Cicumcision........

Brianne - posted on 04/16/2009

Your right my doctor did tell me that the foreskin will not completely retract untill the age of two, but she said that it should have some eleasticity in it so that when his penis is erected, it does not cause him pain or discomfort, or infection. Which is what happend with him. Your wrong shame on them fo being rude and iggnorant to mums who have had their sons circumsized and visa versa. I agree everyone has their own opinion but they should exprese it in a way that is related to this post. If you are just going back and forth and bickering its helping no one.

Kylie - posted on 04/16/2009

Sorry you and your little man had to go through that Brianne:(. Did your doc tell you baby boy’s foreskins are not supposed to retract until after 2 years? (My doc actually old me 3 years) if it was being pulled back before that age, pain and damage will occur. I didn’t click the link, bit scared of what I may see haha, but I do get your point. Like most popular threads in these forums, conversations take different routes as others respond to not just the question but the responses posted. Everyone as their own opinion and experience when it comes to this topic and are free to share it with the intention to help others. Shame on no one.

Brianne - posted on 04/16/2009

I think that we should all step back and look at why this post was started in the first place. I complete understand your pain Helen, when it comes to having your child circumsized at a older age due to medical reasons. There is no comparision when it comes to infant peircing and cicumsition. I didnt get my son done at birth because of the cost of the procedure. He is now almost two, and has had several UTI, foreskin infections, his foreskin did not retract at all and caused him much discomfort and pain. I took him to a urologist, and after two appointments where she did not actually listen to me, she has told me to wait until he hits puberty, because I dont want him done. (Which is not the truth, after seeing my son in that much pain I would like him done yesterday.) I asked her what are his chances for having more UTI or Foreskin infections, or any other complications, and was told that he had a 65% risk of getting these infections again, as welll as phimosis, and paraphimosis. So I understand your hurt to see your child go through that , and as for other people on here who have hastely replied without even considering why the post is up in the first place shame on you, you are not helping in anyway. I also believe that some are very uneduated, and maybe they do not realize how often complications happen due to not circumsising their sons.

Also as for Melissa saying how hard it is to put the child in the carseat after a mature circumsition, I am one of the people who told her about that, and also I told her how I struggled with my son to put him in the car seat during infections, and after as his penis was still very sore. I also advised Melissa to get her son circumsized at birth. While I do know there is some pain accosiated with infant circumsition, there are more risks of the procedure going wrong, or a reaction to anastisia, as well as a longer more painful recovery time for a older child. Most three year old do not get special pain kiillers after their circumsition.

I believe you shouldnt judge either way what a parent wants, some want it done some dont, others cant, and some have to because of medical reason. Circumsision has been a long time area of debate, there is logical reason as to why people get it done, expesially earlier on in history. ANyways I have a site you can go to if you want to see what Helens and my child have gone through and the pain they experianced with these conditions. There are GRAPHIC pictures on the site so please use your discrestion on who sees it, and also whether or not you can handle it.

http://www.circlist.com/anatterms/phimot...

Sara - posted on 04/13/2009

I don't have a boy, and I honestly don't know what I would do about circumcision if I did. But, I know several adult men who had the procedure done as adults by their own choice. So, it is best to let the man chose when he is old enough do you think?

Emily - posted on 04/13/2009

Quoting Kylie:

I know I’m probably going to regret posting this but in my opinion, taking that 400 and putting it away for his future education instead of spending it on altering his penis for fear of future trauma and infection would have been money better spent. :p

I couldnt have said it more perfectly myself :) I wish doctors would charge $4,000 for the procedure, so more parents couldnt afford it!

Kylie - posted on 04/13/2009

I know I’m probably going to regret posting this but in my opinion, taking that 400 and putting it away for his future education instead of spending it on altering his penis for fear of future trauma and infection would have been money better spent. :p

Melissa - posted on 04/13/2009

You know what I didnt come her to argue or make people change how they felt I just came to explain my story and it wasnt a horror story. I don't believe my child was in shock. Some of the people here are so worried about being right they cant see past anything like why I did it. I serously would not have paid almost 400.00 on something  I didnt feel strong about

Emily - posted on 04/13/2009

Quoting Melissa:

I agree about this getting mean and I am at fault for some of it but I don't lke it when people say my baby was in shock and this and that and basically there opinion seems like they think I don't know my son.

