Want to open up another can? Circumcision!

Minnie - posted on 06/03/2009

I think that those of us who are wholly against infant circumcision come off judgemental because we believe it is a human right's issue, and that to remain quiet about it and not appear 'judgemental' would go against everything we believe. Freedom of speech, and in this case we speek out for those who don't have a voice.

Crystal - posted on 06/03/2009

Quoting Kimberly:

Quoting Emily:

It sounds like most of the offended women on here who had their sons circ'd at birth are either completely ignorant on the subject of circumcision (in thinking thats its dirty, causes stds, and infectious, lol) or they're getting so offended because they're actually feeling guilty. It IS mutilation. You are taking a perfectly healthy child and tearing his skin off. And it IS torture. How would you describe it if someone strapped you down to a cold table and ripped your skin off piece by piece with knives for absolutely no reason? You wouldnt call that torture?

Let's see...there have been several people referencing older men or boys who eventually had to have a circumcision in part because of infections or other medical reasons, so I don't think you can say having circumcision done on an infant for that reason is ignorant. My son is circumcised and if I were able to have another I would make the same choice - and yes that is after watching the whole procedure from beginning to end. The main issue seems to be that we are making a decision for our child at a stage when they are unable to make that choice for themselves. This is part of being a parent. We do it all the time. I had to decide to have another surgery done when my son was only 3 months old. We could have waited, but decided it was in his best interest to do it sooner rather than later. Neither time did I enjoy watching my child subjected to the procedures - but knowing that I felt I was doing what was best for my child was what carried me to see him through it. I respect peoples' decision not to have circumcision done for whatever their reasons - they are doing what they think is best for their child. None of us are perfect, we just make the best decisions we can for our kids, and sometimes that finds us on different sides, that doesn't mean we can't respect each other. Don't make it sound worse than it is, though, either. The restraint is to keep them from being _truly_ injured by knocking into the doctor as he performs the procedure and losing more than a piece of skin. They are given medicine to reduce the pain. My son was totally healed in 3 days. And people DO have valid reasons. That you reject their reasons, or don't think they're important enough is your choice, and I haven't seen anyone from the other side judging your choice. Let's just call it a difference of opinion and move on...

Couldn't agree with you more!! Well said!

Crystal - posted on 06/03/2009

Quoting Kimberly:

Quoting Emily:

It sounds like most of the offended women on here who had their sons circ'd at birth are either completely ignorant on the subject of circumcision (in thinking thats its dirty, causes stds, and infectious, lol) or they're getting so offended because they're actually feeling guilty. It IS mutilation. You are taking a perfectly healthy child and tearing his skin off. And it IS torture. How would you describe it if someone strapped you down to a cold table and ripped your skin off piece by piece with knives for absolutely no reason? You wouldnt call that torture?

Let's see...there have been several people referencing older men or boys who eventually had to have a circumcision in part because of infections or other medical reasons, so I don't think you can say having circumcision done on an infant for that reason is ignorant. My son is circumcised and if I were able to have another I would make the same choice - and yes that is after watching the whole procedure from beginning to end. The main issue seems to be that we are making a decision for our child at a stage when they are unable to make that choice for themselves. This is part of being a parent. We do it all the time. I had to decide to have another surgery done when my son was only 3 months old. We could have waited, but decided it was in his best interest to do it sooner rather than later. Neither time did I enjoy watching my child subjected to the procedures - but knowing that I felt I was doing what was best for my child was what carried me to see him through it. I respect peoples' decision not to have circumcision done for whatever their reasons - they are doing what they think is best for their child. None of us are perfect, we just make the best decisions we can for our kids, and sometimes that finds us on different sides, that doesn't mean we can't respect each other. Don't make it sound worse than it is, though, either. The restraint is to keep them from being _truly_ injured by knocking into the doctor as he performs the procedure and losing more than a piece of skin. They are given medicine to reduce the pain. My son was totally healed in 3 days. And people DO have valid reasons. That you reject their reasons, or don't think they're important enough is your choice, and I haven't seen anyone from the other side judging your choice. Let's just call it a difference of opinion and move on...

Couldn't agree with you more!! Well said!

Minnie - posted on 06/03/2009

Yes we are parents, yes we need to make choices for our children, but when those choices involve damaging (yes damaging) our children's bodies with no legitimate reason those choices become poor and invalid.





The facts are out there: even the AAP says that circumcision provides no real benefits.

Emily - posted on 06/03/2009

Quoting Rosella:

What a lot of IGNORANT yelling and name calling this turned out to be! Some of you need to act like an adult having an intelligent conversation instead of some bratty little kid trying to be heard over some loud ruckus on the playground!!! To those of you who are against little boys being circ'd, - is it also torture when a woman has a c-section or any other surgery? Have you never heard of numbing before surgery? If a boy is properly numbed first, then has surgery with sterile equipment, how is that torture? If you choose to not circ your little boys, that is your choice. That does not mean your opinion is the right one. Neither does it give you the right to tell other people how stupid they are for not agreeing with you!! There, I will get off my soapbox now.......

