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1st Trimester
Here is a good question: Anyone thinking of not circumsizing?
Are you considering not circumsizing? I am not planning on doing it if I have a boy, because my husband was not circumsized (thus he knows how to take care of it) and because I was reading recently about how there really is no true medical reason for the procedure. It was started because of religious reasons. I know it can get infected and whatnot. I am not sure if I would feel the same if I did not have a husband who is not circumsized and knew how to take care of it. But I also hate the idea of a painful circumcision for my son. Opinions?
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Re: Here is a good question: Anyone thinking of not circumsizing?
I haven't thought about this.
Just wanted to say, men with uncircumsized penises are more likely to get STDs, b/c it stays moist and harbors more STDs. Just a thought for way in the future.
this is always a hot topic. to each his own- but everyone should do research before making a decision...
funny- someone just posted on 3rd tri about their FIL having a circ done this week - so i did a little more research as to why a grown man would have it done, other than sexual reasons... and found this:
For men who can't retract their foreskin or who have recurrent infections, there's a clear indication," says Ira D. Sharlip, MD, a San Francisco urologist. "Actually, it's not just an indication, it's a need."
Dr. Sharlip says that if men are facing the prospect of circumcision, they are probably suffering from at least one of a number of medical indications.
The number one reason for circumcision after infancy is phimosis, a tightness of the foreskin that prevents it from being retracted. Phimosis can be normal in boys less than six months old. In males older than that, however, it can make urination and hygiene difficult and erection painful.
In paraphimosis, "the second most common reason for post-infancy circumcision," the foreskin is permanently retracted, constricting the shaft of the penis and causing swelling and pain.
Balanitis (infection of the head of the penis, often caused by accumulation of secretions) and posthitis (infection of the foreskin) can be treated without surgery. As a first measure, a urologist will likely prescribe an anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory ointment, which may help clear up the problem; there is often an associated yeast infection, which thrives in the warm, moist environment created beneath the foreskin. Unfortunately, these conditions often recur, and when they do, a circumcision is advisable.
Tumors of the foreskin, loose foreskin, and tears in the fold of skin of the penis that attaches to the foreskin are all conditions that can be treated non-surgically. However, tumors of the foreskin?which occur very rarely?are often managed in part by circumcision
In addition, there has been research published recently that shows that circumcision reduces the risks of HIV transmission. The initial two studies that showed the clear advantage in this regard were done in Africa, where HIV infection is rampant and standard methods of prevention are not widely utilized. In fact, the two studies were stopped early by NIH in light of clear benefit of circumcision. The protection rate is estimated to be about 65%
hm. that is interesting! Thanks for sharing! I will definitely do more research!?
If you do not mind me asking, what made you decide against it??
Matthew Kevin
7/31/83-7/20/11
Met 1/8/00
Engaged 4/21/06
Married 9/29/07
Two beautiful legacies: Noah Matthew (2 yrs) and Chloe Marcella (8 mos)
Day Three
The whole issue is a HUGE controversy in the world of medicine. I think either choice is fine. The risk of infection and cancer are very low either way (despite there appearing to be some very very slight advantage to circumcision). That being said, most of Europe doesn't circumcise and I'm not aware of an epidemic of wangs falling off across the pond. I've seen the procedure done and the babies definitely feel pain, but it is very brief. Probably not much more crying than with immunizations.
I am very much on the fence, but my husband is very pro-circumcision, so we'll likely circumcise if we have a boy.
as a side note - my Ds was circ'd and never once did I feel he was in pain from it - he was always a super happy baby from day 1. that area heals VERY fast due to a lot of blood flow going to the area (this is why piercings in that area heal faster than other parts of the body, too!).
DS's was healed in just about 2 days.... and unlike in the 'olden days' and some things you may read on the internet - they do use a local anesthestic so baby does not feel it when it is happening at all.
We did not with DS... It was mostly DH decision, as he isn't and felt strongly against it. I did not want to argue. What I read pointed to no major medical advantages (IMO). Plus not having to deal with the stress of caring for the circumcision right after was nice! Not to mention DS not having to go through the pain!
Very interesting! Thank you for sharing.?
We didn't circ DS and we won't circ this second boy, either. We did a lot of research on it and watched a circ online before making our decision. DH, for anyone who is wondering, IS circ'ed but he felt just as strongly as I did that we would not have our boys undergo the procedure.
DS is two and has never once had any kind of issue with his uncirc'ed penis.
GL!
i guess i never really looked into it that much, i just figured most people did. does anyone know percentage wise how many ppl dont do it? i'll have to start my researching i guess!
it depends on the part of the country you are in. I understand circ rates are higher in the midwest and the south, lower in the west and northeast.
We will circumcise... and actually did some research as well. It seems that there have been many studies that do show benefits.