Melissa, obviously the people saying this were not there when your baby was circumcised but they are propbably saying this because studies do show that neonates do go into shock during the procedure. We can't kid ourselves and say it doesn't hurt. Numbing creme isn't enough to take the pain out of forcefully seperating the foreskin from the glans akin to seperating fingers from nails then removing the foreskin. Shock defenses is a very common way that newborns deal with pain and trauma. Whether or not yours did can not be determined, but babies do feel pain, they can't process it like adults and shock is one of the survival mechanisms for dealing with it.  From http://www.cirp.org/library/psych/rhineh...

"In her model of human responses to trauma, Pomeroy (1995) brings together what we know about what trauma is, how it happens, and what our psychic responses to traumatic events. She describes three inborn levels or lines of defense for dealing with a threatening experience: (1) relational resources, consisting of boundaries and safe, trustworthy individual and communal connections; (2) fight, flight, and freeze defenses from the brains limbic system; and (3) shock defenses, also from the limbic system, but without emotional control (pp. 90-93). She points out that when an overwhelming threat alarm is signaled by the emotional brain, the emotional brain's defenses take over. The emotional brain responds at the level of fight-flight freeze (active defenses) or shock defenses (passive reflexes) (p. 92).

In the case of circumcision, relational resources are unavailable to the neonate. The next level of fight-flight-freeze also does not serve him since he is easily trapped and overpowered by those performing the procedure. All he has left, therefore is the level of shock defense, which consists of central nervous system flooding by terror, rage, and finally numbing, paralysis, and dissociation; this his his last chance to control the high level of central nervous system activation, which might otherwise result in death. Watchinig videotapes of neonates being circumcised portrays this clearly to the aware eye. The so-called "quiet" after circumcision is more likely a state of dissociation in response to the overwhelming pain and terror than it is a state of peaceful relaxation."

I know this thread has been hijacked and I feel badly for the original poster as I know the direction this has gone was not her intention nor does it help alleviate the greif she is feeling over her son's circumcision. Sorry.

Melissa - posted on 04/13/2009

Quoting Heather:

i dont feel badly for myself my baby is healthy and happy and laughing everyday and developing well, i just think its a shame people go out of there way to make others feel badly in general. especially on a website such as this.

You had the same experience I had. they gave my son a touch  of sugar water and he was looking all over the place during the procedure , but like you no pain no crying. The only time he cried was 15 min later for his feeding . He is now 5 month and so happy.

It's people criticizing the procedure so uch thhat now it cost a ridiculous ammount i paid 392.00 all together. My friend s who really wanted it done couldn't afford it.

I agree about this getting mean and I am at fault for some of it but I don't lke it when people say my baby was in shock and this and that and basically there opinion seems like they think I don't know my son.

Heather - posted on 04/12/2009

i dont feel badly for myself my baby is healthy and happy and laughing everyday and developing well, i just think its a shame people go out of there way to make others feel badly in general. especially on a website such as this.

Rebecca - posted on 04/12/2009

When I had my son done 10yrs ago (in Australia), they did not give him anything for the procedure and he couldn't even have any pain relief after because he was 8 days old and the paracetamol starts from one month. He had the plastibell and I was told to leave it alone, so no numbing cream for him either.

I don't like to think about what I did to my son. I have had to let it go, but I do feel that it was a horrible thing I did. Thats my feeling on it.

I don't think anyone is trying to make anyone personally feel like crap. Those that are against circ feel sorry for the baby, I imagine. I do anyway.
And if you are so secure in your conviction to circ, why does some random person on a forum make you feel badly?

Heather - posted on 04/12/2009

ok. when did this website get so rude...........i get on here for support not to tello me i was wrong. and for those who say babies cant get help with the pain...thats wrong. iwas there for it and he got a local and didnt even wake up or cry and it wasnt because he was in shock!!! he was already asleep and didnt budge from his nap. i said this in an earlier post!.and then when we were sent home the hospital gave us a cream that numbed him until it was healed! but reading all these mooms who arent on here for support they are on here to make other moms feel like crap is wrong. there should be a way to block all those who insist on making others feel bad about anything.........let alone calling others heartless and bad mothers

