AAP Takes New Stance on Circumcision

PinkRoses53 · August 2012

https://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/08/27/159955340/pediatricians-decide-boys-are-better-off-circumcised-than-not

Anyone hear about the new stance AAP now has on circumcision? I do not have a strong opinion either way (although the article brings up interesting points) and I can see both sides of the story. However, my H is adamant that we should circumcise if the baby is a boy.

NovOwl · August 2012

My husband is the same way, we've talked about it and if we have boys we will circumcise. But, everyone is different and the popular view on circumcision changes all the time. To each their own.

AKWinterBride · August 2012

Agree completely with NovOwl - we will be getting our son circumcised if we have a boy - that is our choice for our son. Everyone feels differently, and it is their choice to take whatever action they want.

00jennifer00 · August 2012

The son-father matching penis thing is so dumb! Dh says he never plans on making sure that ds1 knows his penis looks the same. And he never plans on making sure that ds2's penis looks different. We did circ #1 because I was stupid and thought "oh great, he'll lower the risk of his wife getting cervical cancer". I had no clue they meant cervical cancer came from HPV. As a family that believes in abstinence until marriage, it seems to not align with our religious values in that respect. And I do regret doing it. I hated changing his diaper for the first 10ish days after the circ. I told dh if we ever circ'd again, he had to do all the diaper changes because I would just cry looking at it. Dh was still adimant until I told him that I'd consent only if he'd watch a circ video. I won.

I think as with anything in the maternity/child rearing field, there is BIG money to be made, and so decisions must be made carefully because not all medical "evidence" is going to be unbiased. There is a BIGGGG business in selling baby foreskins to the cosmetics world (look it up). I'm not saying don't circ, I'm just saying, be confident in your reasons for circ'ing and know the risks (really, truly, there are risks).

Abeja1226 · August 2012

If we have a boy, he will be circumsized. There was never really a question about it. I understand the view points from each side and don't judge people who choose not to do it.

shibby00 · August 2012

We will circ if we have a boy.

mommajewels87 · August 2012

I read that this morning. It didn't change my personal feelings on the situation.

My 3 boys are circumcised. While they did thankfully experience complication free circumcisions, my feelings on the matter have since changed and I do regret making that decision for them. Therefore, if this baby is a boy we will not have him circumcised. I have no opinion at all on whether other moms circumcise their son or not, it is none of my concern and I know we all make the decision that we feel is best. I've just decided it's no longer a decision I am comfortable making for my son.

If we do indeed have a boy and the subject is ever brought up as to why his penis does not look like his brothers or his fathers, I will take the same route I take whenever my kids mention ANYTHING of theirs being different than someone else..... "everyone is different, and that's ok." I really don't see it ever being a big issue amongst my boys.

jensriot · August 2012

My DH and I are on the fence on circumcision. He had to have it done as a teenager due to a problem with the foreskin, so he always thought any son would definitely have it done in hopes to avoid the same issue. Now he's not sure and continues to do research just in case we have a boy. It's unlikely our son would have the same problems. I think I will be with him on whatever he decides.

lkm2006 · August 2012

I think people usually have such strong opinions about circumcision so I dont really se this making a difference.

The one thing I'm glad about is maybe now people won't claim circumcision as a non necessary or cosmetic procedure. There ARE health benefits to doing it.

Of course, I have absolutely no problem with anyone who choices not to do it, I just don't want my choice belittled.

MamaAloha · August 2012

re: the AAP statement. I question the level of concern over infant urinary tract infections, which if accurate would likely mean that the rate of occurrence in Europe must be astronomical. I will look for some data about that. Apart from this, all other medical issues related to this argument (cleanliness and STDs) are behavioral and should be addressed as life skills as the child ages whether a male is circumcised or not.

Personally though, what gets me is that the idea of circumcision is just bizarre. So here I am carrying this baby in my body, I go into labor, push him out, and then everyone in the room goes, "yeah, let's cut off part of his penis." Uh, no thanks.

ann_jeremiah · August 2012

I'm emotionally scarred from DS circumcision.. It's so painful looking... And they did right before sending us home with him. The nurse didn't put enough lube on his penis and it got stuck to the diaper...I tried to be gentle taking it off, but DS kicked it off...it was bleeding all over.. I was horrified! :

aimeecasey · August 2012

I told DH if we have a boy, this is his decision. I know he will research both sides and wiegh pros and cons. I just feel its not a decision I feel I can make a solid decision for or against. To each their own on whether they do it or not.

LiteraryFoodie · August 2012

If you read the actual announcement from the AAP's website, their stance hasn't really changed at all--in the fact that they aren't making an official recommendation.

Another parenting group I'm a part of was discussing this today, and I agree with most of them, that this isn't really going to change things--especially since I feel like I can safely say that most pediatricians are either pro-circumcision or indifferent to it. All that to say, that even before this announcement, I think you'd be hard pressed to find an OB or pediatrician who would encourage a parent not to circumcise.

As I've been trying to do my own research about circumcision, I admit it's been harder than I would have thought to find non-biased research and articles about the pros and cons of circumcision. While more parents in the US might be making the decision not to circumcise their sons, that decision is probably made after a lot of research and consideration, since the more popular and often more supported decision is to circumcise.

At this point I don't really have a stand on whether to circ or not (mostly cause I'm still researching). I mostly just think it's ridiculous that our culture is so fascinated with regulating our genitals.

Shoshie · August 2012

Jewish mama to be here - will be doing a bris if it is a boy.

00jennifer00 · August 2012

ann_jeremiah:
I'm emotionally scarred from DS circumcision.. It's so painful looking... And they did right before sending us home with him. The nurse didn't put enough lube on his penis and it got stuck to the diaper...I tried to be gentle taking it off, but DS kicked it off...it was bleeding all over.. I was horrified! :

I swear there should be support groups for this. I was so traumatized too. After a few times of it sticking to the diaper and bleeding, I started using a TON of stuff on it and then wrapping the end in a piece of guaze. It's a wonder the diapers absorbed any urine with how much goop I put on it.

WB06 · August 2012

My husband is Jewish. While he doesn't care one way or the other about a bris, he is adamant that any son of his will be circumcised. The health benefits are just icing on the cake.

Want a personalized experience?

AAP Takes New Stance on Circumcision

Re: AAP Takes New Stance on Circumcision

Choose Another Board

Search Boards