Your view on circumcision.

[starshinebby]

Can I ask everyone some questions?

What are your thoughts/views on circumcision in male infants? Would you have your son circumcised? Why or why not? Are you basing your decision on?

It would help lots if I could just get some opinions on this, even if you aren't currently pregnant with a boy. I'm reading a lot of articles and medical journals on the subject, but would like some input from some people on here as well. Thank you.

 

[special_kala]

not your penis not your decision as far as im concerned

 

[Sarahrei]

I'm against it. Always have been, always will be. In fact I know someone who is currently restoring his foreskin. Foreskin is there for a reason. I don't think it's the parents right to remove it without consent of the child.

 

[Melisa1985]

I say it's good for the kid...I know a lil baby who wasn't circumcised and ended up being urinary track infections like 2-3 times in the ER the first year of its life, especially in the first few months, than the parents circumcised him and he hasn't had the problem at all anymore. No more UTI's. But of course it's all a personal view and what both parents want. Me and hubby would def. circumcise if it's a boy.

 

[Vidal0123]

I am 100% for it! My son will be circumsized. I will not state my reasons because it could cause an argument. I also think the penis looks and feels better circumsized.

 

[AdriansMama]

i am for it 110% !! i had my sons penis one an if this one is a boy his will get done too ...

 

[cupcake0406]

This is def an interesting thread and I hadn't thought of this until you posted it. At what age do you usually get then done though? Don't think I could put my son through the pain!! After my partner was done at a young age and got an infection he still recalls the pain now xx

 

[Jess137]

If we ever have a son, we would not have him circumcised. None of the men in my husband's family are circumcised including him. On the other hand all the men/boys in my family have been circumcised. I have been with men who are circumcised before DH, and there is no difference as far as cleanliness goes. DH is also way more sensitive than any if the circumcised men I was with before. I also don't know any un circumcised men who have had any health problems because of it. Personally I don't see any reason to go cutting off a part of my baby's body, I figure if they didn't need it they wouldn't have been born with it. Same reason I wouldn't pierce my daughters ears until she is old enough to ask for it and take care of the piercings. All that said, I don't condemn anyone who decides to do it. Everyone has to do what they think is best for their own child.

 

[summer rain]

I'm for it and all my boys were circumcised using the latest techniques and pain relief/anaesthetic methods by highly qualified urologist surgeons with up to 30 years experience in the NHS and privately. I wouldn't be happy to have it done by a regular run of the mill family doctor or paediatrician as I don't believe they are specialist enough. My reasons are both religious and for health reasons. My family are atheists but believe circumcision is better. We also arranged a circumcision for a teenage member of OH's family as his mum had decided to leave it up to him and he had always wanted it done we assumed the clinic he went to must mainly have religious clients but we soon realised that he was the only religious/ethnic client they had had, most of their clients were white, non religious English men and boys of various ages and they said to us there was an increasing demand for their services xx

 

[Nevaie]

When I was pregnant with my son I discussed the pros and cons a little bit with my (male) PCP. I looked up information online too but in the end I left the decision entirely up to my son's father. Being a woman and not having one of those parts I just didn't feel comfortable making a decision about what would happen with it. Just as I have no intention of letting him make certain private decisions about our future daughter. It works for our family but only you can decide what's best for yours.

 

[Seity]

I'm for it. I had my 1st son done when he was less than 24 hours old. They did it right there at the hospital and I was right there for the procedure. We're having another boy and will definitely be having him done as well. Again, right there at the hospital after the birth and before we head home.

 

[starshinebby]

This is def an interesting thread and I hadn't thought of this until you posted it. At what age do you usually get then done though? Don't think I could put my son through the pain!! After my partner was done at a young age and got an infection he still recalls the pain now xx

Usually they do it within 48 hours of your baby being born or before you take him home. Most doctors do use some form of local anesthesia.

 

[starshinebby]

I know when, where, and how they do it.

What I'm interested in is why you are choosing this for your son.

If people aren't mature enough to not respect someone's opinion and in turn start an argument about their opinion, please don't bother replying to that person. I want to know the why.

Was it for religious reasons? So your son would look like his father/brother/peers and feel "normal" about the way his genitals look like? For medical reasons? Just because that's what people in your area do?

 

[cupcake0406]

Thanks starshinebby I didn't realise they could do it so soon, I guess it wouldn't be so bad then as they would still be tiny. Is that in England also that they do it so soon? I think it was more then infection the pain caused to my partner rather than the procedure itself. I will have to look into this as indefinitely know its cleaner and healthier in the long run as that's the reason he had to have it done in the first place and I couldn't bare having my son done at an older age! Xx

 

[starshinebby]

I'm against it. Always have been, always will be. In fact I know someone who is currently restoring his foreskin. Foreskin is there for a reason. I don't think it's the parents right to remove it without consent of the child.

I've read articles about foreskin restoration. And it's a very interesting point to be made. Which brings to mind a previous poster's comment, "Not your penis, not your decision."

 

[alicecooper]

I'd never have my son circumcised.

 

[starshinebby]

Thanks starshinebby I didn't realise they could do it so soon, I guess it wouldn't be so bad then as they would still be tiny. Is that in England also that they do it so soon? I think it was more then infection the pain caused to my partner rather than the procedure itself. I will have to look into this as indefinitely know its cleaner and healthier in the long run as that's the reason he had to have it done in the first place and I couldn't bare having my son done at an older age! Xx

You're welcome. And I'm pretty sure that it's the same, unless it's being done for religious purposes, in which case it might be done in the church.

Also, please do your research. An uncircumcised penis is no more difficult to clean, it just takes an extra minute or two in the shower. And a male's foreskin doesn't retract until around age five, so it's just a matter of cleaning the area well during diaper changes and bath time before the foreskin is retractable.

 

[starshinebby]

I'd never have my son circumcised.

Any reason why?

 

[starshinebby]

Also, I think it's important to point out that there is such a thing as female circumcision that is hardly ever brought up. The procedures were referred to as female circumcision until the early 1980s, when the term "female genital mutilation" came into use. The term isn't commonly known now and we generally leave female babies intact (i.e., not cutting off the clitoris). If you think about it, we're doing the same to the males by cutting off the foreskin as they were cutting off the clitoris.

I know I'd be pretty damn upset knowing my parents made the decision to remove my clitoris as it is a primary pleasure spot in women. I couldn't imagine circumcising a female baby, so I'm wondering why should the thought of circumcising a male baby be any different? Opinions?

 

[_Lexi_]

I'd never have my son done. I have been with both circumcised and non circumcised men. There is no difference in cleanliness, that's just down to personal hygiene. I don't personally agree with unneccessary procedures being performed and removing a part of my baby. As someone else said, it's not my body, so why should I have the right to make that choice?? If it was needed to be done for medical reasons, that's an entirely different story and I would fully support that decision, but otherwise I think it's just unneccessary and cruel. Everyone is entitled to make their own informed decisions, and I fully respect other people's views, but for me and my partner, it's a big no. x