NationStates Jolt Archive

I was talking with a friend of mine a while ago, and as we both have sons the topic of circumcision came up. Without telling you who is for or against, what is your view? Necessary surgical procedure? Needless genital mutilation? I'd like to get a selection of responses. Thanks!

I have heard you enjoy sex more if you do it :rolleyes:
But my dick is still in one piece so who knows ;)

When I found out I was going to have a boy, the topic of circumcision had to be considered. I decided to do it mainly because it is my understanding that circumcision helps prevent infections and other potential health threats.

If I gambled, I’d put one hundred dollars on this thread becoming unnecessarily huge.

There is no really compelling reason to do it other than cultural or in serious cases where there is some medical need.

Man, we've had this conversation sooooo many times....

Needless genital mutilation
.

There hasn't been any real medical evidence either way.

Meh, I say there's no point to circumcision. I say let the guy make up his own mind when he's old enough.

Unnecessary surgery, unless you expect the child to have serious hygeine problems.

(Sniffles) God, I miss my foreskin...

Probably not... it's...well, it kind of really squicks me... :p

I'm not against it, but I don't think it should be done on children. It's too big of a needless cosmetic, and functional, alteration to be done to them without their consent for no reason.

Not being a male, I don't know. There have been some studies suggesting that it's healthier to be circumcized and some women have said they prefer a circumcized man to an uncut one. It's really up to you, it's not big of a deal despite the big issue some people make of it. No actual consequences but I'd say if you want some minor benefits, go along with the circumcision.

You should hear those poor little buggers scream when it's done to them. Doesn't appear to be pleasant.

Well, I was left uncircumsised when I was born but when I was 6, I developed a VERY painful infection in my foreskin, brought on after chafing from a long bike ride. I then had the uneviable task of getting circumsised at the age of 6 . It hurt like hell. Do it now to save pain later on.

I was talking with a friend of mine a while ago, and as we both have sons the topic of circumcision came up. Without telling you who is for or against, what is your view? Necessary surgical procedure? Needless genital mutilation? I'd like to get a selection of responses. Thanks!
Well, seeing as how my mother and father decided not to circumsize my brother, and he seems to be perfectly healthy, I don't see any reason (other than religious) for it.

Well, I was left uncircumsised when I was born but when I was 6, I developed a VERY painful infection in my foreskin, brought on after chafing from a long bike ride. I then had the uneviable task of getting circumsised at the age of 6 . It hurt like hell. Do it now to save pain later on.

Although I feel your pain, I'd guess that your case is atypical.

Well there is consequences. There are dangers to circumcision. Death is one, and complications like infection are another.
Complications like urethral fistula from too deep an incision, bleeding which can lead to exsanguination, followed by hypovolemic shock, followed by death. Also, in extreme cases there is a loss of the entire phallus. Here is a link to some more studies:

http://www.cirp.org/library/complications/

Well, I was left uncircumsised when I was born but when I was 6, I developed a VERY painful infection in my foreskin, brought on after chafing from a long bike ride. I then had the uneviable task of getting circumsised at the age of 6 . It hurt like hell. Do it now to save pain later on.

That's an extremely rare occurrence.

Pointless. Just teach them to wash, and they'll be fine.

Plus it makes jerking off harder. :mad:

I suppose I've given away that I'm anti-circumcision, but there is a lot to be said for just leaving that poor little penis alone.
I've read somewhere that the foreskin keeps the head of the penis from drying out and rubbing against clothing which can cause microtears; hence an entryway for bacteria and viruses. I'll see if I can dig up the article source.

ahh, here it is: http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/

I was talking with a friend of mine a while ago, and as we both have sons the topic of circumcision came up. Without telling you who is for or against, what is your view? Necessary surgical procedure? Needless genital mutilation? I'd like to get a selection of responses. Thanks!

Needless genital mutilation. There is little evidence of medical benefit. Most arguments for it are related to cosmetics and this obviously would cease to be a benefit if we stopped doing it. If it were routine to give children nosejobs, I would still never do it. It's an unnecessary surgery for a child that cannot be properly reversed. It's a horrible thing to do to a child. The opinion of a circumcized man.

Needless genital mutilation. There is little evidence of medical benefit. Most arguments for it are related to cosmetics and this obviously would cease to be a benefit if we stopped doing it. If it were routine to give children nosejobs, I would still never do it. It's an unnecessary surgery for a child that cannot be properly reversed. It's a horrible thing to do to a child. The opinion of a circumcized man.

I agree with you but there are options: http://www.cirp.org/pages/restore.html

Well, I wouldn't call it genital mutilation (just too crass a word for something like this), but I wouldn't advise anyone to do it as long as its not due to severe complications.
If it's about infections, and the easier-too-clean argument, well, then you could also argue to chop off your fingers (so hard to get the black stuff out of under your nails!) or have your belly button removed, etc.
There is also another argument I could bring in favor of not circumcising (which some use also as a case agains), but I doubt any parent would want to hear it.