Heather - posted on 04/12/2009

ok. when did this website get so rude...........i get on here for support not to tello me i was wrong. and for those who say babies cant get help with the pain...thats wrong. iwas there for it and he got a local and didnt even wake up or cry and it wasnt because he was in shock!!! he was already asleep and didnt budge from his nap. i said this in an earlier post!.and then when we were sent home the hospital gave us a cream that numbed him until it was healed! but reading all these mooms who arent on here for support they are on here to make other moms feel like crap is wrong. there should be a way to block all those who insist on making others feel bad about anything.........let alone calling others heartless and bad mothers

Mary - posted on 04/12/2009

Sorry Kylie and Emily....I get what you are saying now.  I didn't mean to get mad it is just that like I said I feel guilty about it because I DID see one done after the fact and I also saw my son's reaction.....so when I look back I wish I hadn't done it and I thought you thought I was still heartless!  but that is not what you ment at all.....so I am sorry for jumping to conclusions.

Emily - posted on 04/12/2009

Quoting jenny:

for all of you that have stated the that they would never get their child circumcized well good for you. but when your child grows up to an adult and needs the surgery you tell him that he really isn't feeling any pain, that it is all in his head. where as a baby that is done soon after birth fills little or no pain and no parents that decide to get their child done is there decision and should not be put down or thought of as heartless parents. because that is so not true., so i think some of you that have made some rude comments owe some people an apoligy

Of course it will hurt an adult too. But adults are allowed to have pain medication after, where an infant usually cannot have pain medication during or after. And most importantly an adult knows what is going on, where an infant just came out of his mothers womb, and then is strapped down to a cold operating table and is having pieces of thier body pulled off with knives. What the hell is that baby supposed to think? That this is life for him now? Getting an infant cicred is horrible.

Emma - posted on 04/12/2009

Quoting Sarah:

we had our son circumsised when he was born, mainly because we didnt want to run into the situation you came to, luckily, he didnt even cry when the dr did it... an his healing was very fast. the plastabell fell off onlly 2 dys later... i see both sides in circumcision... yes it should be his choice... but in this day and age, if your son isnt circumsised,and hes in the lockerroom changing and his looks different... thats just one more thing other kids could make fun of... my son is 7 weeks old and im glad we circumsised him.

you say if a child i not circumcised he will look different in the changing and be made fun off... but surely if he is the only one circuncised and all the other boys are not then he will be bullied for that.. i think your decision was naive and silly..

Rebecca - posted on 04/12/2009

How does anyone know how much pain an infant is feeling? How can you say they feel no pain? Are they not human til a certain age?
Sorry but that is simply untrue.

Jenny - posted on 04/11/2009

for all of you that have stated the that they would never get their child circumcized well good for you. but when your child grows up to an adult and needs the surgery you tell him that he really isn't feeling any pain, that it is all in his head. where as a baby that is done soon after birth fills little or no pain and no parents that decide to get their child done is there decision and should not be put down or thought of as heartless parents. because that is so not true., so i think some of you that have made some rude comments owe some people an apoligy

Rebecca - posted on 04/11/2009

I'm not re-reading anything, don't have time to sift through all the replies right now. Melissa, were you in the room when they did your son's circ? I don't know if you posted that or not. And no I'm not a doctor, but that doesn't mean much to me anyway, you can't tell me that a circ does not hurt. If your son didn't cry well lucky for you.
My first son did cry when they done the circ but there was no other problems that I knew of with him after. He never cried when he peed or anything horrible like I have read with some other boys. Every child is different. My son used to hit his head when he was learning to crawl and never cried, where as my girls cried a lot when they bumped their head.
I'm getting off track a bit there, but yeh, no one was being nasty, you are the one who bit back.
Just stating facts really, not opinions. You cut something on your body, it hurts.
You circ to prevent something that MAY happen to your son later on.
Facts.

Melissa - posted on 04/11/2009

OMG We have another doctor here but here is some info on shock and it doesn't really fit my sons situation now does it?

Causes   

A person in shock has extremely low blood pressure. DependingShock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is not getting enough blood flow. This can damage multiple organs. Shock requires IMMEDIATE medical treatment and can get worse very rapidly on the specific cause and type of shock, symptoms will include one or more of the following:

Melissa - posted on 04/11/2009

Dont really think so considerring the DOCTORS would know what to look for if a baby was in shock and wouldnt send me home 20 minutes later if he were in shock seeing as shock is a medical condition and he would have cried at the beggining if that were the case.

