Poll (kind of): To Circumcise or Not...That is the Question

kac0807 · September 2011

Ok ladies...especially all of you with boys, fill me in on your thoughts on this, what you chose to do, and what to expect if we have a boy. I know there's a lot of controversy out there surrounding this topic too, so my apologies if this starts any of that.

jnk062602 · September 2011

I get my way on most things baby-raising. I'm not really for or against it. But there are some things that I do feel strongly about, so those I choose to fight. DH firmly wants a circ, so we are doing it. I have read some negatives....but I know that in either case (circ or not-circ'ing), that barring some freak accident or infection, he will grow up just fine no matter what we do. I randomly asked DH once about it, and it is something he feels strongly about so I will give it to him. The only other thing he feels super strong about is not doing any vaccines. So that one I fight and (mostly) win.

MrsWhiteonWhiteSt · September 2011

Both of our boys are circ. It was never really up for debate. I don't know anyone who isn't and call me immature but no-one wants to be the different kid, especially when it comes to stuff like that.

Things to expect- it's done in the hospital (by the gyno, which I was suprised at), it's a little red/bloody the 1st few days and you put antibiotic ointment around it at diaper changes.

My personal rant- If it doesn't look right SAY SOMETHING. We knew from like 1 month on that Justin's had "too much" left on it but his pedi insisted he would grow into it and with more erections it would fix itself. It still just doesn't look 100% right to us but it would involve putting him under and surgery to "fix" it

Mrs_Hark · September 2011

we did, i left it up to DH to make the decision since i don't have the equipment.

like PPs said it's done in the hosp. M's took less than 15 mim, and i was not present- they just took him and he was back before i knew it.

i was told to just put some vasilene on it for a few days, at his 1st dr appt they said he was fine no more vasilene, but they didn't tell me you have to pull it back so it doesn't re-adhere- i got that very important piece of info at his one month appt! and she had to pull it apart then i had to neosporin it for like a week.

smokenbogey · September 2011

We circumsized both our boys,i didn't really question it,my husband is so we had the boys done.Your dr is the one that does it which makes sense because she would do a c-section if u need it or other surgeries and the baby's dr doesn't do any surgeries.I just had to put A&D ointment on it for like a week at each diaper change and it healed up really quickly.

dle927 · September 2011

We did. We were both for it so it was never a true discussion..."We're going to, right?" "Right." For all of the reasons mentioned by pp.

As everyone said, it was done by the ob or midwife (I was surprised by this) and took 15 minutes or so. It healed very quickly too.

xKimx · September 2011

We have one of each. I let DH make the call the first time around even though I really wasn't comfortable with it. I wish I had made him look into it more but what is done is done. While pregnant with Paul (weren't even sure if it was a boy) I made him look at the research more & after that we were on the same page. If #3 is another boy he will be left intact. If you have any questions or anything shoot me a message on FB

Irisheyes1247 · September 2011

I just asked DH and he voted yes. We kind of joked last time that we would unless it was the OB I didn't like who was on call at the time. I don't know. I know it is really common but I can't imagine being there to witness and I can't imagine sending my baby down there alone to have it done. It's obviously not something they really remember, I just remember thinking it was kind of gruesome when they were discussing it at my childbirth class.

Ashnmike528 · September 2011

This has been on my mind this whole pregnancy, and we don't even know what we're having yet! The more research I do, the more I feel like it isn't medically necessary and pretty much has become an elective cosmetic procedure. I don't feel comfortable making that kind of a decision for somebody else, regarding their own body. I would feel horrible if I did and there were complications, and I would feel horrible if I didn't do it and there were complications. lol

Long story short, I'm 100% on the fence. We will see if the baby reveals itself at my follow up u/s on Wed!

olivia_eve · September 2011

We did not circumcise Thomas. I think there are pros and cons either way, but we felt that the pros did not outweigh the cons of having it done. It is becoming much less common these days, close to 50/50, so I don't think being uncircumcised will be a big deal. (Although I know guys who are uncircumcised and have never been made fun of for it.)