Actually in infant boys it is not advised to retract the foreskin. It is actually adhered fairly tightly to the glans and actually protects against E.coli bacterial infections. When my son was still in diapers I always cleaned him up with a wipe and used it as a barrier between myself and him. You never know what you can get on your hands!

I can speak anecdotally. i'm circumsized. my brother is not--my parents decided to go "au naturale". when we were kids, he would get infections from time to time. i never had a problem. i plan to have it done if i have boys. i recommend it.

I can speak anecdotally. i'm circumsized. my brother is not--my parents decided to go "au naturale". when we were kids, he would get infections from time to time. i never had a problem. i plan to have it done if i have boys. i recommend it.

I live in a culture where circumcision is rare outside muslim and jewish communities, and, well, I've never heard of anyone having infections. None of my friends have had them. I have never had them. Looking at statistics, the infection rate is very low. So, yeah, anecdotal...

I can speak anecdotally. i'm circumsized. my brother is not--my parents decided to go "au naturale". when we were kids, he would get infections from time to time. i never had a problem. i plan to have it done if i have boys. i recommend it.
What on earth was your brother doing to get an infection?

In my opinion, it's an unneccessary procedure. Especially for a baby who has no say in whether he loses part of his penis or not.

A sort of funny story; I took my daughter to get her ears pierced and the piercing guy told me he had reservations about piercing the ears of an infant. I thought about it and told him when she was older, she could always let the holes close up if it bothered her. He said it was more an issue of her not being able to give her consent. I acknowledged his point and told him no one bothered getting the consent of baby boys who were circumcised and that seemed a much bigger procedure than an ear piercing. He reluctantly agreed and pierced my daughters ears.

I agree with you but there are options: http://www.cirp.org/pages/restore.html

I know there are options but none are the same as being intact. And for those who keep calling it uncircumcized. It's not. It's just normal. There is a NORMAL penis and a circumcized penis.

A sort of funny story; I took my daughter to get her ears pierced and the piercing guy told me he had reservations about piercing the ears of an infant. I thought about it and told him when she was older, she could always let the holes close up if it bothered her. He said it was more an issue of her not being able to give her consent. I acknowledged his point and told him no one bothered getting the consent of baby boys who were circumcised and that seemed a much bigger procedure than an ear piercing. He reluctantly agreed and pierced my daughters ears.

You had your infant's ears pierced? Now, that is just fucked up, right there.

Actually it's very common where my mother's family is from (Ecuador). It's done when a girl is an infant, because they can't pull on the earring and cause an infection. My daughters ears are just fine. I appreciate that this horrifies you, but I considered the situation and made sure I did my research to prevent the most amount of pain and harm.

I know there are options but none are the same as being intact. And for those who keep calling it uncircumcized. It's not. It's just normal. There is a NORMAL penis and a circumcized penis.

Jocabia, I didn't mean to make light of something that bothers you. Please accept my apologies.

You had your infant's ears pierced? Now, that is just fucked up, right there.
I agree. I find the very idea disturbing and disgusting. Is society really so image-centric that we must have our children wearing... *gags* jewlery at less than a year old?

Also, consider the fact that your son might be transgendered. He may want reassignment surgery in the future, and circumcision gives the surgeon, er, less to "work with".

Not to mention a foreskin is a great help when it comes to aiming.
Morning wood? No problem.

What?.....

[QUOTE=Fass]I'm not against it, but I don't think it should be done on children. It's too big of a needless cosmetic, and functional, alteration to be done to them without their consent for no reason.[/QUOTE

That is what I think also.

I agree. I find the very idea disturbing and disgusting. Is society really so image-centric that we must have our children wearing... *gags* jewlery at less than a year old?


Well no one I know seems to have a problem with it. It's not like I have diamond studs in her ears! I'm sorry you feel I'm being image-centric.
I suppose this is what is meant by parental autonomy.


Also, consider the fact that your son might be transgendered. He may want reassignment surgery in the future, and circumcision gives the surgeon, er, less to "work with".

This is not a reason to remove a viable organ from his body. But less to work with is quite accurate. An erect penis uses foreskin to stretch. Therefore depending on how much they cut off during the procedure the penis may never reach full erection.

Health Benefit: Lowers STD risk...I know HIV was one, but not sure if it includes more.

More modern and commonplace.

Health Benefit: Lowers STD risk...I know HIV was one, but not sure if it includes more.

Yet to be sufficiently confirmed, and is very much contested and counterdicted.

More modern and commonplace.

No, no it isn't commonplace (what place are you talking about?), and, no, it isn't modern.

Circumcision and HIV infection: review of
the literature and meta-analysis
R. S. Van Howe MD FAAP
Department of Pediatrics, Marshfield Clinic, Lakeland Center, USA

Summary: Thirty-five articles and a number of abstracts have been published in the medical literature looking at the relationship between male circumcision and HIV infection. Study designs have included geographical analysis, studies of high risk patients, partner studies and random population surveys. Most of the studies have been conducted in Africa. A meta-analysis was performed on the 29 published articles where data were available. When the raw data are combined, a man with a circumcised penis is at greater risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV than a man with a non-circumcised penis (odds ratio (OR)=1.06, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.01-1.12). Based on the studies published to date, recommending routine circumcision as a prophylactic measure to prevent HIV infection in Africa, or elsewhere, is scientifically unfounded.

