMum_Momma:

addegeorge:
No we are not, my husband and I have no religious reasons for it and there is no medical reason at all. I also talked to people who did and really wish they hadn't. The process is so traumatizing many places won't even let mom be in there to watch, do you want to put your new born baby through something you wouldn't be allowed to watch?

There are still medical benefits to circ'ing your boys. The process is not traumatizing at all. Even my DS did not cry when it was done, and we were both invoted to watch the procedure. We decided to enjoy the 10min the procedure took, by staying in the cafe and having some breakfast together.

Can you (or someone else) elaborate on the medical benefits?

From WebMD-

What are the benefits of circumcision?

There is some evidence that circumcision has health benefits, including:

A decreased risk of urinary tract infections.
A reduced risk of sexually transmitted diseases in men.
Protection against penile cancer and a reduced risk of cervical cancer in female sex partners.
Prevention of balanitis (inflammation of the glans) and balanoposthitis (inflammation of the glans and foreskin).
Prevention of phimosis (the inability to retract the foreskin) and paraphimosis (the inability to return the foreskin to its original location).

Circumcision also makes it easier to keep the end of the penis clean.

From the National Institute of Health-

Some research has suggested that uncircumcised male infants have an increased risk of certain conditions, including:

Cancer of the penis
Certain sexually transmitted diseases including HIV
Infections of the penis
Phimosis (tightness of the foreskin that prevents it from retracting)
Urinary tract infections

Outlook (Prognosis)

Circumcision is considered a very safe procedure for both newborns and older children.

I also found this article to be full of some good info: https://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/164/1/78.pdf

If you don't want to read the whole thing, here's the conclusion:

CONCLUSIONS The World Health Organization/Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS has concluded that ?the research evidence that male circumcision is efficacious in reducing sexual transmission of HIV from women to men is compelling . . . and has been proven beyond reasonable doubt.?17 In 2007, the American Urological Association revised their policy to state that ?circumcision should be presented as an option for health benefits.?74 However, the AAP, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and American Medical Association are likely to have the greatest influence on parental decisions and insurance coverage for neonatal circumcision in the United States. With the mounting evidence that male circumcision decreases viral STIs, genital ulcer disease, and penile inflammatory disorders in men, and bacterial vaginosis, T vaginalis infection, and genital ulcer disease in their female partners, it is time for the AAP policy to fully reflect these current data. I could go on, but really, we all know how to google. The point is that even the AMA and academy of Pediatrics acknowledge that there are medical benefits, despite their not recommending it across the board anymore.

JessieJH · August 2011

We wouldn't do circumcision for a child in any situation (it's crazy enough for girls). I can't imagine offering up my baby for an elective procedure like that. I think it's just a tradition that's dying hard in the United States. My DH is British and it's a lot less common over there.

I think it would be a beautiful thing to start a tradition of not doing elective procedures like this, but it's difficult to turn a trend and tradition like this around.

Best of luck in your decision!

mommybrynn · August 2011

We are having it done-- no religious reason or anything, just a personal choice we have made for our son.

ryry1977 · August 2011

We did not circumcize our son. DH is, and it took some confincing on my part to get him to go along with me. Our doctor said that it was unnessesary. So that is what finally got DHs ok. I don't see why I should circumsize my son just because it is what has been done in the past or so he can be like daddy. If he choses to get it done when he is older, that is his desision.

5bears · August 2011

JessieJH:

We wouldn't do circumcision for a child in any situation (it's crazy enough for girls).

It is an absolute MYTH to compare female genital mutilation (aka "female circumcision") to male circumcision. FGM actually removes portions of the genitals (not just a piece of skin), makes intercourse painful, and there's a high risk of infection. Comparing this to male circumcision is a complete fallacy.

Sorry, I was trying to stay out of this argument, but couldn't leave this comment without leaving my 2 cents.

KRISTA555 · August 2011

If we end up with a boy, we will not circumcise.

FWIW, Dh is circumcised, but we're not at all worried that our boy would lack self esteem because his penis looks slightly different than his father's. There are many valid, understandable arguments that people have for circumcising their child.... "looking like daddy" seems silly to me. JMHO.

JenJH923 · August 2011

I voted "Yes". I work in the newborn nursery as an RN and assist with circumcisions. 9 times out of 10 the baby does not cry once you give him the pacifier with sugar water on it. It is bloody, it is a surgical procedure, but it is not the most awful thing out there. The babies cry more when they get their heel pricked! My hospital will gladly allow the parents to be in the room during the circumcision and most time they are very surprised about how well the babies do.

stepht514 · August 2011

I am having a boy and plan on circumcision. The reason is, I have seen uncircumcized boys get yeast infections in the skin fold. I know that its a matter of the boy/parent taking care of it but it can be forgotten, especially with a little boy that probably has better things to do than take a bath. This sounds like I am going to let my son go days without a bath but thats not what I mean at all haha. I have just seen some yucky infections in that area and would like to avoid it.