We feel that it's an cosmetic procedure that is not necessary. I also did not consider any of the social reasons for it, like whether he will be made fun of or whether he will look like his dad. We looked at it from a strictly medical standpoint, so that's how we came to our decision.

mountainkimi · September 2011

We did circ our DS. I left the decision up to DH(mostly). We have had no issues with it. However I do know more than 1 child that has had to have it redone at a later date. Usually around 1-3 years old.

It is becoming less common though. Everything I have read says its about 50/50 now(in the US). Probably even depends on what part of the country you live in.So I wouldn't worry about him looking different if you chose too or chose not too.

tvbride04 · September 2011

DH wanted it and since I don't have one I left him make the decision.

Kim72508 · September 2011

MrsWhiteonWhiteSt:
Both of our boys are circ. It was never really up for debate. I don't know anyone who isn't and call me immature but no-one wants to be the different kid, especially when it comes to stuff like that.
Things to expect- it's done in the hospital (by the gyno, which I was suprised at), it's a little red/bloody the 1st few days and you put antibiotic ointment around it at diaper changes.
My personal rant- If it doesn't look right SAY SOMETHING. We knew from like 1 month on that Justin's had "too much" left on it but his pedi insisted he would grow into it and with more erections it would fix itself. It still just doesn't look 100% right to us but it would involve putting him under and surgery to "fix" it

We're dealing with the same thing right now. We have a consult with a urologist but I just don't feel like it's worth having him put under again to fix it.

mrsoc · September 2011

We did not, for either of our boys. I left the decision mostly up to DH. He did research, and decided that it was not necessary and also that removal of the foreskin actually takes away about 70% of the sexual pleasure centers/areas. Most of the stats that I have read recently also says that it is 50/50. I think that it is truly a personal decision, but we decided against having it done.

wendyj · September 2011

We did, even though DH is not. I had him do the research and decide. I was kind of surprised that he went along with it. It was quick, OB did it, and we just had to squirt on some vaseline at every diaper change. We were really careful to pull back on the foreskin and clean it so that it wouldn't reattach. Other than that, it healed pretty quickly.

TinyPinkBug · September 2011

No, we did not circumcise. At first DH said of course we would, but I told him to spend one hour researching it before he made a final decision. A week later, he told me absolutely not. Most of my friends IRL have left their sons' intact, so I know Tyler will not be a minority. Our research showed about 50/50 at this time as well. There is absolutely no medical reason for it and it is considered cosmetic, insurance companies are starting to examine circumcision as cosmetic themselves and some are discontinuing covering it. That says something. There is even a town in California that has made circumcision illegal! I say, if my son is very unhappy with being intact as a teenager or adult, he can have it done then. I think pain is felt the same at any age, just because you don't remember it as an adult doesn't mean you didn't feel it. Plus I know lot of people whos sons have had to have further corrective surgery for various reasons as a result of circumcision, I think that makes the argument of not having to have it done later in life so he wont remember it a mute point. I also have a hard time believing that teenage guys really stand in the locker room in high school checking out everyone's penises, I think it would be like us girls standing in the locker room checking out and comparing each other's nipples.

Smile58 · September 2011

"....comparing each other's nipples" made me laugh out loud.

We did circumcise DS. DH was adamant about it. V's pediatrician did it, it was fast and healed very nicely.

FWIW, they did numb the area first and as far as I can tell did not cause DS any significant pain during or after.

We were talking about this at work, and it seems "so as the father, goes the son" and it is def becoming more popular to choose not to, although most of my friends with sons did.

starbrite27 · September 2011

H is not circumcised. I had originally planned to let DH make the decision, but the more research we did, the more uncomfortable I became with it. There just isn't a medical necessity for it. When he gets older, if he wants to have it done, he can do it then.