This is not a reason to remove a viable organ from his body. But less to work with is quite accurate. An erect penis uses foreskin to stretch. Therefore depending on how much they cut off during the procedure the penis may never reach full erection.
No, you didn't understand me right.

I was using that as a minor argument against circumcision...that if he ever decided on that surgery, the surgeon would have less to construct a vagina out of.

I probably should have said "but circumcision gives..." instead of "and circumcision gives..."

No, you didn't understand me right.

I was using that as a minor argument against circumcision...that if he ever decided on that surgery, the surgeon would have less to construct a vagina out of.

I probably should have said "but circumcision gives..." instead of "and circumcision gives..."

Ahhh, sorry about that, my bad!

Jocabia, I didn't mean to make light of something that bothers you. Please accept my apologies.

You didn't offend me and there is no need to apologize. I will consider it a victory, however, if your child remains intact. I think we would have many more supporters though if this practice was extended to women and we were removing the clitoral hood.

I dunno which I'd prefer. I do know that I feel very fortunate to have had the decision made for me before I became cognizant, and that I'd sure as heck not allow myself get hacked on at this stage in life.
AK

It is healthier to become circumcised. And at birth.

It is healthier to become circumcised. And at birth.
Says who?

Jocabia, that's actually one of the reasons I made my choice. It was put to me like this:

Imagine you go into the hospital for a routine procedure. Upon awaking, you discover you are in pain in your genital area. When you ask the doctor about it he says nonchalantly "oh we just remove that because it's extraneous skin, and you can be cleaner and safer without it, besides it serves no real purpose."

After that I did more research and when I saw the pictures of complications and severed infant penises, that did it. Well, and then he was born at home, so it was really easy to just not take him to the hospital. *shudder*

It is healthier to become circumcised. And at birth.
Would you care to provide proof of that?

Circumcision in straight men seems to reduce the risk of contacting HIV (African Studies)
Circumcision in homosexual men seems to increase the risk of contacting HIV (American Studies).

So, obviously, base your circumcision decision of whether or not your child is going to be gay. :p

I don't know how many people here that are responding have sons that they have needed to make this decision about. Below is the site that made me keep my son intact. Yes it is graphic so only visit if you have a strong stomach. Is it dramatic and overblown? Maybe. But there are real people on there, and if it affected them this much, wouldn't it warrent further consideration?

http://www.sexuallymutilatedchild.org/

I think circumcision is completely unneccessary. I've never suffered from any infections & I don't know anyone who has. If it becomes neccessary later on, so be it, but I can't see why it would.

Circumcision in straight men seems to reduce the risk of contacting HIV (African Studies)
Circumcision in homosexual men seems to increase the risk of contacting HIV (American Studies).

So, obviously, base your circumcision decision of whether or not your child is going to be gay. :p
And it doesn't matter anyway... if your child is still gay at three years old, you can simply beat him to death. It's the right thing to do.

Well both my kids are awake now, so I won't be able to respond to anything for a while. I'll check back later. Thanks to everyone who responded to the topic.

I had no choice I couldn't pee thats all I remember apart from the nurse giving me carton after carton of ribena to try and squeeze my bladder out, in the end it came of, its cleaner i've been told and when I wear silk boxers its quite funny :D

God it's embarrassing, my friends like to have a laugh about it LOL

Circumcision in straight men seems to reduce the risk of contacting HIV (African Studies)
Circumcision in homosexual men seems to increase the risk of contacting HIV (American Studies).

So, obviously, base your circumcision decision of whether or not your child is going to be gay. :p

Wow, three different kinds of ignorant in that post.

Circumcision and HIV infection: review of
the literature and meta-analysis
R. S. Van Howe MD FAAP
Department of Pediatrics, Marshfield Clinic, Lakeland Center, USA

Summary: Thirty-five articles and a number of abstracts have been published in the medical literature looking at the relationship between male circumcision and HIV infection. Study designs have included geographical analysis, studies of high risk patients, partner studies and random population surveys. Most of the studies have been conducted in Africa. A meta-analysis was performed on the 29 published articles where data were available. When the raw data are combined, a man with a circumcised penis is at greater risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV than a man with a non-circumcised penis (odds ratio (OR)=1.06, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.01-1.12). Based on the studies published to date, recommending routine circumcision as a prophylactic measure to prevent HIV infection in Africa, or elsewhere, is scientifically unfounded.

Also, 18% of HIV-infected people in the US are heterosexual. Granted that's not proportionate to the population, but it still points to the fact that you're way off-base here.

Circumsicion is a pointless procedure that was designed to halt masturbation in boys.

If it did prevent health problems, then why don't a lot of animals have diseased penises?

Sorry if this has been said before.

I have heard you enjoy sex more if you do it :rolleyes:
But my dick is still in one piece so who knows ;)


The opposite is true, I'm glad my dick is still whole and true!

Oh, if a kid wants to get a circumcision, then they should be able to. Parents should not be allowed to choose at birth.