I love that you are comparing a csection to an infant circumsion. Honestly? Sit back and think about that one for a few minutes. I actually laughed.

Minnie - posted on 06/03/2009

I have to add a bit about ritual Jewish circumcision. While I don't agree that it is right to perform any sort of bodily mutilation on an unconsenting human being, people should be aware that traditional Jewish circumcision is much, much different than that performed in US hospitals. Traditional Jewish circumcision involves removing just a little bit of the foreskin that hangs past the tip of the penis, not the entire foreskin like in typical US hospitals.





God certainly understands the purpose of the foreskin and understands what an important body part it is to the man. That is why removing part of it is such a sacrifice. The purpose of circumcision mandated by God in the Old Testament was to portray what would happen to Jesus Christ- innocent blood shed. But that type of cirumcision does not remove the foreskin, nor does it take away any of the functions of the foreskin.





But Christians should not circumcise- to circumcise in the name of the Christian faith is to deny what Jesus did, and that his sacrifice was not complete and whole.



Considering the argument above that c-sections must be torture as well- those are not performed on an unconcenting human being. They are performed according to the wishes of the mother, on the MOTHER'S body, not her baby's.

Rosella - posted on 06/03/2009

What a lot of IGNORANT yelling and name calling this turned out to be! Some of you need to act like an adult having an intelligent conversation instead of some bratty little kid trying to be heard over some loud ruckus on the playground!!! To those of you who are against little boys being circ'd, Have you never heard of numbing before surgery? If a boy is properly numbed first, then has surgery with sterile equipment, how is that torture? Oh yea, I forgot, our doctors and nurses are cruel, evil people who just rip the foreskin off with dull instruments with no consideration that they are doing surgery on a baby. Last time I checked there is a difference between surgery and mutilation and torture. If you choose to not circ your little boys, that is your choice. That does not mean your opinion is the right one. Neither does it give you the right to tell other people how stupid they are for not agreeing with you!! There, I will get off my soapbox now.......

Kimberly - posted on 06/03/2009

Quoting Emily:

It sounds like most of the offended women on here who had their sons circ'd at birth are either completely ignorant on the subject of circumcision (in thinking thats its dirty, causes stds, and infectious, lol) or they're getting so offended because they're actually feeling guilty. It IS mutilation. You are taking a perfectly healthy child and tearing his skin off. And it IS torture. How would you describe it if someone strapped you down to a cold table and ripped your skin off piece by piece with knives for absolutely no reason? You wouldnt call that torture?

Let's see...there have been several people referencing older men or boys who eventually had to have a circumcision in part because of infections or other medical reasons, so I don't think you can say having circumcision done on an infant for that reason is ignorant. My son is circumcised and if I were able to have another I would make the same choice - and yes that is after watching the whole procedure from beginning to end. The main issue seems to be that we are making a decision for our child at a stage when they are unable to make that choice for themselves. This is part of being a parent. We do it all the time. I had to decide to have another surgery done when my son was only 3 months old. We could have waited, but decided it was in his best interest to do it sooner rather than later. Neither time did I enjoy watching my child subjected to the procedures - but knowing that I felt I was doing what was best for my child was what carried me to see him through it. I respect peoples' decision not to have circumcision done for whatever their reasons - they are doing what they think is best for their child. None of us are perfect, we just make the best decisions we can for our kids, and sometimes that finds us on different sides, that doesn't mean we can't respect each other. Don't make it sound worse than it is, though, either. The restraint is to keep them from being _truly_ injured by knocking into the doctor as he performs the procedure and losing more than a piece of skin. They are given medicine to reduce the pain. My son was totally healed in 3 days. And people DO have valid reasons. That you reject their reasons, or don't think they're important enough is your choice, and I haven't seen anyone from the other side judging your choice. Let's just call it a difference of opinion and move on...

Tosha - posted on 06/03/2009

OK... I have seen some 'good' reasons for both sides but why would you cut off the most sensitive part and deprive your son of pleasure in the future??? Just so you don't have to spend more time making sure it's clean??? That's as selfish as moms who don't breastfeed cuz it's 'Icky'. As for them being teased in school... I would think they would be more proud to have a fully intact penis then one that's been chopped back.
But I wouldn't worry about it too much cuz everyone is picked on in school for one thing or another. You can't prevent it and I don't see that as a valid argument for having this done to your child.

Tammy - posted on 06/03/2009

Thanks Sharon for your input and especially for the truly excellent comparison to the appendix. You don't get it removed just "in case" you might some day get appendicitis. That's perfect. I will remember to use that one in the future.

Amie - posted on 06/03/2009

Wow, didn't read all the posts but have seen some *ahem* interesting reasons to get it done.

