Circumcision

josim · December 2014

holly1416 said:

josim said:

holly1416 said:

icajesica82 said:

roundtwoOMG said:

We did not circumcise our son and if this baby had been a boy, we would leave him intact as well.

It is one of the few things I feel very, very strongly about and actually don't fall into the "it's a personal decision/up to you/I don't care what others do" camp.

That said - I'd never want to get into a fight with someone about it. If someone asks me IRL, I always preface the discussion by saying "just FYI - I feel very strongly about this and will be unable to give a balanced, two sided argument".

Anyways - I also get the sense that in Canada anyway, leaving boys intact is becoming more normal so I'm pretty sure my son won't be the only one in his class...

I think it is becoming more common in the US too to not circ. That's really what opened my eyes to it and made me want to look more into it.

This is true in the part of Canada I'm from too - I would say it is probably more likely than not to meet someone with and uncircumcised penis. Actually, I've never seen a circumcised one in real life or heard of anyone doing it for their kids/

I just read that in Canada the circumcision rate is only 10% in hospitals and is on a downward trend. I also once saw an interesting map of the States that showed how circumsision rates are so regional, it's actually extremely interesting.

I wouldn't have it done to my son but it's a personal choice for others so what other people do doesn't bother me at all.
------quote box fail------

I'm curious to know where you read that stat...I'm in Canada too, and I have seen many penises (hubs plays hockey and those boys like to be naked. All. the. time.) I have only seen one uncut guy. And yes, guys do check each other out. And yes, they think it's weird if someone on the team doesn't shower with them. Maybe it's just hockey culture.

The women at my office who have all had sons have had them circumcised.

So maybe circumcision a regional thing in Canada--we're not in a cold part of Canada. Or maybe I'm basing it off a homogenous group. I doubt it's under 10% though.

Either way, if we have a son, he will be circumcised. My hubby feels very strongly about it--not because he wants our LO to "look like dad". I don't have an opinion one way or another--we're not religious and I haven't done any research on it yet.

---QUOTE box fail again---

@josim This is where I had read the stat, not sure how reliable it is though https://www.circlist.com/rites/canada.html

As I mentioned above this would only by hospital circumcisions and would not include ones done outside of the hospital.

Maybe guys checking each other out is a thing with some groups. DH says he's never heard of that and he asked some of his friends last night and they agreed

----quote box fail----------

Interesting. That website looks out of date, and definitely missing a lot of stats.

Like I said, these guys all play hockey, and any hockey guy I know is a bit...different. I think if I asked if they "checked each other out" they'd probably say no. But I know they look--they are very aware of the one penis on the team they haven't seen. Maybe it's more like they sneak a peek. Maybe it's just dressing room culture. Or maybe my friends are just odd. Haha.

Snapdragon750 · December 2014

(lots of quotes from @petrichor10)

I was trying to explain to you why it's offensive, because you asked. You didn't just apologize and move on, you asked. More then once. When it was explained to you, you argued. So I tried to explain better. You argued more, and I started to think you were trying very hard not to understand. Despite your saying you won't use it, you still can't understand why, and it baffles me. The end.

And I'll say it one more time: you referred to your SON as intact, not just his penis.

I feel like I'm repeating myself so I think I'm going to quit this discussion now. I've said what I wanted to say and we're going in circles.

kdc615 · December 2014

My husband is, my 7yo is not. Although they sometimes pee at the same time if we get home from a long car trip (boys are weird) my son has never even noticed any difference between he and his father. We were young when we had our son so didn't really dicuss a yes or no prior to delivery but I always assumed yes because my husband was. Come to find out most of his family isn't and he only was due to pressure from the Dr's on my Hispanic in-laws. We decided not to and although I had to research my ass off to make sure we were doing everything right I do not regret our decision. Read a recent Stat that only 30% of males worldwide are circumcised so if you don't he is NOT the minority! Be aware of your choice and the steps that follow and I think either way is personal decision.

Snapdragon750 · December 2014

awoo22 said:

Snapdragon750 said:

I will purely for religious reasons. I don't know what I would choose to do if that weren't a factor, and I really don't care what non-Jews choose to do with their sons' penises.

I will put it out there, by the way, that a circumcision from a mohel is very different from one at the hospital. If you want to circ but have been turned off by horror stories of hospital circs, look into how a good mohel does it and if there's one who services your area. (I can rec you one if you're near St. Louis or Dallas)

@snapdragon - what is the difference in the 2 procedures? I'm Christian and DH is Jewish but he wants to use a mohel. That is totally fine by me, but I figured that if we were already at the hospital when I gave birth and it's obviously a sanitary environment (and perhaps covered by insurance), this would be the safest and most efficient way. Just curious what the differences were.

A mohel takes about 15-30 seconds, compared to a hospital which takes 20 minutes. This is because hospitals require a numbing injection, and they have to wait until it takes effect, whereas a mohel will at most apply a topical anesthetic (and the best one I know doesn't use it because he's in and out before the baby even notices). In the hospital the baby has to be strapped down, and with a mohel he is held. Consider a mohel a "specialist"--a good one has done many, many of this procedure, and you may choose who does it based on how many he's done, whereas the doctor who does it in your hospital may have very little experience.

Here's a website from one of the top mohels in the country (also a close personal friend, full disclosure) that should help to better explain the differences to you. https://www.easycircumcision.com/

Please keep in mind though that everyone starts somewhere, and there ARE bad or inexperienced mohels. Get recommendations.

menta84 · December 2014

We are having a boy and he will definitely be circumcised. I also respect everyone's opinions but personally speaking, I do not feel comfortable saying I would leave the decision up to DH because he has a penis. I believe there is enough research out there for me to make an educated decision for our son, even though I am not a male. But that's just me.

Our main reason to do it is definitely the hygiene. I also consider the process of cleaning a circumcised penis easier and more practical than an uncircumcised penis because like others said, it doesn't require for the person to pull back the skin to clean it. Not that this would be hard work but it just seems more practical generally speaking.

As for the pain, it does suck that our baby will feel discomfort but for us, the benefits outweigh the risks. Also, and this is purely a personal experience, my parents had my ears pierced at the hospital before my mom was discharged when I was born. I obviously don't remember a thing and the discomfort was gone within a few days for what my mom tells me. So I'm hopeful it will be a somewhat similar situation for our baby.

NRG2012 · December 2014

We are having a girl but if we were having a boy then we wouldn't have had him circumcised. I feel it is a personal choice that all parents have to make. The men in my husband's family are all uncut so that played a part in what our decision would have been. My husband's general view is that the foreskin is there for a reason so why take it off. Personally I am thinking about the happiness of a future wife because (this is definitely TMI) I have experienced intercourse with both and I personally prefer an uncut penis.

At the end of the day it's a decision you have to make - take some time to really think it through and don't wait to make the decision till you are at the hospital. Good luck!!

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