Circumcision vs. Not

[SweetV]

My mom was quite upset when we chose to not circumcise DS but as parents this was our decision. My husband is uncut and tbh I have never been with a guy that was so this is the "norm" for me even though in Canada it is quite common. I do not see any reason to do it unless medically necessary. Hygiene can be taught and we have never had an issue with DS nor has my DH had one. As for STI's again it would be healthier to teach precaution. There is no surgery for girls and what there is is considered mutilation and illegal. I respect others choices as parents but disagree with a medical procedure on an infant because of ascetics. I agree with pp that we wouldn't remove other parts in hopes that it would prevent issues in the future (appendix, tonsils etc).

 

[PocoHR]

So, I haven't read this entire thread, and I might be repeating what someone else has already said, but I think circumcision is nonsense unless it has religious significance for you or is medically necessary. We won't circumcise my son.

Circumcision is only so common in the US because in the 1850's it was believed that it would cut down on lust in men (which isn't entirely false, they lose some sensation after it). Then, since one generation of men were circumcised it kind of took off out of habit after that. Thankfully, fewer and fewer babies are being circumcised for no good reason in the US now. I believe the current rate hovers around 30% (https://www.cirp.org/library/statistics/USA/).

 

[meg_bellamy]

That's great that the rates are going down, I really don't see how it's different to female genital mutilation

 

[MrsHopeful]

UK here.....no we didn't get our son circumcised.....it wasn't even thought about as it's not really done much over here.
As a previous poster said.....My hubby's grandma had all her teeth taken out at 18 or 21 too.....I am glad they don't do that now....

 

[Larkspur]

In NZ here. We didn't circumcise, never considered it. It's rare here. I don't think I've even seen a circumcised one, and I've seen a few, lol.

 

[PocoHR]

Here is a related video: https://www.collegehumor.com/video/6966989/the-real-reason-youre-circumcised

 

[bathbabe]

Lol I like that video! X

 

[lau86]

As lots of pp have said, it's very uncommon in the uk, not really considered routine at all. I have two boys, both are uncircumcised and it's never been a problem.

 

[hanni]

That video was funny!

 

[3chords]

Having a boy and will not circumcise. I honestly think it's barbaric and unnecessary.

The rates of circumcision in Canada are considerably down (and continuing to go even further down) so I have no concerns about being ridiculed or whatever.

 

[julesjules100]

Absolutely wouldn't do it to my son unless medically necessary. As long as good hygiene is taught and good sexual health practices when older (ie condoms) then I can't see any benefit in removing it. I wouldn't allow any part of a daughter's gentialia to be cut off so to me this is no different. If when he was older he wanted it removed then fine - it's his body so up to him. I haven't heard of many adult males though who would opt to do so without medical need....

I haven't read all the posts but I have read similar threads to this when I was pregnant with my toddler and I did find it baffling then how some ladies wanted to have it done so their sons matched their fathers. I find that attitude bizarre; perfectly healthy and normal tissue - leave it alone.

 

[CandiceSj]

I wouldn't do it and felt pretty strongly against circumcision, but I married my husband knowing that he's Muslim and it's considered an obligation of religious significance for them. In the end even if it tore me up, I just wasn't going to win this one. I really hope my new baby is a girl - I don't want to go through this experience again.

Edited to add: In Quebec it's rare for boys to be circ'd... I'm not sure if the rest of Canada is more like us or like USA but my dad and brother aren't and it's not a new thing. I kinda feel embarassed and ashamed at the pool, worried that someone will see my son's penis and judge us for circumcising him. I feel uncomfortable about the idea that the daycare instructors know that too.

 

[claire23rd]

I'm having a boy and wouldn't dream of doing this unless medically needed

 

[marigold91]

Before having kids, I didn't have a strong opinion on the matter. Now that I'm a mom, there is no way I would ever consent to modify my child's body in any way without their explicit permission and understanding when they are of age (this includes piercing a baby girl's ears - my daughter is 4 and has been asking for it and I *still* think I'd wait another year to make sure she knows what she really wants).

I read an article during my first pregnancy written like a parent taking their kid to the plastic surgeon to get a nose job - for cosmetic purposes, for religious purposes, etc. I couldn't believe what I was reading, then when I got to the end of the article, it explained to go back and re-read, but instead of nose job, put in the word circumcision. It was incredibly eye-opening and a GREAT metaphor - circumcision really IS just like getting your baby a nose job.

 

[love.peace]

Cutting off any part of the body without strong medical reason is abuse!