Emily - posted on 04/11/2009

He probably didnt cry because he was in shock.

Melissa - posted on 04/11/2009

The reason  I aked  if you have a medical degree is because my information  is backed up by facts and doctors  that actually went to school and have training in the matter. But you have you opinions here  and thats what they are your opinion not facts.

P.S This is supposed to be CIRCLE OF MOMS NOT COME HERE TO JUDGE/ HARRASS MOMS

Melissa - posted on 04/11/2009

Rebecca do you have a medical degree, just asking because tears / crying typically tells you the child is in pain as I said before he didnt cry fuss or even squirm and he had no sedation ZOHOJO AND HEATHER up farther both practically said the same thing,.I  am guessing you guys all know so much you know our children better then we do! I am not for one second going to thionk my son was in any pain from his circumcision especially when he screamed his lungs out from vaccination. I have seen a more mature one done and he cried when he peed bathed fell on accident just trying to play and parents trying to buckle him in the car seat  which had to be done often.

Rebecca - posted on 04/11/2009

As well I find it absurd that people are worried how much it would hurt a grown man or an older boy, should it HAVE to be done, but its perfectly fine to do it to a tiny baby who can't even have any pain relief after.
That makes my stomach churn.

Rebecca - posted on 04/11/2009

If a boy has a medical condition that really can't be cured, then that is a totally different reason for circ'ing.

I have a circ'd son and an uncirc'd son.
My first is 10yrs old and I really had no idea of what it involved. I knew it would hurt him, but I was pumped full of info that it was the best thing for him. This was years before I had the internet and I was only 19. His dad had to be done at 9yrs old and remembered it (no doubt because he was not taken care of properly, he had no mother) and that put a fear into me that the same would happen to my boy.
When I was pregnant with my 3rd (different daddy, but circ'd none the less) I researched a lot. Since she was a she in the end, there was no issue.
But when our 4th was a boy, I knew that I was not getting him cut. And I am very glad I made that choice.

Circ'ing newborns is a preventitive surgery, for something that most likely will never happen.

Kylie - posted on 04/10/2009

I didn’t mean mums who have had their kids circed are heartless, I know you love your kids and only want the best for them. I meant if you can watch a little baby with he knees pinned back and some doctor with a scalpel cutting him and making him bleed while screams his lungs out before he goes into shock and still want to have that done to your baby then something must be wrong. I think a lot of people are misinformed by doctors and family members. I thought it was a good idea years ago, as my hubby is done and I had never actually seen an uncut one (not that I’ve seen a lot) but I saw a documentary on the subject on television one night and that changed my mind big time. Sorry to offend mums who have already done it by choice or necessity. I was more wanting women who are thinking of doing it to watch it first and get a better perspective.

Emily - posted on 04/10/2009

Hey it's just our opinion. Everyone is always going to have an opinion differing from yours on every subject. For you, you chose to do it because you didnt want him to go through it when he was older. For us, we are choosing not to do it because i dont want him to go through it when he's only an infant.

Melissa - posted on 04/10/2009

Okay I am getting a bit annoyed I do everything to be the best mom I can be and I don't think it is fair to say moms are heartless because of circumcision. We all love our kids and really you have no right to say differant. Heartless would be to neglect or abuse your children I have 2 children my girl is 4 years old my little boy is 5 months old, they are both very happy. i had my son circumsized because I have personally seen  the results of a more mature circumcision and  alot of children in my family have had to go through it. I also did it because of the health aspects the thought of looks or it being normal didn't even cross my mind.

Emily - posted on 04/10/2009

also- i'm not trying to sound rude or anything, just trying to help you feel a little better!

Emily - posted on 04/10/2009

I agree, and I also agree with her saying circumcision is heartless. It is. And it doesnt make me feel guilty because I was ignorant on the procedure back when I had my son. If I had KNOWN everything I do now, and still gone through with it, then yes I would feel guilty. But we both really didnt know. We both thought it was normal, safe, and better. Luckily we're more educated on the subject now, and we wont make the same mistake again. I really think she meant that if a woman watches that video and THEN makes the decision to go ahead with a circumcision, THEN you are heartless. You know?

