How do you feel about Circumsion?

Jene' - posted on 08/05/2010

After the doctor asked me if I wanted my son to have the procedure I did a little research myself. If kept clean and bathed regularly, I found there were no problems. My son has never had an infection; we do not allow him to drink a lot of juices and sodas...which we know extra proteins and sugars will wreak havoc on our urinary systems; also studies show that men that have had it done lose a lot of the nerves (in the skin) that provide extra 'feelings' during sex...so at the end of the day, I opted to no have the skin removed, and my hubby has never had problems without his being in place either...

It almost reminds me of female circumcision, though not quite that harsh. If you were born with it, and it isn't hurting anything, you may as well keep it. :)

Melissa - posted on 08/03/2010

bein that age you'll have to put him to sleep. i wouldnt recommend that unless needed from what ive been told. its a matter of how you and your husband feel about it. i got my son circumsized when he was 2 weeks old. i believe it is just a cleaner area and less to deal with when their older. there are alot of people out there that are not circumsized. their happy with it. good luck on your decision.

Stephanie - posted on 08/03/2010

As long as you teach him to keep the area clean, so that it won't get infected after he gets potty trained, I see no problem not having him circumsized. Both of my boys were circumsized at birth, but that was because my husband wanted it done. I don't really have a strong opinion either way, but I do know that some kids have a problem keeping it clean.

Meghan - posted on 08/03/2010

My son is not circumsized. I chose not to bc it is not a procedure that is needed. if you teach the child at a young age to keep his penis clean, then there is no difference. Why cause a baby pain if there is no medical reason for it. they dont give the children any anisthetics either. i say, wait til the child is old enough to make his own decision.

Belle - posted on 08/01/2010

I can completely understand all of the reasons for not doing it. It was really hard to see our little one have his even after his birth. I also have a friend who has a 10 year old who is not. We decided to have it done. We are athiest and religion had nothing to do with it. Also, I have heard it is not any healthier either way. My partner informed me that boys will often get teased by other boys if they don't have it done. Teasing can be more painful than the procedure. Also, I dated a guy who wasn't and it was not attractive. If anything ever happened to my partner, I certainly would not date a guy who wasn't again. Ugh!

Heidi - posted on 07/29/2010

I read through all the responses here and see you have made a decision not to have your son circumsized. Just a little FYI, we are American, but live in Japan. My son was born here and circumcision wasn't even offered as a choice. When I asked the pediatrician about it, he said there is absolutely no reason to do so, unless the baby needed the procedure done due to infection and the risk of that was very low. We live in an international city, Kobe, and I started asking my friends if circumcision was offered in there home countries. Interestingly enough, the US and Israel are the only countries in the world who offer circumcision routinely, outside of religious reasons or medical complications. That was answer enough for me! Hope this helps.

Michelle - posted on 07/29/2010

I would not do it. I have twins, a boy and a girl and I did not circumcise my son, nor would I do it to my daughter as some cultures do. I could not cause my children pain for cosmetic reasons. Good luck.

Leslie - posted on 07/27/2010

Alot of kids aren't done anymore. Even if their father are. It's really up to you and your husband.
I'm not sure if 18mths old is too old or not. I personally couldn't take my 18mth old to get something like that done now. I would feel bad. I'm not trying to pull a guilt trip on you, I'm just giving yo my opinion. Talk to your DR see what they say about it.

Hope you figure it all out. :)

Christine - posted on 07/27/2010

Honestly, the best advice that my pediatrican gave me and my husband is that having your son look like his daddy if the daddy is in the picture is the best way to go. Since my husband is uncircumcised, we decided for my son to be uncircumcised. There are no real reasons to have your child circumsized, it isn't hard to clean like people say. Unless you have religious reasons behind it there's no reason for a child's penis to be medically altered to fit stereotypes.

Maybe your husband feels your son should look like him? I dont feel that is a good enough reason to change your mind, after you already made the decision to leave your son's penis natural.