My son is NOT circumcised. There is no reason other than cosmetic or religious to get it done. I'm not religious so that didn't apply and I'm not going to have them cut off a piece of my son just because some people might have a hang up about it. Especially any future girlfriend or wife... if she's THAT hung up about a tiny piece of skin she's not for him. Also a lot of parents now a days are not getting it done so to look like everyone else and cause him less embarrassment didn't fly either. Where I am my doctor told me flat out too that unless it was for a religious reason (which he can't refuse) he would not do it. Fine by me I said I didn't want it done anyways!

At 4 years old my son knows how to keep it clean and does it himself now every night when he baths. We taught him how to do this from about 2 years old when he understood what we were doing. Took him this long to be able to do it on his own but he's doing great. Good hygiene is just part of for our day. Can't speak for anyone else but I'd hope it is for most people. =)

Sharon - posted on 06/03/2009

The history of routine circumcision in America has nothing to do with health benefits. They did it to discourage boys from masturbating, since in those days they thought that it led to blindness and insanity. It obviously did'nt work, as ALL boys masturbate, whether they are circumsized or not.



For some reason, even though doctors know this, they still want to do them for no reason! I didnt circumsize my son, just as I wouldnt have my daughter's appendix removed just because someday it MIGHT need to taken out.

Erica - posted on 06/03/2009

I am glad I have a daughter and didn't have to make this decision (or not yet). Our group research paper in nursing school was based on different pain relief measures during circumcision including EMLA creams and blocks. There was a difference in pain, but they all had pain. I think looking like other children is a compelling reason to have it done. The circumcision in my state is 50/50 but only due to immigrants. I am still undecided.

Emily - posted on 06/03/2009

Quoting Kandace:

Quoting Emily:

Quoting Stacey:

I got my son circumcised and will if i have another boy. I dont look at it as cosmetic rather than for health reasons. My fiance and I discussed it before our son was even born. We didnt mutalate our son. He did fine and healed in a week. Besides it's better to do it while they are young so they dont remember. Men have MORE problems with it as they age so letting them decided when he get older wasnt an option. Ask any man...they dont care they have a piece of skin missing. It still works. Seems the only people with problems are women.

 

I dont get this logic. Why would it be "better" to mutilate a 3 day old child? That child has NO idea whats going on. He just came out of your cozy womb where he lived for 9 months. Now he's suddenly strapped to a cold table and there are strangers standing over him literally ripping and peeling his skin off with knives. I wonder if that 3 day old thinks that thats life now. This is whats going to happen to me from now on. I can see how a child that young would lose his trust in people. It's also worse because he didnt make the decision himself to be permanently mutilated. It's HIS body, HE should decide what he wants and doesnt want. If he chose to be circumsiced at age 16, I would have no problem with it. He's old enough to know why its being done, he can take prescription drugs afterwards to help with the pain, and he chose to do it.

I had my son circumcisied because that is just what you do! And FYI most doctors these days numb the penis so they dont feel anything!! Babied don't remember that pain anyway! They are perfectly fine. Your saying it is better to have a 16 year old go through it?? That is sick, they will remember and WILL feel lots of pain. Thats better?? I have to disagree.. Just saying.

You had him circ'd because thats just what you do? Get a brain of your own, and make your own damn parenting choices.

Yeah, babies are perrrrfectly fine having their skin ripped off! Did your 3 day old tell you this when he came back from the invasive surgery?

And its TOTES better to have an infant go through it than a 16 year old. Because you know, 16 year olds can have genereal anesthisia while going through the process and have pain killers after. Infants? They totally get sugar water! wow! and thats it! Newborns also have NO idea why they're being ripped apart, thats the best, right?

You're sick.

Emily - posted on 06/03/2009

Quoting Celia:

Quoting Emily:

Quoting Celia:

Ummm...I want the girl to want to....not because she loves him but because he's sexy. I mean come on...my vagina smells just fine...it is very easy to clean and as a woman I like clean. How many women complain of how dirty or messy their guys are!! Last place I want a dirty man is down there...and when my guy comes home from work smelling of sweat and all manly...great!! but the funky cheese after a long day of pee and sweaty penis does not make me want to throw him on the bed and have sex or lick it...if you love your man enough then you go ahead with your funky self! Me I like to not wait for a shower scrubbing before I feel like having sex with the man I love...I want to just do it whenever!!
Just my opinion...and my gag reflex. I would rather it be enjoyable...not a because I love you I will suffer your smelly cheese old pee penis...

 

I cant even fathom how ignorant and judgemental you are in real life. oh my god.

Not sure why I'm ignorant...because I know what I want sexually? I also dont think oral sex is a womans responsability or job...I enjoy it with my spouse but thats my choice because I enjoy it.  I wont judge the many people who get turned on by having others give them "golden showers" thats fine by me...you like leather and chains...okey dokey...like strictly vanilla sex...sounds good...want no oral sex...your choice. Why am I ignorant because I find it unattractive sexually to give oral sex to an uncircumscised penis...? Dont I have a right to my own body? think I can controll my gag reflex? If they have just washed it then different story...but do I want to tell my guy to wash his penis every time we start to get it on...? What about being spontanious? I think it may kill the mood dont you?

