Circumcision...yes or no?

alphaphi98 · October 2013

I'm having a boy and was wondering if those having boys are thinking about circumcision. My DH and I are going to do it. Not for religious reasons or anything. I know it's a big debate now a days. I have friends that did not do it for their boys. Just wanted to hear your thoughts on this issue.

tenfour · October 2013

Yep!! We are. I know many people think it doesn't have health benefits but I'm in the camp that believe it does. You can really find anything on google to support either side, of course. Also, I want him to match his dad. I'm also Jewish so it's a no brainer for me.

halfthetree · October 2013

We won't be doing it, I see no need.

:::cue the misinformed poster who yells that foreskin causes diseases and is "dirty"::::

Winnieella · October 2013

tenfour said:

Yep!! We are. I know many people think it doesn't have health benefits but I'm in the camp that believe it does. You can really find anything on google to support either side, of course. Also, I want him to match his dad. I'm also Jewish so it's a no brainer for me.

This is us in a way. I'm not Jewish but half my family is, so even the Catholics in my family circumcise in case the kid decides that he/she wants to be Jewish later in life.

bugandbibs · October 2013

We won't be. There are no medical or health benefits, so I don't see the need.

Addygill · October 2013

I have a boy and yes I did it no reason and another boy on the way will have it done too.

EarthandFire · October 2013

I saw an interesting show recently that made me question tradition and consider not circumcising. It was about men "reclaiming" their foreskin as adults and the reasons why they are choosing to do so. Unless I find some pretty good reason for it or BH has some really strong feeling about this I think I may be on the no side for our LO if we're having a boy.

melissandow · October 2013

We're having a boy and he will be circumcised. DH had problems at 8yrs old and his younger brother around 1. Both ended up needing surgery. So he would prefer that his baby not deal with these issues later in life!

mabjcb19 · October 2013

@tyrannosauruslex you are probably my GIF hero (since I have no clue how to post them). My bad mornings are always instantly cheered!

In reply to OP-we are having a boy and will be circumcising. You and your SO do whatever you are comfortable with. I gave this decision to DH and he said yes do it. No I don't think he has a reason other than because he is, but I don't get a flying F what other people think, as PP said this is a personal decision for every parent.

Also-I can't wait to see who the person is who steps on the soapbox first. Anyone have popcorn to share? Crap now I want real popcorn...

tfkre8ive · October 2013

I am having a girl, but if it had been a boy we would circumcise. TMI alert: Our 87-year-old grandpa had to be circumcised recently because he wasn't as an infant and he's having problems keeping it clean, causing lots of problems. He wishes he would have been snipped as an infant. #thingsIwishIdidntknowaboutGrandpa

notreal2 · October 2013

I am adamently anti-circumcision, but my son is circumcised. His dad is Jewish and asked that we have it done. Considering my son's current fascination with said penis, I assume he would have been fine either way.

Shobb414 · October 2013

Idk what we are having yet but if lo is a boy he will be, we won't even debate it.

boogerbearoriginal · October 2013

notreal2 said:

I am adamently anti-circumcision, but my son is circumcised. His dad is Jewish and asked that we have it done. Considering my son's current fascination with said penis, I assume he would have been fine either way.

Mine Penis is a common phrase around these parts.

LO isn't and future boys won't be either. But I really can't get all rowdy about what other parents do with their sons' penises. ::spoiler alert:: there's no single right answer! Do what feels right for you/your family.

Babyhull4 · October 2013

I'm doing it if it's a boy. I already have 3 boys and I did all of theirs before we left the hospital.

JerseyBella · October 2013

We won't be.

SavannaM+ · October 2013

I feel like there's no right or wrong answer for this. I just think people should do research & make the best educated decision for their family. I honestly don't think what anyone else on an internet message board opts to do with their child should have any impact on what I opt to do with mine.

jdubh · October 2013

Yes, we will be.

mamacrunch · October 2013

We did and we will do again. Whether or not is is medically correct, I have done my research and I find it necessary, I also have never saw IRL a non-circumcised penis so that kinda makes me weirded out.