Here is one I found from a quick google:
Circumcision cuts STD risk, major study shows
25-year study finds substantial benefit to controversial procedure
According to the report in the November issue of Pediatrics, circumcision may reduce the risk of acquiring and spreading such infections by up to 50 percent, which suggests "substantial benefits" for routine neonatal circumcision.
The 356 uncircumcised boys had a 2.66-fold increased risk of sexually transmitted infection compared with the 154 circumcised boys, lead author Dr. David M. Fergusson and colleagues, from the Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences report.
A study size of 356 and 154? Seriously? That is completely insufficient for a scientific study. Also, look at the source. How many people have heard of the Christchurch School of Medicine?
It is definitely a personal decision. For those of you considering it, here is another article from the NY Times:
---------------------------------------
Circumcision Halves H.I.V. Risk, U.S. Agency Finds
Circumcision appears to reduce a man?s risk of contracting AIDS from heterosexual sex by half, United States government health officials said yesterday, and the directors of the two largest funds for fighting the disease said they would consider paying for circumcisions in high-risk countries.
The announcement was made by officials of the National Institutes of Health as they halted two clinical trials, in Kenya and Uganda, on the ground that not offering circumcision to all the men taking part would be unethical. The success of the trials confirmed a study done last year in South Africa.
EMMB - I am not attacking your decision. I am just presenting some info.
As I stated, I did a quick google on it. I chose that article, because it was published in Pediatrics, which is a peer review journal (so obviously people more qualified than us judged it ok for publication). Also, I liked the fact they followed the participants for 25 years.
As for the sample size- statistically, those numbers may be fine. I don't know, I am not a statistician or an epidemiologist.
We won't. We will, however, teach healthy practices.
I believe, and need to research more, that not learning how to properly care for an uncirc'd penis is more the cause of increased std's than simply having extra skin. And I think we can just look to Europe for evidence of this.
My Blog
Here is some info, right of the American Academy of Pediatrics website (aap.org). They really seem to leave it up to the parents.
------------------------------
Scientific studies show some medical benefits of circumcision. However, these benefits are not sufficient for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to recommend that all infant boys be circumcised.
Reasons parents may choose circumcision
There are a variety of reasons why parents choose circumcision.
*
Medical benefits, including
o
A slightly lower risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs). A circumcised infant boy has about a 1 in 1,000 chance of developing a UTI in the first year of life; an uncircumcised infant boy has about a 1 in 100 chance of developing a UTI in the first year of life.
o
A lower risk of getting cancer of the penis. However, this type of cancer is very rare in all males.
o
A slightly lower risk of getting sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
o
Prevention of foreskin infections.
o
Prevention of phimosis, a condition in uncircumcised males that makes foreskin retraction impossible.
o
Easier genital hygiene.
Mama Jan's Kitchen... a food blog
This is a very personal decision for a couple to make, but I'll through my 2 cents in.
I've watched about a dozen or so circ's performed in hospitals and about 50% cry and 50% are quiet (while sucking on sugar water during the procedure) and yes, local anesthesia is used to numb them up.
As for infection, many studies in the most recent literature (multiple articles in the Journal of Infectious Diseases over 2008 for example) which show that circumcision decreases the incidence of infection and transmission, including things like HPV (the "cervical cancer infection") which men typically pass to their partners without realizing.
All that being said, proper hygiene and consistent use of condoms will also decrease those rates.
Good luck in making your decision!
Mama Jan's Kitchen... a food blog
My DH is not circumsized so it has been a hot topic between us. He said he wants to do it if we have a boy because he struggled with it growing up as far as being different when it came to meeting girls changing in the locker room for gym, etc... He is really good at cleaning it but he is almost narotic about it sometimes.
I am going with his decision. I see both sides of the argument and will be supportive either way. He feels really strongly even after he and I researched all the arguments and medical statistics.
This has happened to 2 of my friends and they said that you must continue to pull back the skin during a diaper change, bath, etc...the first year or more to keep it from reattaching.
Yes, that's an issue too. But reattachment does occur when they don't cut enough.
Mama Jan's Kitchen... a food blog
We will be.
My father was born in Germany and was not. ?He had to later have a circumcision, around age 45, due to infection. ?
Ack! We're STILL undecided. I think we're leaning towards circumcising -- but I feel like I'm going to see my sweet little baby & think NO WAY is anyone getting at him with a scalpel.
I told DH I would leave the "penis" decision up to him -- but he's undecided too.
This is possibly the nicest, most flame free discussion of this topic I have ever seen!
I have no idea what we'll do. DH just sort of thinks we should because he is. I'm a bit more hesitant -- I don't really see why I should subject my newborn to surgery (however "minor"). If we do have it done, I will insist we have it done with anesthesia. I also might make DH watch a video of a circumcision being performed online to help him make the decision (I told him it was his call since he's the one that has a penis).
Joaquin's hospital and Isela's birth center med & intervention free "hypnobabies" birth stories
Yeah, my DH is not circumsized and I have definitely had NO NEGATIVE experiences with it.