I am anything but judgemental, I really dont have much to say about someone elses decision about circumcision or any other aspect of their life.  I am just being honest about the reasons why I will circumcise my child...and obviously you dident read my first comment fully or you'd see it was my third reason for not doing it not my first...but it is one of my reasons. And I guess a bit of comedy dosent go far in a stuffy room...and neither does honesty...my bad! lol

Comedy? I dont think its comedic that you put your newborn through mutilation because you personally dont like to do uncircumcised guys.

Tammy - posted on 06/03/2009

ear piercing: not removing any body parts whatsoever, mildly painful for one second
vaccines: life or death
taking a bath: not painful or harmful in any way other than being annoying
circumcision: removing a useful body part for no good reason causing extreme pain

No comparison between any of these things.

Sarah - posted on 06/03/2009

Quoting Celia:

Quoting Emily:

Quoting Celia:

Ummm...I want the girl to want to....not because she loves him but because he's sexy. I mean come on...my vagina smells just fine...it is very easy to clean and as a woman I like clean. How many women complain of how dirty or messy their guys are!! Last place I want a dirty man is down there...and when my guy comes home from work smelling of sweat and all manly...great!! but the funky cheese after a long day of pee and sweaty penis does not make me want to throw him on the bed and have sex or lick it...if you love your man enough then you go ahead with your funky self! Me I like to not wait for a shower scrubbing before I feel like having sex with the man I love...I want to just do it whenever!!
Just my opinion...and my gag reflex. I would rather it be enjoyable...not a because I love you I will suffer your smelly cheese old pee penis...

 

I cant even fathom how ignorant and judgemental you are in real life. oh my god.

Not sure why I'm ignorant...because I know what I want sexually? I also dont think oral sex is a womans responsability or job...I enjoy it with my spouse but thats my choice because I enjoy it.  I wont judge the many people who get turned on by having others give them "golden showers" thats fine by me...you like leather and chains...okey dokey...like strictly vanilla sex...sounds good...want no oral sex...your choice. Why am I ignorant because I find it unattractive sexually to give oral sex to an uncircumscised penis...? Dont I have a right to my own body? think I can controll my gag reflex? If they have just washed it then different story...but do I want to tell my guy to wash his penis every time we start to get it on...? What about being spontanious? I think it may kill the mood dont you?

I am anything but judgemental, I really dont have much to say about someone elses decision about circumcision or any other aspect of their life.  I am just being honest about the reasons why I will circumcise my child...and obviously you dident read my first comment fully or you'd see it was my third reason for not doing it not my first...but it is one of my reasons. And I guess a bit of comedy dosent go far in a stuffy room...and neither does honesty...my bad! lol

It sounds like you had an experience with an unhygienic, uncircumsized man. Not all uncircumsized men are smelly and funky. But way to go on stereotyping an entire group of people because of your bad experience.

Heather - posted on 06/03/2009

Both my sons are circumcised. If I have any more sons, they will be to. As parents, we make decisions every day that affect the health and welfare of our children without their consent. They don't consent to vaccines, getting their ears pierced (if you choose to do that), and by the way my newborn cries-he doesn't consent to being given a bath either. It's a personal decision plain and simple.

Teresa - posted on 06/03/2009

My third child is a boy and in my research the best metaphor i heard is "Cut off you eyelid" this is the purpose of the foreskin to protect the penis. You are litterlly cutting your son short for the furture by cutting him. We decided if he ever wants to get this done we will help find the resources but ultimately it should be the childs decision, when he is an adult to make such a decision. As far as the religious part of it... that is a bunch of crap God is not going to care what your penis looks like when you die!!!!! Only approx. 20% of the people in the world do such a thing to their children!! Why??they are misinformed!!

Carlita - posted on 06/03/2009

Quoting Dawn:

I guess you guys are against little girls getting their ears pierced too eh?... My son was done and he was done late almost 3 months of age.. The fight of whether or not to do it .. If I were to do it all over again he would have been done no later then 3 weeks old.. Or second son was not done for he had complications and the hospital would not allow it..As it was deemed unimportant and unnecessary... It really doesn't matter why it is done.. its a choice... and along with choices not everyone will agree with them.. I love son no matter if he has a foreskin or not..

My son isn't circumsized, doesn't mean I wouldn't get my daughter's ear pierced tho. Mine are, so why not hers? Its really not the same thing if thats what you are tryng to compare it too.....

Carlita - posted on 06/03/2009

I didn't, my husband && I researched it before we had our son && a nurse actually wrote a report on it && what actually happens. I was beside myself......Its the most horrifying, disgusting, saddest thing to do to an infant.