It will be done, that is my choice, and if your son isn't circ'd okay, nbd.

As the mother that carried that child for 9 months then gave birth to that child no one has the right to tell you what you can do with that child.

I hope this does not end in a bombing like Lex predicted, I'd like to hope we are the most level headed women on TB.

I am glad that we are all doing different things and doing our own research. Also I consider popular opinions to be part of the research process. Not the research, but part of it.
Good luck whatever choice you make will be the right choice. No matter which it is.

cjmFeb2014 · October 2013

Hub and I were both of the opinion that we would do whatever is recommended by years of randomized, controlled trials and research.. Yay science! Which means that we had both assumed we would not circumcise. I know the AAP's take on it.. Or so I thought. That whole "there isn't enough evidence to conclude that the medical benefits outweigh the risks" thing? They reversed their long-held stance last year. There's a big long paper accessible from their website, published 8/27/12, in which they conclude that the medical benefits DO outweigh the risks.

We're not religious, nor do we believe that matching his dad or older brothers would be reason enough to do it. I can't link to the AAP article because I'm on mobile, but I was able to find it easily by searching "circumcision" on the AAP website. We also read different articles accessed from the NIH.

One of the best things that the AAP article says, in my opinion, is that parents have the right to be informed and then make decisions that are right for their family.

mamacrunch · October 2013

cjmFeb2014 said:

Hub and I were both of the opinion that we would do whatever is recommended by years of randomized, controlled trials and research.. Yay science! Which means that we had both assumed we would not circumcise. I know the AAP's take on it.. Or so I thought. That whole "there isn't enough evidence to conclude that the medical benefits outweigh the risks" thing? They reversed their long-held stance last year. There's a big long paper accessible from their website, published 8/27/12, in which they conclude that the medical benefits DO outweigh the risks. We're not religious, nor do we believe that matching his dad or older brothers would be reason enough to do it. I can't link to the AAP article because I'm on mobile, but I was able to find it easily by searching "circumcision" on the AAP website. We also read different articles accessed from the NIH. One of the best things that the AAP article says, in my opinion, is that parents have the right to be informed and then make decisions that are right for their family.

I found this too when researching. I will find it and link for you.

Edit: Link

https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/pages/Newborn-Male-Circumcision.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token

cjmFeb2014 · October 2013

Thank you! (:

boogerbearoriginal · October 2013

cjmFeb2014 said:

Hub and I were both of the opinion that we would do whatever is recommended by years of randomized, controlled trials and research.. Yay science! Which means that we had both assumed we would not circumcise. I know the AAP's take on it.. Or so I thought. That whole "there isn't enough evidence to conclude that the medical benefits outweigh the risks" thing? They reversed their long-held stance last year. There's a big long paper accessible from their website, published 8/27/12, in which they conclude that the medical benefits DO outweigh the risks. We're not religious, nor do we believe that matching his dad or older brothers would be reason enough to do it. I can't link to the AAP article because I'm on mobile, but I was able to find it easily by searching "circumcision" on the AAP website. We also read different articles accessed from the NIH. One of the best things that the AAP article says, in my opinion, is that parents have the right to be informed and then make decisions that are right for their family.

Here's the thing: the complete statement ends with "...but the benefits are not great enough to recommend universal newborn circumcision."