Mary - posted on 04/10/2009

Emily I agree that mothers should have to watch a video as well I just take offence to her  other statment because one of the reasons I did do it is because I didn't want him to be different and around here it is much more common to have it done than it is to not have it done.  I regret it for the simple fact that I let others push me into doing it.....I don't like being called heartless becasue that is pretty much what she is saying.  I feel guilty enough without people like her making me feel worse.  it isn't fair to group everyone into the same group just because we have gotten it done. 

Some of us who have gotten it done wish we had not.....Like you and myself....and it isn't fair to group people like us into the same group as people who think there is nothing wrong in getting it done.

Emily - posted on 04/09/2009

I had my first circ'd and will NOT have my second done. And I dont take offense to that statement at all. I think its so true. That every parent should watch a video of the procedure before they make a decision.
yes I feel terribly guilty about circing my first, but really, watching a video like that completely changed my mind, and if that can happen for any other mom, then i'm all for it.

Mary - posted on 04/09/2009

Kylie I don't really like your statment at all....."Anyone who is willing puts their newborn through this barbaric procedure so their child can “look like dad” or because “its easier to clean” (which its not) must be lacking in the part of the brain the controls emotion and compassion."

Did you read my post?  it is up higher on the board and I take offence to what you just said.  I feel bad enough about what I did without people like you telling me I am lackin emotions or compassion.  just read my earlier post and maybe you will understand.....I think you need to think before you insult others. 

Kylie - posted on 04/08/2009

I think mothers should watch some footage of this procedure being preformed on a baby boy before they go on about the pros of circumcision, and have the fathers watch it too. Anyone who is willing puts their newborn through this barbaric procedure so their child can “look like dad” or because “its easier to clean” (which its not) must be lacking in the part of the brain the controls emotion and compassion.

Melissa - posted on 04/08/2009

I live in Canada it was 150.00 doctors fee 242.00 hospital fee for less then 20 min of work and no anesthetic

Kay - posted on 04/08/2009

My sons are both intact.  I feel strongly about my descion but wouldn't make anyone feel guilty for theirs.  It is highly personnal descion.  I hope that some day it will not be offered rutienly but it must be by request only.

Stasia - posted on 04/08/2009

Quoting Sarah:

we had our son circumsised when he was born, mainly because we didnt want to run into the situation you came to, luckily, he didnt even cry when the dr did it... an his healing was very fast. the plastabell fell off onlly 2 dys later... i see both sides in circumcision... yes it should be his choice... but in this day and age, if your son isnt circumsised,and hes in the lockerroom changing and his looks different... thats just one more thing other kids could make fun of... my son is 7 weeks old and im glad we circumsised him.

In this day and age, depending on where you live circumcision is in the minority. In canada when my daughter was born the rates were something like 80% not circd. I have heard that the rates are higher in the states if that is where you live

Melissa - posted on 04/08/2009

Thanks Emily I hope this helps even one person atleast. Like I said earlier I have alot of people I know who now have to do this as an older child and it is not fair  just because there parent s couldntr afford the circumcision. We paid 392.00 for ours and that is completely ridiculus

Emily - posted on 04/08/2009

Interesting information, I think it could have to potentila to really help someone make the decision who might get turned off by strong emotions flowing on the board . I still hate the penile cancer one. Men are much more likely to get breast cancer than penile cancer. We don't remove their breast tissue at birth.

Melissa - posted on 04/07/2009

Post a reply!

What is newborn circumcision?

Newborn circumcision consists of removal of the foreskin -- the foreskin is resected to near the coronal sulcus -- in the newborn period (before the age of 2 months).

Incidentally, the Latin circum means around (or about). Circumcision is a cutting around.

What is the status of the foreskin at birth?

Only about one in every 20 boys is born with a retractable foreskin. This reflects the fact that the tissue development of the foreskin is usually not complete at birth.

The foreskin is thus not fully separable from the glans in about 96% of newborn boys. By 1 year of age, the foreskin can be retracted in 50% of boys and by 3 years, the foreskin can be retracted in 80%-90% of uncircumcised boys.

What does this have to do with circumcision?

It means that the inability to retract the foreskin at birth and in infancy is normal and does not constitute a medical reason for a circumcision.

Regarding newborn circumcision, most physicians today agree with the practice of informing parents of the risks and benefits of the procedure in an unbiased manner. Recently, however, several large studies revealed a 60% decrease in transmission in circumcised males compared to uncircumcised males. This may ultimately influence some changes in recommendations in the near future.