Your right, they are old wives tales; My nephew, my friend && a few other ppl I know aren't circumsized && they are fine && healthy.



My son's peditrician, is also against it as well. He told us himself he never did it with his sons && he sees no real medical reason to do so with ours.



I am proud && happy to say I didn't circumsize my son!

Tammy - posted on 06/03/2009

Just a throw-in after reading more posts. I am a VERY devout Christian and I do not think circumcision has anything to do with my faith. Circumcision was an outward sign of the ABRAHAMIC covenant with God. If you are Jewish then you are commanded to do it. If you are a Christian your covenant with God is the NEW Covenant which does not require circumcision. See Romans 2. If you want to do it, I don't think it's prohibited but it certainly does not add to your "righteousness" in any way. I've looked closely at Jewish laws and they were a brilliant way to protect God's people from things that they didn't know existed (germs, trichinosis, toxins). If I was a Middle Eastern man (think powdery, omnipresent sand) who didn't know about germs and who needed to save my water for drinking rather than washing, it would probably be a huge blessing to be circumcised. Now that we know what they didn't know, it's not necessary anymore.

Rahel - posted on 06/03/2009

I think that it should be done. Because if something did happen in the future like an infection then they have to remember it. My husband had his done at 3 years old and he can still remember it and it hurt. I know it will hurt now but they do not remember at all. The other reasoning is because my father had his done at 47 and I can’t live with myself if he needs it then and it could have been done when he could not remember it. So I think that you should do it so there is no risk of the infection that my husband and father had. One more think I watched my son get his done and it looked bad and like it hurt but I think that if they had to do it later it would be worse.



Rachel Russell

Sarah - posted on 06/03/2009

Quoting Francesca:

Quoting Sarah:

i genuinely didn't realise (perhaps because i have two girls!) that circumcision was preformed just 'in case' they might get infections. i mean, infections can be cleared up with creams and antibiotics right?? girls get thrush and we don't go to such extremes! i thought it was religious thing really, i'm actually really surprised that people would cut off a baby's foreskin just to prevent something that could probably be sorted out in a much more humane way!! in my opinion, very weird! :)

in my ss case its not just an infection. my husband had cancerous cells forming and that is why we are worried about my ss. i dont agree with having your baby circumcised, but i wont judge any mother if they choose to.

didn't mean to sound judgemental. each to their own! :)

Maranda - posted on 06/03/2009

my son is and it costs us over 4 hundread dollars

Shawna - posted on 06/03/2009

oh, and my son wasn't give pain meds after the procedure either, even though it was bright red, swollen and oozing for almost a week. Yeah, not brutal at all.

Tammy - posted on 06/03/2009

Quoting Alison:

Quoting Catherine:

I had both of my sons circumcised and I think it was one of the best decisions that I made. My step son was not done and I had many prblemd showing him how to keep himself clean. As babies you need to push the skin yourself and clean the area and then you need to show them how to do this themselves. The reason I say I am glad it was done is that My older brother was also not done and when he was 35 yrs old he was told by a doctor that he now had no choice but to allow him to do this, my brother cursed my Mom and Dad for not having it done when he was younger. He said the pain he went through and the trouble he had intimately with his wife could have all been avoided had it been done while he was small. I also have listened to my step son asking why he does not look like his brothers and he has heard other boys in Phys Ed saying thins, you would not think that boys talk about this but they do and they ask questions I am not in any way telling anyone what to do all I say is be very prepared to answer the questions from your son when he asks. And before you make any decisions talk to your pediatricain about this and ask about the urinary complication which can arise in rare instances.

My main concern is not medical because I have done my own research and decided against getting it done. And doctors in the UK now tell you not to push the skin back when they are young until it goes back naturally by itself when they can be quite a bit older.

I was concerned that other boys might say mean things if it is really so unusual in the US. Do parents who get it done look down on parents who don't? And will my son really be that differn't to all the other boys in his class?

No, it's not that unusual.  The last time I heard statistics mentioned, it's right around 50% depending on what region you're in.  Here in the Midwest where, frankly people are a bunch of country hicks (ha) my son's friends are probably right around 50-50 (of the ones I've seen and/or chatted with their moms about it).  Your son should have no problem.

Kelly - posted on 06/03/2009

My son had 5 heart defects at birth so they wouldn't or couldn't do it then. Then he had to have several open heart surgeries so the dr's recommended not doing it til he was older as he was already being put under many times for serious reasons. No sense taking a chance on an elective procedure.

Shawna - posted on 06/03/2009

Quoting Jessica:

Quoting Jenifer:

Quoting Jessica:

I have two boys and they are both circumcised. To be completely honest I did it because that is what I've always known to be done. I don't know if I would compare it to female circumcision, since females are circumcised to take away sexual pleasure and to make them more obedient to their husbands.
I'm not ignorant I know that their is no serious reason, besides medical to have it done but I did it no the less. My sons are both fine and they've never had any problems.