If there were medical reasons to change your mind now, then yes, but if not, it's a cosmetic choice that your husband is asking for.

Is it work putting your son through a surgery like that? Over a cosmetic difference now?

It's up to you, only you can decide what is right for you. I personally wouldn't change my mind unless something happened that required me to have my son circumsized. Since leaving them natural is getting more and more common.

Kristen - posted on 07/27/2010

Circumsion is very common - my son was circumcised at birth. My reasoning for it was because most men who are un circumcised have more risk of infection, they have to be more cautious with cleaning and care. It's a medical advancement that we are able to safely prevent issues with a simple snip.

Mildred - posted on 07/26/2010

My son is 18 months and has not been circumcised as well, but i have a nephew who was circumcised when he was 6 years as his foreskin was tight and caused him pains when urinating and he never had problems after it was done.

Lindsay - posted on 07/26/2010

My son is also 18 months and he was just circumsized about a month ago. We decided to do it after he got a urinary trac infection and the urologist highly recommended getting it done. the sugery went really well and he was up and going the very same day. Obviously if I had to do it again I would have definetly done it when he was born but over all it went really really well.

Bronwyn - posted on 07/26/2010

Thanks very much for all your replys. I spoke to the paediatrician, and he said that at this age it is quite traumatic. He recommends sticking by our original decision, and not doing it. I have made up my mind, and I think my husband has accepted this as well. Thanks again.

Kelly - posted on 07/25/2010

My son Damian had it done when he was 2 days old. Its better and healthier to have it done. And the main reason I wanted him to have it done was so he was like all the other boys. Babys who are circumsized are less likely to have uti's and other prob's. Your main problem would be now is at 18 months little boys start exploring there bodies and if your going to get the circumsion done make sure he doesnt play with himself, cause it would suck if it got infected. But talk to your baby doc and see what he says

Kathy - posted on 07/24/2010

DO IT NOW!! you will thank yourself later

Sarah - posted on 07/24/2010

i never really hear of this being carried out much in england.
my son isn't circumised ..
and he has a daily bath and is changed regularly .. so theres no reason to say that he's never had any issues with lack of hygiene ..

Naomi - posted on 07/24/2010

As far as hygiene goes I think that's a pretty redundant argument these days given most people bath regularly (or they do hopefully!). My husband is uncircumcised and has never had any issues and my little boy is 18months and it hasn't been an issue at all. As for self esteem - how are they going to know anything else. They wont know it's not normal unless you tell them. I think this is where the dads wanting their sons to be the same as them comes in and thats a legitimate reason. But medically there is no reason for circumcision it comes down to personal choice or religious reasons. I think the longer you leave it the worse it would be for the child. It is very difficult to find a doctor who will perform the operation in Australia.

Jane - posted on 07/23/2010

ouch! talk to the pedicatrian. my family and my husband's families don't do circumcision and nobody has had any issues, the men themselves or their wives, me included.
i agree w/you, do it a birth or don't do it, ouch!

Marsha - posted on 07/23/2010

im all for it, it helps with there hygiene and self-esteem.

Amber - posted on 07/23/2010

I know people who have been uncircumcised and are uncomfortable with it and others who are and are confortable with it. It is definately a personal choice. My son was a couple weeks old when he got circumsized and I was definately traumatized by it. It was definately painful and I felt horrible. My nephew had it done the day he was born and didn't seem phased, because he was so sleepy. If I have another boy if they don't do it the first day I won't do it at all I just couldn't take it.

Naomi - posted on 07/23/2010

Tough topic as peoples reasons and beliefs are very personal. When we discussed it when we were pregnant I felt that if it was a boy that was my husbands decision as I did not have a strong opinion either way. My husband is uncircumsized so he was happy for our son to be as well. I know my brother however who is circumsized wanted his son to be and so they had him done when he was vey small. I think it has a lot to do with Dad's wanting their sons to be like them. Personally I would say the younger the better, at 18 months (thats how old my boy is) I would think it would be a lot more traumatic than when they're tiny. Hope that helps.