So, they don't actually recommend circumcising for all boys.

the health benefits of newborn male circumcision outweigh the risks, but the benefits are not great enough to recommend universal newborn circumcision - See more at: https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/pages/Newborn-Male-Circumcision.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR:+No+local+token#sthash.lRsWoOll.dpuf

but the benefits are not great enough to recommend universal newborn circumcision. - See more at: https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/pages/Newborn-Male-Circumcision.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR:+No+local+token&nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR:+No+local+token#sthash.4i0w7chA.dpuf

Rbfdac1 · October 2013

Definitely will be circumcising our baby boy. Not only for visual purposes (for his future and self esteem), but because of the decreased risk of infections, STDs, and general better hygeine. No question about it.

cjmFeb2014 · October 2013

Booger+Bear said:

cjmFeb2014 said:

Hub and I were both of the opinion that we would do whatever is recommended by years of randomized, controlled trials and research.. Yay science! Which means that we had both assumed we would not circumcise. I know the AAP's take on it.. Or so I thought. That whole "there isn't enough evidence to conclude that the medical benefits outweigh the risks" thing? They reversed their long-held stance last year. There's a big long paper accessible from their website, published 8/27/12, in which they conclude that the medical benefits DO outweigh the risks.

We're not religious, nor do we believe that matching his dad or older brothers would be reason enough to do it. I can't link to the AAP article because I'm on mobile, but I was able to find it easily by searching "circumcision" on the AAP website. We also read different articles accessed from the NIH.

One of the best things that the AAP article says, in my opinion, is that parents have the right to be informed and then make decisions that are right for their family.

Here's the thing: the complete statement ends with "...but the benefits are not great enough to recommend universal newborn circumcision."

So, they don't actually recommend circumcising for all boys.

True. For us, though, the fact that benefits do outweigh risks is enough.

tenfour · October 2013

I'm glad you asked this. I'd like to think this thread won't be people's only source of research, but it is interesting to see everyone's viewpoints.

Also worth noting - early in our conversation about this, DH's main thing was "I want him to look like everyone else in the locker room so let's do whatever is the most common". I told him it was a trend I couldn't predict!

karich · October 2013

DH insists. I've pulled some evidence showing it's not medically necessary, but it's not going to sway his decision. I just felt like we owe it to our son to do our research on it.
I'm standing the same as many pp....I don't have a penis, so I'm not sure my opinion should weigh the same as DH's.
Also, I've never met a man who wished he hadn't been circ'd (barring those who had a botched circ), but I have heard of men who get circumcised in adulthood.

MissDemeanor · October 2013

On page 2 and still civil! Great work Feb 14!

We're team green so we don't know if this will be an issue. We've discussed it briefly and I told DH I didn't think we needed to, but as he's the owner of one, he might feel differently. He's circumsiced himself, so I assumed he'd want it done, but surprisingly he's also good with not having it done for own baby. But if he thinks about it for the next few months and changes his mind, I'll probably be ok with that too. It's not that I don't think it's a big decision, more that I see both sides of the debate.

Mendozamjw · October 2013

For those that have had little boys that were circumcised, did they do it in the hospital or did you have to have it done at the doctors office at the baby's first check up? We fully intended to have our first circumcised, assuming it would be done before we even brought him home, only to be told it'd be done in the office when he was a week old... With the added time to think, we went back and forth and ended up not doing it. Just wondering if that's a regional thing? Good luck with your decision! :-)

KaraLeigh115 · October 2013

We circumcised our DS but they actually didn't "snip" him. They used what's called a plasti bell an there was no blood involved

the skin an "bell" fell off and to be honest when I first saw it I couldn't even tell. Very cool instruments they have now a days

Arangia · October 2013

Nope. Ss was and it was really botched and he had to have it redone and even now at 9 needs to see a urologist to see I he needs further surgery to correct the issues which will probably leave him with dysfunction.

Neither I my sons are and they are 9 and 2 and are clean, had never had a uti and have also never had any other complications.

Kedra231 · October 2013

We did & will again. Not just b/c DH is, but b/c of certain experiences I had while working in a daycare center, & then a kid of my cousin's...(I don't talk to her, but her mom is friends with mine, so we got to hear all the gritty details). I'm just one person, so the fact that out of the maybe 5 uncirc'd little boys I was aware of, 3 were all having ongoing issues...well, that helped solidify our p.o.v.