I think that's a fairly simplistic view of female circumcision. Personally, the first time that I thought to question male circumcision was in college when i heard women defend the practice of female circumcision. They said the reasons for doing it were cleanliness, looks, etc - the same justifications for male circumcision. And they sounded pretty confident in their choices, too. I totally agree that the experience of circumcision (male or female) in a hospital would be completely different than with a piece of broken glass without anesthesia - but I still don't think either are necessary or beneficial.

The knowledge I have about female circumcison was based on a documentary from a woman who had gone through the torture and her explanation for it being done as she understood are what I mentioned before.  It might be a simplistic view but I'm basing it one at least one womans experience and to her it was not for cleaniness or looks, it was for obedience.  

I'm not trying to argue with anyone but several people were comparing a medicated procedure to a brutal procedure inflicted on girls, anywhere from birth on.  I respect women who feel strongly enough about this topic that they don't have it done, but in my family it has always been done so on the basis of that is how its supposed to be done I did it.  I don't look down on it, I don't think it's dirty, it was just a foriegn consept to me.  When my boys were first born was actually the first time I had ever seen an uncircumcised penis.  I don't judge you and your decision, so please don't judge mine.

Anesthia is an option not a requirement for male circumcision in the US.  I made sure to request it during my sons procedure. They strap the male child down, put a ring around his penus and cut off the skin.  I would have to say that its a brutal procedure regardless of gender.  Oh and they are only a few days old when this occurs. If my son had his finger cut off at 3 days old he certaintly wouldn't remember the accident, but would be left with results for the rest of his life. though, the majority of wound heals in a weeks time it still took 6 mths for my son's skin to stop trying to grow back over the penus (which according to the pediatrician was perfectly normal in this procedure), so I had to continue placing ointments and vaseline during EVERY changing to make sure it healed properly.  My husband and I reviewed pros and cons. I allowed my husband to make the decision since he felt so strongly about it.  His ultimate reason was so he could look like the other little boys.  I did ask him if little boys go looking at each others penus and compare them. My understanding is that they normally avoid eye contact with other male genitalia.  I can't wait for the day my son comes running in to tell me all about some other boys penus (sarcasm).

Trish - posted on 06/03/2009

There is no valid reason whereby a child should be circumcised, Muslims believe this to be done at an older age when the boy enters into manhood, and it is a celebrated moment between father and son. A child should have the right to choose any body alterations that need be done, unless it will result in matter of life or death.

Francesca - posted on 06/03/2009

Quoting Sarah:

i genuinely didn't realise (perhaps because i have two girls!) that circumcision was preformed just 'in case' they might get infections. i mean, infections can be cleared up with creams and antibiotics right?? girls get thrush and we don't go to such extremes! i thought it was religious thing really, i'm actually really surprised that people would cut off a baby's foreskin just to prevent something that could probably be sorted out in a much more humane way!! in my opinion, very weird! :)

in my ss case its not just an infection. my husband had cancerous cells forming and that is why we are worried about my ss. i dont agree with having your baby circumcised, but i wont judge any mother if they choose to.

Julia - posted on 06/03/2009

I had both of my sons circumcised and I do not regret it one bit. For one their fathers are and they agreed that it should be done also. I have heard horror stories from both sides as well, I just made the decision to get it done to my sons because that was what I wanted to do. I don't think that it is mutilation in any way. My oldest son will be 3 and I couldn't have his done while he was in the hospital because he was premature and in the NICU, but they did it surgically at 4 months old. He was under anesthetic and asleep so he didn't feel a thing during the surgery. I know for a fact that with my 2nd son they extensively numbed the area before they removed the skin, and his doctor informed me that it was done with a clamp, not a knife. I believe that I did the right thing by my children, and anyone who says otherwise can kiss my booty! =0)

Krista - posted on 06/03/2009

Quoting Kirsten:

A lot of people are dismissing the "locker room" reason for circumcising as completely invalid but I would like to say that anything that's going to cause your child pain in anyway including emotional pain is something to consider. My husband is circumcised but my son is not. While preventing him from looking different and possibly getting teased were not enough reason for us personally to get our son circumcised it did definitely play a role in our decision. As someone who had some really horrible experiences with being teased in middle school I know that this can have a profound effect on children and I don't think that this reason should be so readily dismissed. Again, it's just a potential risk like infection but I still think it should be part of the equation.

My son's not circumcized, and the reason I dismiss the "locker room" excuse isn't because I don't care if he gets teased, it's because circumcision just isn't that common anymore, and there's a good chance that at least half the other boys in the locker room with look just like him anyway! 

Besides this fact, my husband and I agreed not to circumcize because, as many have said, it's just not necessary.  I don't equate it with torture, and I'm sure babies do forget and get over the pain quickly, but I still think it is an outdated, unnecessary procedure and I really hope that it's popularity keeps decreasing until it gets to the point that parents who are debating circumcision use the "locker room" as a reason NOT to get it done.

