Circumcision ... yes or no?

Danielle - posted on 08/01/2010

I am a firm believer in circumcision. My son was circumcised. The doctor who did it used a cream to freeze his penis before hand...it was applied, wrapped in saran wrap, and left on for about 45 minutes before they did the procedure. They used the ring on my son. He slept through the entire thing and when they brought him back to me he was still sleeping. He wasn't even cranky or anything afterwards. I just made sure to follow instructions and change his diapers more often than usual for a few days. The ring fell off and that was the end of it.

If baby number 2 turns out to be a boy we will also circumcise him.

My reasons: no I am not Jewish. I am actually Roman Catholic but that has nothing to do with our family's choice to have our sons circumcised. I feel it's more clean...regardless of how well you take care of your personal hygiene, boys with foreskin are more susceptible to infections. It's a fact. My fiance's friend, who is very clean might I add, developed an infection under his foreskin last year. At the age of 23 years old he had to be circumcised. His only comment was "wow do I ever wish my mother just took me to get circumcised when I was an infant."

Another reason, which is more of a personal issue rather than a health one...my fiance is circumcised so to me it seems appropriate that his sons are too. During potty training I'm sure my son will see a lot of his father's penis and I don't want him wondering not only why daddy's is so much bigger but also why does daddy's look completely different?

I get why some people think circumcision is cruel. I cried when my son was taken into the procedure room and I paced the floor the entire time he was gone. But I quickly discovered my worries were not necessary. The doctor we chose (which we took into very careful consideration of course) was gentle and good with our son and as I mentioned, they froze everything so he wouldn't have to feel pain. Most babies that cry are crying because their clothes are removed and they are cold. Not out of pain.

So that is my stance on this topic.

Jessica - posted on 07/19/2010

We are having our first child and it's going to be a boy. We are going to get him circumcised. It isn't religious for us. It is just the decision we made. My husband wasn't circumcised at birth because it was physically impossible, but he thinks it will be better for our son if we circumcise him. :]

Kayla - posted on 07/12/2010

i had my son circumcised i did it because i felt it was the right thing for my child and it would be easier for him to stay clean and not get infections if he didnt clean him self right when he got older

Kelly - posted on 07/10/2010

First of all congrats on having a boy :)

Secondly I don't see why there should be such a strong debate over something that comes down to either religion or something that has been decided personally from the mother and father.

We've chosen not to know the sex of the baby right away. How ever we wont be choosing the option of circumcision. That and our local hospital doesn't do it.
There is no real reason as to why we're not having it done, if we have a boy.

April - posted on 07/10/2010

Well due to my family I was against it. None of the men in my family are circumcised for a reason.

Reasons aside, my Love had a very good point, that I couldn't argue. That point was, how the heck will he be able to explain to our son when he asks why does his pee pee look different than daddys.

So since My love is circumcised, our little man will be as well. I don't fully agree with it.

I have heard the pros and cons for both sides, and either way, they both have benefits as well as drawbacks. I think it's a personal decision.

Santana - posted on 07/10/2010

I say yes because either way he can have problems. But him being circumcised it lower risk of prostate cancer

Hannah - posted on 06/24/2010

We're also having a boy and getting him circumcised. We aren't Jewish, but my husband and I know people who have had health problems because they weren't circumcised. I would rather my son have it done as a baby instead of having to get it done in his 20s or 30s. At least he won't remember it!

Melanie - posted on 06/20/2010

I've also been told that Michelle. While they are young you are not meant to pull it back.

Michelle - posted on 06/20/2010

Like i said before in the uk almost no one is circumsised! (i have never seen a circumsised penis!) and i have never known anyone have a problem with infection! I have 2 boys one 5 1/2 one 1 year and we don't pull back their for skin to clean it yet as they don't need to do that until they are bigger and can damage them to do it to young!!

Melanie - posted on 06/20/2010

interesting read ladies. My daughter had a very serious UTI at 10mths and was in hospital for a week. The day we left a three week old baby boy was put in the same room as my daughter with a UTI caused by being cirumcised. i have a little boy due sept 20th and hubby and I will not be getting him done. Hubby wasnt and has never had any probs, no one in my family is and have all never had any probs. I don't really see any pro's to it.
But if you do you should not be looked down at for it, as you are simply doing what you think is best for you son (how does anyone think they have the right to think badly of you because you have tried to do what you think is best for your child!)

Jessica - posted on 06/19/2010

We circumcised our son bc it is easier to keep it clean. if you do not circumcised you have to pull back the fore skin and clean around the head. if not that skin will grow to the head and cause pain and very bad smell along with surgery later on. i knew a kid who's mother didnt circumcise him and didnt clean it properly and his skin grew all the way up to the slit in his head. it was very bad.