 

[crazycatlady5]

Hasn't really been a big issue for us. We are having a boy so I just asked my husband what he thought, being the one more familiar with penis's, haha, and he just said he had no religious reason to, as I understand it's common in some religions.

So we're not going to.

 

[we can't wait]

I absolutely would not have my son cut. Just a little research on the subject can really open your eyes!

 

[rmsh1]

We are having a boy this time around and no circumcision will occur. It is not very common in NZ anyway and I just think if there is no reason to do it, we won't

 

[BrandiCanucks]

I vote NOT!

Both of my boys are circumcised. My older son has horrible dryness and itching on his penis that would not be there is he had his foreskin.

My second son almost died from his.

A few MONTHS after his circumcision, he began screaming in unbelievable pain every time he tried to pee. We went to the doctor who found that scar tissue had grown over his urinary opening making it difficult for him to completely empty his bladder. The condition is called Meatal Stenosis. It is a common circumcision complication, but isn't normally associated with circumcision because it doesn't normally present until the boy begins toilet training and shows symptoms (angled urination, pain while urinating, excessive force while urinating, a feeling of always having to go, unable to completely empty the bladder, frequent accidents, and more). The only treatment is another surgery, a cut, to open up the urinary opening. Another surgery to fix what wasn't broken in the first place.

He was diagnosed with meatal stenosis when he was 6 months old and at 7 months old, he developed a severe penile and kidney infection and was hospitalized on antibiotics for a week. He endured daily blood tests, ultrasounds, VCUGs (catheter through the penis to inject dye and look for kidney issues), several IVs and pokes, xrays, exams. It was a VERY painful experience for him. The doctors and nurses could only thread a 24 week preemie catheter through his penis...at 7 months old. That is how severe the meatal stenosis was. When they thread the first catheter to empty his bladder, I cried. It was the first look of relief on his face I had seen in a long time. The amount of urine that flowed out of my little boy was like Niagara Falls. There was so much urine trapped, all because he couldn't completely empty. The hole was just too small and it was too painful. They discussed surgery to correct it, but opted not to at that point because he was still so small that they may open him up too much and require a third surgery to correct it again. He just turned 1, and will have the surgery in a year or two, unless he becomes severely sick like that again sooner. He has to be followed by nephrology for kidney damage due to reflux and infections, urology to insert a catheter every few months to keep the urinary opening open so that he can properly urinate, lessening the risk of UTIs and kidney infections, and so they can decide when they finally go in to correct it.

That "little snip" is just NOT worth it. Mopre than 70% of the world's men are intact without any issues. It seems only American penises have problems. Parents who says their boys are fine with theirs, you don't know that. Asher was fine too, for a few months. MANY boys are fine for a few years, until the meatal stenosis presents itself. If girls get a UTI, we don't thinks to cut off pieces of her genitals, we give her antibiotics. Why should a boy be any different because he has different anatomy? Medically necessary circumcision carries a less than 1% chance of being needed. In fact, there is a MUCH higher chance of your child needing an appendectomy, tonsillectomy, or adenoidectomy, but we don't go around routinely removing those body parts unless and UNTIL they cause a problem and ONLY AFTER all other treatment options have been exhausted. Why is the foreskin different?

Boys are not supposed to be retractable until age 10 or even puberty. Forced retraction is what leads to infections and complications. If, on the rare chance a boy has true phimosis, it is easily treatable with a few weeks of a steroid cream.

There are so many less invasive, non-painful options for treating any rare conditions that arise from being intact. I HUGELY regret circumcising both my boys, and any future boys I have will be left intact. Thankfully, more and more American and Canadian parents are choosing to leave their boys intact as well, as they learn that the foreskin is actually beneficial, and an intact penis is MUCH easier to clean. Wipe like a finger. That's it! Those considering circumcision, I urge you to spend half an hour watching The Elephant In The Hospital on Youtube. It's a very informative, non-biased video on circumcision. I wish I had watched it before my son was born. He would have been spared this pain and agony...and he has to live like this the rest of his life.

***Note...I haven't read all the comments, but this is my experience, my son's experience, and my research***

 

[amelia26]

How horrendous Brandi. I'm so sorry your son had those complications. I hope any mums to be considering circumcision for their sons read your post.

I hope your son's future operation goes well.x my son has had several operations in that area and the tests you described due to a urethral obstruction. He's 3 now and doing well. No utis for over 2 years and kidney function has returned to normal.

X