Shmogan09 · August 2011

I was in the room with DS and they let me feed him a dropper of sugar water and he just looked into my eyes the whole time and never cried. Literally did not shed a tear!

NSizemore2011 · August 2011

Cebs222:
Our reason isn't really a huge one. My husband is so he wants our son to be, I left the decision up to him and that's what he choose. We don't know if we are having a boy or girl though so we made the decision a while ago since it will have to be quick thought in the delivery room.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm in the same situation. We don't know what the baby is yet. The only difference is, my husband isn't. He said that, if it's a boy, he DOES want him to have a circumcision. I mean really his biggest reason is cleanliness and so in the future if something happens, that the skin grows together, that the baby won't have to go through it at a later age.

HopingForOne · August 2011

I'm just confused as to why this ia considered a "personal decision" ,when in actuality the person who it affects isn't being given a choice...

I don't know why, but that always boggles my mind (not just in this situation, in many!)

autumn423 · August 2011

I work in an ER and when you have adult men crying, begging for a circumcision because the amount of pain they are in because they have an infection and can?t pull their foreskin back because every thing is swollen they can barely pee. I am sure they wished their parents had them circumcised at birth.

also having foreskin increases HPV and HIV virus surface area so easier to transmit.

I have diagnosis men with new onset diabetes when they have a yeast infection to their foreskin.

I have seen circumcision performed on infants. The babies cry as soon as they are unwrapped and placed in position for the circumcision. No increase in crying while they perform it (which by the way is very quick and usually they apply emla to the penis for anesthesia

hope this helps on your decision

CalMum_Momma · August 2011

HopingForOne:

I'm just confused as to why this ia considered a "personal decision" ,when in actuality the person who it affects isn't being given a choice...

I don't know why, but that always boggles my mind (not just in this situation, in many!)

We make many decisions for our children that they don't get a choice in. I still consider those to be personal desicions, and we have to try to make the best decisions we can for our kids. I don't understand what you're confused about.

haleymay18 · September 2011

No. I don't have any religious beliefs that would lead me to doing it. Also, the "social norm" status of circumsion is fading & I don't find any compelling reason to do it.

DeviantMuse · September 2011

If we have a boy, we will have him circumcised. I left the decision up to my husband because I do not have a penis, being a woman and all. Since my husband has the penis and has dealt with it his whole life, he would be a better decision maker on the subject.

I've even asked a few men who have been circumcised, and they are quite happy with their parent's decision. The answer I got was, "Whatever....as long as it works, right?!" Hee-Hee

I agree with pp, to each their own!

DrBeepersWife · September 2011

addegeorge:

I am actually referring to someone I know, who when their son was circumcised the father was in the room with him but they specifically told the mother that although dad could watch, mom could not because mother's tend to not be able to handle watching their son be hurt this way. I understand it is a surgical procedure, but it is an unnecessary one, I think many people tend to not think of it as being an actual surgery they just think it's a quick little thing and no big deal for the baby. That was part of my point.

That is your opinion and you can get off your high horse. It can be handled several different ways.

To the OP: We are having a urologist partially circ DS, like DH is. It will be a surgical procedure, that we WILL be present for.

LysYoung0578 · September 2011

I am a mother of 2 boys and I did it with both. I was scared and very nervous so I got opinions first from other mothers and also thinking everything through it was a fast procedure, and healed very fast and no problems and neither of them even know they went through it. I'm not sure what I am having now, It does scare me as first but I know it will pass and and My DH and I have made the right decisions. Plus if I'm the one cleaning it, the first couple of years and want it to be safer and am postive that the circumcision is the best decision. Its a decisional thing and up to parents what they want to do, yea or nah. But I am yea.

rachelwsu93 · September 2011

My husband and I did decide to have our boy circumcised. For us it wasn't really up for discussion it was just going to happen especially with us having a medical background. We thought it would just be easier on our son for hygiene and to keep him clean. Per our son's Pediatrician, he did not cry and was very relaxed during the whole procedure.

Snapdragon750 · September 2011

We had a girl, but we're religious Jews and of course would have circumcised if we'd had a boy. End of discussion. Circumcision started as a religious requirement, and I truly don't know why or when the rest of the world started doing it, and I don't care at all whether non-Jews circumcise or not.

P.S. I have seen 3 circumcisions, and the baby cries less than I did when I saw Titanic.