Melanie - posted on 06/19/2010

when my son was born last year, we had him circumsized, it was because my bf is and wanted his son "to be like him". I wanted it done also,because honestly, I've never seen a guy who wasn't circumsized,I got ALOT of flack from my family cause not one guy is circumsized on my side. But all in all it worked out good. I cried,the baby didn't. I was so scared. But all in all, I would definately do it again if I have another boy,we've never had any problems..

Stephani - posted on 06/09/2010

my mom works in a Children's Emergency Room. You would be amazed at the young men who come through with infections and end having to be circumcised at the age 10yrs and above. I totally for it religion as, as a medical necessity

Michelle - posted on 06/07/2010

It so funny in the Uk we are not offered the chance. It is just NOT DONE! I don't know anyone who is circumcised?

Shauna - posted on 06/07/2010

That is so sad, Kristy! I am so sorry that happened! I can't believe the doctor would be so rude after your son's in pain--not at all acceptable.

Kristy Lee - posted on 06/06/2010

get him done!!!!!!!!!!!! Dont care if pple say its BAD ECT: my son is 15months old and we just discoverd that his foreskin is to small and it gets stuck while he needs to wee. gives him extreme pain. he wakes up several times a night in pain and iv got to help pul the skin back for him to wee... i wanted him done as a newborn but in australia they dnt do it in the hospitals anymore, we have to go threw private practices to do it....
but now that my son is having issues with his he has to be put under and knocked out to have his done, because his to old to sit still... i regret not getting it done! as he was little and never would have noticed it as a newborn!
doctors here are really quiet cranky and shallow minded when it comes to getting this done, when i seen a doctor asking to get it done i was given a lecture! which i did not deserve! and wasnt his business to open his mouth, and going to the doctor recently for the issue about his foreskin, i was told ''yeah its to small and it gets stuck'' but i'm not refering you to he gets an infection???? i nearly scremed! thinking iv got to wait till my son is in even more pain to get it sorted out! Stupid i know!!!!!!!
so i'm trying to find the right doctor who understands and will refere me to a hospital to have him done........

Please please get him done i felt so sad and horible seing my son in pain because i didnt get him done!

Misty - posted on 06/05/2010

i say it with a strong yes! it honestly helps them in the long run there are a few guys i know having infections n there wives b/c they aren't so my opinion is a YES!

Jessica - posted on 06/04/2010

We will be Having our son circumcised.... We are doing it because we feel that its better to do it now then later...... and personally I think its more natural looking when they are circumcised.....

Jacquie - posted on 06/03/2010

I am having my son circumcised for a few reasons. The first is that his father wants it done. The second is that my family encourages it due to religious reasons. I personally am not sure I want it done, but I am going to do it because his father will not take no for an answer and I don't see the harm in getting it done. He won't remember it, it is cleaner generally, he'll look like his father in that sense and it's better to do it as a baby than when he's older.

Amanda - posted on 05/27/2010

lol I've never heard that but yeah I don't see how someone could know that unless they got it done wayyy later in life after they had already had sex before. And even then, maybe the girl he was with after was just that good? haha... that's funny though :)

Shauna - posted on 05/26/2010

I'm not Jewish, but will have our baby circumcised for cleanliness and I guess because we grew up in families where that was done. It's a very safe procedure, too, and he won't remember the procedure or anything. Until recently, I didn't even realize it was really up for debate. Someone told me that later in life, uncircumcised men may have more pleasure in sex--which I thought was interesting... how the heck would anyone know? But even if it were the case, he wouldn't know the difference either way unless he were to start uncircumcised, and then do the procedure. I hope that wasn't inappropriate. Just thought I'd toss that out there. Anyone else heard that?

Felicia Neikolle - posted on 05/24/2010

Ladies, I must say that I am so pleased that we are able to discuss this and not be nasty! I've seen so many of these get nasty and I was just hoping for others to share their experiences and opinions on this. Thank you all for NOT stooping to low levels and maintaining dignity and class within a touchy subject.

Bianca - posted on 05/24/2010

No, we are not having our little boy circumcised. Why should we mess with him if it's not medically needed?



Our two year old has had an water infection when he was 6 months old but his doctor assured us that this didn't have anything to do with the fact that he wasn't "done"



But if YOU think it's right for your son then go ahead. It is your child and your decision. :-)

Rosemarie - posted on 05/23/2010

i am also having a boy and my husband and i are gonna have him circumcised and the reason for that is because it keeps urainary tract infection from happening and other dease to a point other wise if he's not curicumzied then you may be looking at him having more infections but that is up to every parent to decide if they want to do it or not

Katherine Leslie - posted on 05/21/2010

Both of my boys are not, We are of a christian home and people always say it is bibical to have them done and it really isn't do to we are not Jewish, and it says a lot in the new testment that the gentiles don't have to be. it is a personal decion but I do say you both need to agree on it. I am not going to say that it is wrong and there is no med studies that are done that makes it bad or good. just up to teaching them to be very good at taking care of themselves have to decide how much work you and your hubby want to put into it.