Kirsten - posted on 06/03/2009

A lot of people are dismissing the "locker room" reason for circumcising as completely invalid but I would like to say that anything that's going to cause your child pain in anyway including emotional pain is something to consider. My husband is circumcised but my son is not. While preventing him from looking different and possibly getting teased were not enough reason for us personally to get our son circumcised it did definitely play a role in our decision. As someone who had some really horrible experiences with being teased in middle school I know that this can have a profound effect on children and I don't think that this reason should be so readily dismissed. Again, it's just a potential risk like infection but I still think it should be part of the equation.

Tosha - posted on 06/03/2009

My view on it is why mess with a good thing??? It seems as silly to me as giving a baby a nose job.... i know a lot of you will disagree but really I don't see a difference. If you teach your son how to take care of himself properly there really is very little risk of problems. For men and women alike it makes the making of a baby much more fun! That's what it's there for. PLus, if doctors tell you it doesn't bother them and most of them fall asleep (which i was told before my son was born) it's a lie. They may appear to be 'sleeping' but it is actually their body and mind going into shock. I don't condemn those of you who have chosen to have this done to your babies but I do find it to be a totally unnecessary torture, even if they won't remember it.

Noelle - posted on 06/03/2009

I have 6 living boys(one passed) noneof which are circumcized....there is no reason unless religious...my oldest is21 andyoungest 4.....NEVER ainfection...and FYI most doctors and hospitals use NO anesthetic...I have beenin a nursery with babies getting circed...it is unbearable!!!!!!

Nancy - posted on 06/03/2009

I did not have my son circumcised because I was taking my walk down the corrider that day after delivery with the nurse. This was in 1984. I heard this curdling screams from a room and asked the nurse what that was. She replied the Circucision room. That sounded so aweful I refused. Why should you create so much more trauma for a child. The birthing process in the West is trauma enough. I taught my son how to take care of himself. He has had no problem with it. I see no mdeical reason for it either and good for you. After all does a baby have the ability to make that decision? We should have the power to make choices for our children without rules and regulations. Afterall a mother knows what is best for her children. Namaste

Melissa - posted on 06/03/2009

Quoting Tammy:

I do think a lot of the problems that people have with not being circumcised are due to ignorance. When I read up on it, I found that some guys are not fully retractable until PUBERTY. People get hysterical that the foreskin should retract "to clean it" and push it back way too early. That just creates raw areas and exposes areas to infection that didn't need to be exposed. One reason why it is attached in the first place is so that germs don't get in there. The stream of their urine rinses out the unattached part of the foreskin and there is no need to retract it until it can be done easily. I think the biggest problem people have is NOT LEAVING IT ALONE. It's a natural body part in its natural state.

Hi, i have heard this same thing- People that try to retract the foreskin to supposidly clean it is what opens it up to infections- best just to leave it alone and let the skin do its job. I think it is pretty well agreed by the majority of medical proffessionals that circumcision has no real value. Its not even offered anymore and quite hard to track down a dr in Australia that will do it. (i have heard the ones that will do it charge a fair bit because there arnt many)

My husband is uncirc and quite against the procedure so obviously we didnt get it done , it wasnt even questioned. My hubby has never had a single issue relating to his skin.

Lily - posted on 06/03/2009

For those that say it is done for religious reasons, here is a great link to an article concerning circumcision and the christian beliefs. Judaism has it's own rules and such for circumcision but as for the Christian I think that this link sums it up pretty well.



http://www.noharmm.org/christianparent.h...

Danielle - posted on 06/03/2009

G-D says u are suppose to, so that should be a good enough reason:) My boys don't remember anything from the circ and my kid barely cried....I breastfed him during it:) D

Danielle - posted on 06/03/2009

G-D says u are suppose to, so that should be a good enough reason:) My boys don't remember anything from the circ and my kid barely cried....I breastfed him during it:) D

Sian - posted on 06/03/2009

Quoting Eleanor:

fewer wives of husbands who ade circumcised get uterine cancer

..another old wives tale Im afraid ....

from www.medicinenet.com -

Who is at risk for uterine cancer?

No one knows the exact causes of uterine cancer. However, it is clear that this disease is not contagious. No one can "catch" cancer from another person.

Women who get this disease are more likely than other women to have certain risk factors. A risk factor is something that increases a person's chance of developing the disease.

Eleanor - posted on 06/03/2009

fewer wives of husbands who ade circumcised get uterine cancer

Eleanor - posted on 06/03/2009

fewer wives of husbands who ade circumcised get uterine cancer

Sian - posted on 06/03/2009

I too had never thought about it because I had three daughters. It was when my son was born, my oldest daughter (22) asked if I was going to have him circumcised. My immediate reaction was 'NO! Why would I?'. Id just spent 9 months hoping he would be ok because at 41 I was at greater risk for having a baby with problems...but he was perfect and Id no intention of messing with that!