Always research, but make sure you do a thorough job. You can find just as many men that are like "I miss my foreskin, I was ROBBED!" as you find posts of guys going, "Yeah, thanks, mom & dad, getting cut as an adult is a Hell of a lot worse than if you'd just done it at my birth." There's enough on each side to support your stance, whatever it may be.

My only suggestion to those that are STILL on the fence after all the research & heart-searching is, if your child happens to be one of those that DO have issues with being un-circ'd, then how would you feel/how would things go to have them done at the age of 2 or 3 or older? How much harder will it be on both you, & your child? As babies, they heal quickly & don't understand/remember. An older child would, &, it would take longer to heal b/c they're more mobile.

tenfour · October 2013

karich said:

DH insists. I've pulled some evidence showing it's not medically necessary, but it's not going to sway his decision. I just felt like we owe it to our son to do our research on it. I'm standing the same as many pp....I don't have a penis, so I'm not sure my opinion should weigh the same as DH's. Also, I've never met a man who wished he hadn't been circ'd (barring those who had a botched circ), but I have heard of men who get circumcised in adulthood.

omg @karich, my friend has this crazy boyfriend who actually had a "sit down" with his parents to get out his anger from their mutilation of his junk. have you ever?

Soap1 · October 2013

The AAP has generally stated the benefits outweigh the risks, but the research they based their decision on might not all be generalizeable to kids in the United States. As in, research on HIV transmission in heterosexual men in sub-Saharan Africa might not be the reason to circumcise your son here. That's why the AAP hasn't recommended universal circumcision.

I agree 100% that it should be an informed choice made by parents. I did not really want to circumcise my sons, but DH was very much in favor of it. I presented the information about why I didn't want to (not that circumcising is bad, just that there's no real reason to have to do it) but ultimately let DH make the decision. Our sons are circumcised and DS3 will be as well.

Madelyn0713 · October 2013

We don't know what we are having yet but if it is a boy he will be circumcised.

Giraffealaff · October 2013

So I'm thinking that we are circumcising. DH is and pretty much all the males in the family are. TBH, uncirc kind of weirds me out when I see it, I dunno why - perhaps 'cause I just haven't seen many.

Either way, it's a personal choice and preference, so I don't know how someone could fault anyone for their choice.

Also, It may be just me, but all I can think of is watching the League, and seeing little Christopher Chalupa Batman get half-sized.

GirlyGirl319 · October 2013

We did for DS and would again if this LO was a boy but we are having a girl this time

RaleighMommy · October 2013

I'm having a boy and I left the decision up to my Hubby. He said that he want's our little man to be circumcised. He said it's to help prevent infection and STDs. We both argued about this because I told him that having our child circumcised wouldn't have anything to do with preventing infection or STDs. It was actually kinda funny to hear his argument. He wants 'lil man to be snipped so he'll be snipped.

WookieesCookies · October 2013

bugandbibs said:
We won't be. There are no medical or health benefits, so I don't see the need.

If you have done any research at all then you know that there ARE medical/health benefits. That doesn't mean that it's the decision you have to make or that it's a medical need(though there are some cases of medical need), but the whole statement is just false.

DS #1 is, DS # 2 will be too.

mdr619 · October 2013

I left that decision up to DH. He's the one with the penis, after all. He told me we would be circumcising before we even got home from the ultrasound. We're not religious so I was a little surprised he felt so strongly about it.

EarthandFire · October 2013

karich said:
Also, I've never met a man who wished he hadn't been circ'd (barring those who had a botched circ), but I have heard of men who get circumcised in adulthood.

@Karich - TLC has an educational show called Strange Sex where they talked to a man who is "reclaiming" his foreskin because his circumcision has had negative affects on his life and relationship with his wife. He comes across as a well educated and level headed individual. They talk to doctors and psychiatrists in the show but I would consider it PG-13. This episode was in season 2 and is 1/2 about a woman who has an estrogen deficiency from birth and 1/2 about this man. I tried for the life of me to find you a link but couldn't link directly to the episode.

https://www.tlc.com/tv-shows/strange-sex

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