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hot topics

Q: Should we circumcise?

Posted Monday, September 17, 2007 5:47 PM

Q: I've heard so many different things about circumcision- should we do it? Will it hurt him?  

A: Sorry, no should or shouldn’t here. The opinions are endless (google circumcision-you’ll see), but according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it’s your call. Some things to consider: 

•Circumcised penises are easier to keep clean.

•A circumcised boy has a 1 in 1,000 chance of getting a UTI. Left uncircumcised, his risk is 1 in 100.

•STDs like syphilis, HPV and HIV are more common in uncircumcised men. But, teach your son about condoms and hygiene, and his risk goes way down (with or without foreskin).

•Penile cancer, though extremely rare, is more common in uncircumcised men.

•Heard the one about circumcision decreasing sexual pleasure? No hard facts supporting it.

•Foreskin can get inflamed or become too tight. But, it also protects the penis from irritation.

•Circumcision is surgery. About 1 in 500 newborns have minor bleeding, pain, irritation or infection.

•Yes, it hurts. If you circumcise, insist on a local anesthetic -- an injection or topical cream -- to keep baby comfy. A pacifier dipped in sugar water will also calm him down.

•Today, about 60% of newborn boys are circumcised. No matter what you decide, baby will be just fine in the locker room.

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Posted by Paula K
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Comments

re: Q: Should We Circumcise?

Wow, lots of good points.  Here's some links that you might also find useful:

Here is a video link of a circumcision if it would help:

www.circumcisionvancouver.com

I have done a lot of research on circumcision and thought this would help;

http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/index.php?feed=Science&article=UPI-1-20070307-12451700-bc-us-circumcise.xml

http://www.physorg.com/news86339340.html

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1141513

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/fishman/2006/circumcision.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15593753/

http://www.circinfo.com/parents_guide/gfp.html

even the World health Organization is recommending it now:

http://www.who.int/hiv/mediacentre/news68/en/index.html

http://www.who.int/entity/hiv/mediacentre/MCrecommendations_en.pdf

Hope it was okay to pass that on to you,

Sara

Posted by sarr115    Monday, June 25, 2007 2:41 AM


re: Q: Should We Circumcise?

Interesting stuff. I grew up in an area of the country where pretty much everyone is circumcised, so I just always thought that's what everyone did. However, I am now marrying a man from another culture where circumcision is not so common, and he is pretty adamant about NOT having his sons (those hypothetical future sons) circumcised. I've read up on the facts, and I honestly don't have a problem with leaving that foreskin on my babies. I'm sure we'll have a serious discussion about it again when the time comes, but for now I'm assuming we won't do it.

Posted by Erin W    Friday, October 12, 2007 10:24 AM


re: Q: Should We Circumcise?

While it may be true that 60% of American men are circumcised, most men around the world aren't. I watched a video of a child being circumcised from a medical website, and that did it for me. If I have a son, he will be left intact. I didn't realize that until boys are several years old the foreskin is attached to the glands. This gradually loosens, and no one but the boy himself should pull this back the first time. When they circumcise a baby or young boy, they stick a metal instrument in the foreskin and use it to rip the connecting tissue, then they cut down the length of the foreskin and flay it open. In the video I saw, the baby had screamed so much, by the time they actually cut off the foreskin it was quiet. It is a long, nasty procedure. And sugar water is all many of these babies get.  I would not consider it any more than I'd consider having my infant daughter's genitals cut. Urinary tract infections are easily treated, the cancer is extremely rare, and no one should use STDs as an excuse, use protection! No medical community will tell you this should be done for medical reasons, it is just a common cultural feature here.

Posted by paulo_n_courtnina    Friday, November 23, 2007 4:00 PM


re: Q: Should We Circumcise?

"Sorry, no should or shouldn’t here."

Looks to me like most of the facts provided here lean toward circumcision.

Posted by AmandaHearn    Sunday, February 03, 2008 8:02 AM


re: Q: Should we circumcise?

We circ'd our son. Twice. He had a medical need. I have posted this before only to have someone tell me that there was no medical need for a child to be circ'd.

The skin was growing over the head of my son's penis. It made it next to impossible for him to urinate. This was a problem that had to be solved twice.

If our next child has the same medical issues, then yes, we will be circ'ing him as well.

Posted by babygirl809    Wednesday, October 01, 2008 2:36 PM


re: Q: Should we circumcise?

I feel like I am stuck here. Personally I don't believe or care for circumcision. My first sone who is almost 4 was not circumscised (neither was his father) and has no issues. I am now engaged to someone else and we are trying to concieve. He HATES the idea of having his son not be circumscised. I don't feel like this is an issue that I can back down on though.

Posted by jpowell3    Friday, October 24, 2008 10:23 AM


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