THIS INFORMATION CAME FROM http://www.medicinenet.com/circumcision_...

Melissa - posted on 04/07/2009

Post a reply!

What is newborn circumcision?

Newborn circumcision consists of removal of the foreskin -- the foreskin is resected to near the coronal sulcus -- in the newborn period (before the age of 2 months).

Incidentally, the Latin circum means around (or about). Circumcision is a cutting around.

What is the status of the foreskin at birth?

Only about one in every 20 boys is born with a retractable foreskin. This reflects the fact that the tissue development of the foreskin is usually not complete at birth.

The foreskin is thus not fully separable from the glans in about 96% of newborn boys. By 1 year of age, the foreskin can be retracted in 50% of boys and by 3 years, the foreskin can be retracted in 80%-90% of uncircumcised boys.

What does this have to do with circumcision?

It means that the inability to retract the foreskin at birth and in infancy is normal and does not constitute a medical reason for a circumcision.

Regarding newborn circumcision, most physicians today agree with the practice of informing parents of the risks and benefits of the procedure in an unbiased manner. Recently, however, several large studies revealed a 60% decrease in transmission in circumcised males compared to uncircumcised males. This may ultimately influence some changes in recommendations in the near future.

THIS INFORMATION CAME FROM http://www.medicinenet.com/circumcision_...

Melissa - posted on 04/07/2009

Post a reply!

What is newborn circumcision?

Newborn circumcision consists of removal of the foreskin -- the foreskin is resected to near the coronal sulcus -- in the newborn period (before the age of 2 months).

Incidentally, the Latin circum means around (or about). Circumcision is a cutting around.

What is the status of the foreskin at birth?

Only about one in every 20 boys is born with a retractable foreskin. This reflects the fact that the tissue development of the foreskin is usually not complete at birth.

The foreskin is thus not fully separable from the glans in about 96% of newborn boys. By 1 year of age, the foreskin can be retracted in 50% of boys and by 3 years, the foreskin can be retracted in 80%-90% of uncircumcised boys.

What does this have to do with circumcision?

It means that the inability to retract the foreskin at birth and in infancy is normal and does not constitute a medical reason for a circumcision.

Regarding newborn circumcision, most physicians today agree with the practice of informing parents of the risks and benefits of the procedure in an unbiased manner. Recently, however, several large studies revealed a 60% decrease in transmission in circumcised males compared to uncircumcised males. This may ultimately influence some changes in recommendations in the near future.

THIS INFORMATION CAME FROM http://www.medicinenet.com/circumcision_...

Melissa - posted on 04/07/2009

Post a reply!

Approximately 55% to 65% of all newborn boys are circumcised in the United States each year, though this rate varies by region (western states have the lowest rates and the north central region has the highest). The procedure is much more widespread in the United States, Canada, and the Middle East than in Asia, South America, Central America, and most of Europe, where it's uncommon.

Parents who choose circumcision often do so based on religious beliefs, concerns about hygiene, or cultural or social reasons, such as the wish to have their son look like other men in the family.

Routine circumcision is usually performed during the first 10 days (often within the first 48 hours), either in the hospital or, for some religious ritual circumcisions, at home. If you decide to have your son circumcised at the hospital, your pediatrician, family doctor, or obstetrician will perform the procedure before you bring your baby home. The doctor should prepare you by telling you about the procedure he or she will use and the possible risks. Circumcision after the newborn period can be a more complicated procedure and usually requires general anesthesia.

Melissa - posted on 04/07/2009

According to an earlier reply my facts are misplaced so heres a few facts that are actually backed up you can lok up many web pages that will say the SAME thing.

In some instances, doctors may decide to delay the procedure or forgo it altogether. babies or those who have special medical concerns may not be circumcised until they're ready to leave the hospital. And babies born with physical abnormalities of the penis that need to be corrected surgically often aren't circumcised at all because the foreskin may eventually be used as part of a reconstructive operation.

The Pros and Cons

On the plus side, circumcised infants are less likely to develop , especially in the first year of life. UTIs are about 10 times more common in uncircumcised compared with circumcised infants. However, even with this increased risk of UTI, only 1% or less of uncircumcised males will be affected.