June4bride2be · September 2011

We did. It would have taken a lot to get myself or dh not to, the few I know that are not have had to due to medical reasons down the road. Little boy I watched was not but his dad was, he knew there was a difference at 3. It only looks the same when erect, so locker room kids will see the difference....and of course they look and compare. They are boys! lol

This is probably arguable, as is many of these posts. There is no right or wrong answer....it is what you are comfortable with and can agree on. Those who didn't will stand strong with their "facts" as will those who did not. No one will want to own up to making the wrong choice.

abba916 · September 2011

L is and my DH was like, "why wouldn't we?"....I've read the research but I'm not a man- so I let DH make that decision...

I agree with June- I dont think there is a "right" or "wrong"- each side has their reasons- you just have to do what feels right for you and your family...

This LO will also be circ'ed

Telyco · September 2011

We did b/c it was sort of a "why wouldn't we?" type thing. If I would have known more about it I wouldn't have. The 70% "statistic" is a joke, though...you can't measure pleasure...who comes up with this sh!t?? If they are measuring surface area or whatever? C'mon. Dudes do just fine and I know this isn't the point and it's a little weird to say - but if this was true there is going to be a real premature ejaculation problem

BUT there is no medical reason...AND in 50 years I bet only jewish boys will be circumcised - so the "not fitting in" thing won't really apply any longer.

xKimx · September 2011

June4bride2be:
No one will want to own up to making the wrong choice.

*raises hand* I do. I felt quite guilty about it right after Paul was born. If/when C notices I plan to explain it (in age appropriate language of course) and offer an apology.

NikCole · September 2011

Telyco:
We did b/c it was sort of a "why wouldn't we?" type thing. If I would have known more about it I wouldn't have. The 70% "statistic" is a joke, though...you can't measure pleasure...who comes up with this sh!t?? If they are measuring surface area or whatever? C'mon. Dudes do just fine and I know this isn't the point and it's a little weird to say - but if this was true there is going to be a real premature ejaculation problem

BUT there is no medical reason...AND in 50 years I bet only jewish boys will be circumcised - so the "not fitting in" thing won't really apply any longer.

I was about to write pretty much the same thing. Looking back, I wish I would have researched it more. DH is, and wanted E to be, so I went along. I'm sure if I would educated myself I would have made a different decision. But, what's done is done.

And I find it kind of funny that being circumcised takes away 70% of sexual pleasure. I guess I'm glad DH is if that's the case... cuz if he wasn't he'd probably want sex even more than he does now- which is basically always! But I agree, there is no way to measure that. I mean, did some grown adult uncircumcised man decided to get it done just to compare?!

BelhurstBride · September 2011

olivia_eve:
We did not circumcise Thomas. I think there are pros and cons either way, but we felt that the pros did not outweigh the cons of having it done. It is becoming much less common these days, close to 50/50, so I don't think being uncircumcised will be a big deal. (Although I know guys who are uncircumcised and have never been made fun of for it.)
We feel that it's an cosmetic procedure that is not necessary. I also did not consider any of the social reasons for it, like whether he will be made fun of or whether he will look like his dad. We looked at it from a strictly medical standpoint, so that's how we came to our decision.

We didn't find out what we were having with DD so it's a decision we came to back then, and we had the same reasons listed above. If we have another child, and if it's a boy we wouldn't circ.

DH was for it initially, until he did his own research. That and when he commented on "looking the same" I asked him how many penises he's seen in his life, did he compare his to his father's? He laughed at me before admitting he's never actually seen another male's penis, even in a locker room. He said it's just not something they make an effort to stare at...

TinyPinkBug · September 2011

xKimx:
June4bride2be:

No one will want to own up to making the wrong choice.

*raises hand* I do. I felt quite guilty about it right after Paul was born. If/when C notices I plan to explain it (in age appropriate language of course) and offer an apology.

Good for you!

I always figured that they could always take it off if they don't like it. You can't put it back.

preggersin2011 · September 2011

For me circumcising isn't 'optional' its should be a must. first i'm a firm believer that any old school religious rules came from health codes. two i've witnessed adults needing circumcision due to medical reasons and its painful. three, who's going to be responsible for cleaning the area when your child has some sort of dementia and is in a nursing home & they neglect to properly clean it. i've seen many adult men who are incontinent with terrible infections.

Smile58 · September 2011

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