The only other thing I remember seeing that touched on the topic was a documentary on Nature vs Nurture which featured the sad story of Australian boy twins born in the 60s. Something went wrong during their circumcision and one of them lost his penis completely. Doctors told his parents to bring him up as a girl instead, it would make no difference and when he was a bit older they could perform some surgery to give him female genitalia. Of course the poor kid was a complete mental and emotional mess as the doctors prognosis was totally wrong...

Anyway the very fact that poor baby lost his penis through circumcision has stayed with me for life.

Sarah - posted on 06/03/2009

i genuinely didn't realise (perhaps because i have two girls!) that circumcision was preformed just 'in case' they might get infections. i mean, infections can be cleared up with creams and antibiotics right?? girls get thrush and we don't go to such extremes! i thought it was religious thing really, i'm actually really surprised that people would cut off a baby's foreskin just to prevent something that could probably be sorted out in a much more humane way!! in my opinion, very weird! :)

Francesca - posted on 06/03/2009

Im from england and its not really done here, my husband was cirumcised 4 yrs ago, due to medical problems. my ss seems to have the same problem . we took him to the docs and they wouldn't preform the op as he is too young and said he's fine. we can see and smell that he has the same medical problem as my husband. i dont have my own children yet but if i had a boy then i would NOT have it done unless its medical.

Alison - posted on 06/03/2009

Quoting Jenifer:

Alison, I noticed in your previous post that you're in Nashville - so am I. When my son was born my midwife and nurses weren't surprised at all when I said he wouldn't be circumcised. At his daycare, the teachers were a bit surprised that I tried to instruct them on cleaning him - they'd seen more than enough babies who were not circumcised to know what to do. I don't know what the percentages are here in the south, but from my experience, I'd say circumcised boys won't be the majority many more years. I'd also add that my husband (not circumcised, since he was born in the UK) never had a problem with teasing when he attended high school in the midwest.

I am relieved to know that. I heard getting it done is less common in the south than in the rest of America, just seems like my son was the only one I knew of. Then again, like I said before, it's not the sort of thing you usually ask people about their sons in ordinary conversation. lol

To those who have posted one here about infection: yes it does happen from time to time, but is vary rare. Is it possible that advocates in the US are more likely to pick up on every case they hear of as an argument for promoting the procedure? Never heard of anyone in my family having any problems and it's not the sort of thing you hear about very often in the UK.

For those using UTI's as a reason: They are Waaaaay more common in girls than boys and theres not a lot you can do about it. Also exclusive breastfeeding is widely recognised as the number one preventative method of urinary problems in the UK because it is more effective than getting circ'ed. Yet the biggest advocates I have come accross bottle fed theirs from birth or very early on. (And no I'm not judging them for that before some people jump on this statement and take the debate off topic).

And to those who think the majority of European men are funky because they are not circ'ed. All I can say is a big fat WHATEVER!!!!!!!

I don't think people who get it done to their sons are bad parents, but it worrys me that they think my son is dirty just because he hasn't.

Alison - posted on 06/03/2009

Quoting Jenifer:

Alison, I noticed in your previous post that you're in Nashville - so am I. When my son was born my midwife and nurses weren't surprised at all when I said he wouldn't be circumcised. At his daycare, the teachers were a bit surprised that I tried to instruct them on cleaning him - they'd seen more than enough babies who were not circumcised to know what to do. I don't know what the percentages are here in the south, but from my experience, I'd say circumcised boys won't be the majority many more years. I'd also add that my husband (not circumcised, since he was born in the UK) never had a problem with teasing when he attended high school in the midwest.

I am relieved to know that. I heard getting it done is less common in the south than in the rest of America, just seems like my son was the only one I knew of. Then again, like I said before, it's not the sort of thing you usually ask people about their sons in ordinary conversation. lol

To those who have posted one here about infection: yes it does happen from time to time, but is vary rare. Is it possible that advocates in the US are more likely to pick up on every case they hear of as an argument for promoting the procedure? Never heard of anyone in my family having any problems and it's not the sort of thing you hear about very often in the UK.

For those using UTI's as a reason: They are Waaaaay more common in girls than boys and theres not a lot you can do about it. Also exclusive breastfeeding is widely recognised as the number one preventative method of urinary problems in the UK because it is more effective than getting circ'ed. Yet the biggest advocates I have come accross bottle fed theirs from birth or very early on. (And no I'm not judging them for that before some people jump on this statement and take the debate off topic).

And to those who think the majority of European men are funky because they are not circ'ed. All I can say is a big fat WHATEVER!!!!!!!

I don't think people who get it done to their sons are bad parents, but it worrys me that they think my son is dirty just because he hasn't.

Michelle - posted on 06/02/2009

Smart; let them decide when they are older and can remember the pain????