My family have a big problem on us about it. But I told them if the boys want to they can do it when they can pay for it. LOL

I don't think it should matter to anyone if your child is or isn't. It is your child... (: but please be in agreement over what you will do. You and your hubby need to agree on it so there isn't a family problem with you two because it is your family (you, hubby and kids) that matter over everyone else...

Briana - posted on 05/18/2010

I want my son to look like his father and his father is circumcised. Not only that but I believe in the medical and religious reasons to have it done.

Shanna - posted on 05/18/2010

I did a lot of research on this two years ago when I had my son and decided not to have him circumcised. The health risk is very minimal and the main thing they worry about is that with an uncircumciced penis they are more likely to contract an STD. I plan on teaching my son to not sleep around so hopefully that won't be an issue anyways.

If people tease him about it, who cares? Hopefully he will be comfortable enough with himself to laugh it off. Kids find things to tease about anyways, there really is no avoiding it. I am not against circumsicion, I just felt I didn't want it for my son. Everyone is different and his penis doesn't have to look like his Daddy's or anybody else's for that matter.

I am having another son in September and he will not be circumcised.

Lindsay - posted on 05/17/2010

Well I am going to talk to my dr about it but right now I think I am going to get him circumcised but I will be in the room! I refuse to let them do it without me there.

Kristina - posted on 05/17/2010

i think it is a religion thing for alot of people...but also a hygene thing now my doctor has told me they are recomending it now for sanitary reasons i have a 3 yr old and my second i am having c section sept. 7th and i am getting him circumsised

Mitsi - posted on 05/17/2010

Im having a girl this time but i had my boys done. Its not really something i gave a second thought to really. I didnt even know that people didnt do it till after i had my first son.

Jessica - posted on 05/16/2010

Yikes! We'll get it done even though I know it is not a pleasant trip. I agree that where I live, more boys had it done than not, so those who weren't were made fun of. I want my boy to look like his dad anyway.

Sabrina - posted on 05/16/2010

Aesthetics were a big part in my/our decision to circumcise. My hubby said that boys in his school were often made fun of in the locker room if they were not cut. I also so saw an episode of Sex & the City were one of the girls was dating a guy who wasn't circumcised. They had so many terrible jokes. I just never wanted my son to be made fun of, especially about such a private place. My sister did not circumcise her son and she's had issues with care givers not wanting to clean under the foreskin when they changed his diaper & calling his penis a Snuffelupugus. My cousin didn't do her son and he's had lots of urinary tract infections and his foreskin was torn by a doctor removing a catheter.
As far the procedure goes my son was fine and never had any problems with it.

Lauren - posted on 05/16/2010

We got our son circumcised after doing lots of research into the pro's and con's. One of the things that has stuck in my head is that uncircumcised males are more likely to cause UTI's in their female partners as well as cervical cancer.
Also I've heard of sooo many older boys having to get it done and it really is painful for weeks, even someone in his 20's.

My son's was done with numbing cream and the ring thing, he was fine straight after the proceedure, he fell asleep in my arms. If I have any more sons I wouldn't hesitate to have them done too.

Tanya - posted on 05/15/2010

We chose not to get our son circumcised 2 years ago when he was born.

I am not a believer in snipping a little boy without giving him the chance to say anything about it, but that is just me. I see it as a cosmetic surgery that does not have a real upside or downside.

We have been very lucky with the fact that our son has never had a UTI or any infection of any kind.



At the same time, I don't agree with everyone 'fighting' over this. It's not like the little boy has to walk around showing everyone if he has been snipped or not.

Everyone has their own reasons and we need to respect that :)

Amanda - posted on 05/13/2010

I've seen the conversations on here about circumcision, they get crazy!!! My son is 3 and when we had him it wasn't even a question, we got him done. I've just never thought to not do it. It's good for them medically(although apparently it's just as good to not have it done, whatever) and I caught a major attitude about this, but I think it looks better lol... I think genitals in general are very unattractive, so please don't take offense anyone!



I don't think it's a big thing, either get it or not, ya know? I don't think you should get your head bit off either way.

Sarah - posted on 05/13/2010

When i was pregnant with my first son i was so undecided whether to have him circumcised or not that i decided against having it done. But then in the first 12 months he had several urinary tract infections and a lot of irritation in that area even though i kept it all very clean, I got a referral to a surgeon and he had to be circumcised when he was 1yr old. I am now pregnant with my second son and have decided to have him circumcised without hesitation, i dont want him to have to be done at an older age for medical reasons. My husband is not circumcised but he agrees with me that it is best for both our sons to be.

LauraBeth - posted on 05/13/2010

We had our son circumcised even thou we are not jewish it is very Biblical. I also feel that is is a choice that noone should be so critical on. I have really caught some flack by choseing to have my son circumcised, but I just look at them and say that is your opinion and choice and this is mine. I dont care if they think I am wrong, Me and my husband alone make the choices for my family not anyone else.