Circumcised men may also be at lower risk for penile cancer, although the disease is rare in both circumcised and uncircumcised males. Some studies indicate that the procedure might offer an additional line of defense against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including .

Penile problems, such as irritation, inflammation, and infection, are more common in uncircumcised males. It's easier to keep a circumcised penis clean, although uncircumcised boys can learn how to clean beneath the foreskin once the foreskin becomes retractable (usually some time before age 5).

Some people claim that circumcision either lessens or heightens the sensitivity of the tip of the penis, decreasing or increasing sexual pleasure later in life. But neither of these subjective findings has been proved.

Although circumcision appears to have some medical benefits, it also carries potential risks — as does any surgical procedure. These risks are small, but you should be aware of both the possible advantages and the problems before you make your decision. Complications of newborn circumcision are uncommon, occurring in between 0.2% to 3% of cases. Of these, the most frequent are minor bleeding and local infection, both of which can be easily treated by your doctor.

Perhaps one of the hardest parts of the decision to circumcise is accepting that the procedure can be painful. In the past, it wasn't commonplace to provide pain relief for babies being circumcised, but because studies have indicated that it benefits the infant to receive anesthesia, most doctors will now provide it

Emily - posted on 04/07/2009

It's too hard to compare vaccination with circumcision. Circumcision is rarely necessary. Vaccines are always necessary. I wouldnt have my son circ'd but I would give him vaccines. I think that's two totally different levels of pain, need, and opinion.
I guess I can kinda? see what you're saying about the carseat deal, but personally it's not really an issue for me. It's rare that a child would need an emergency circumcision. And if they did need one, carseats are the last thing I would be worrying about, you know?

Melissa - posted on 04/07/2009

I explained the car seat thing wrong I really meant that when they are older to move if you do have an emergency and have to do a circumcision that the older they are the more mobile they are and it could be very hard to stop a curious child from hurting himself and with older kids if it was done older they also may fight when you buckle them in which might end up hurting them more. I just meant as a baby they dont move and they cant hurt themselves. About the immature  ok maybe wrong wording and I do  appoligize but alot of parents do stuff because they can't see there babies cry so they dont vaccinate or circumsize but vaccination is a total differant debate and I think if you have a bad family history for uncurcumsized boys then your responsiblility. My one brother now having to get his 2 older boys done at an older age cannot be coincidence

Melissa - posted on 04/07/2009

I explained the car seat thing wrong I really meant that when they are older to move if you do have an emergency and have to do a circumcision that the older they are the more mobile they are and it could be very hard to stop a curious child from hurting himself and with older kids if it was done older they also may fight when you buckle them in which might end up hurting them more. I just meant as a baby they dont move and they cant hurt themselves. About the immature  ok maybe wrong wording and I do  appoligize but alot of parents do stuff because they can't see there babies cry so they dont vaccinate or circumsize but vaccination is a total differant debate and I think if you have a bad family history for uncurcumsized boys then your responsiblility. My one brother now having to get his 2 older boys done at an older age cannot be coincidence

Emily - posted on 04/07/2009

Agreed, Emily. I always hear people say that it doesnt hurt newborns. Thats the most ridiculous logic i have heard. Of course it hurts them, newborn or adult, it's gonna hurt no matter what. And like I said, I have no problem if my son wants to have a circumcision when he's older. I just dont want to put my three day old through the worst pain he might ever experience in his life. To come out of the womb, and then to go through a painful cosmetic procedure is just horrible in my opinion. It must be such a shock to a poor newborn baby!

Emily - posted on 04/07/2009

Quoting Melissa:

,the main thin is how do we reduce this pain and I think it is by making sure your little boy will not have to go through a mature circumcision, possibly even as an adult where they end up taking time off work but I think in most aspects circumcisions are logical

There is so much misinformation in this post that I can't possibly address it all. I am picking this out because- neonatal circumcision is more painful and invasive than "mature" circumcision. Why? First of all the foreskin is adhered to the glans. So, instead of being able to just cut off the skin as with a retractable foreskin (which still hurts like hell!) the doctor must crush the forskin to separate it from the glans similarly to how one would have to remove fingernails from the finger. Secondly, adults do not wear diapers or urinate of defecate upon themselves. An open wound in a  diaper with the potential to have pee and poop rubbed on it is a lot different than an open wound in underwear. So, if you want to reduce the pain from circumcision- don't circumcise your newborn.