to circumcise or not? Opinions please!

@wendee (359)
Canada
May 3, 2007 10:52am CST
I have been getting lot of lfack for not circumsising my sons. Apparently my whole family is circumsised and of course they all think it shold be done. My husband is not and doesnt think it should be done. We talked about it a lot (my husband and I) and decided not to get the boys done. I have heard about boys getting infections but from all that i have read they were caused by not cleaning it properly (like your not supposed to pull the foreskin back, if you do then water and soap will get in and not be able to get out and cause an infection). What are you opinions? Did I do the right thing? I tlaked to my ob/gyn and the peditrician and they both told me that it was not nessasary and it was mostly just done for 'show'
6 people like this
13 responses
@peaceful (3294)
• United States
3 May 07
I'm a male who is totally against circumcisions as they tend to cause needless irriation and injury to the male child... Nature placed that skin there for a very good reason, plus there is a neural network there that allows for greater enjoyment of Love when the time comes... In my opinion, this might make make difference in a man's overall health, and outlook on life, but that's just me.
@eden32 (3973)
• United States
10 May 07
ROCK ON Peaceful :) Agree 100%
@Calais (10893)
• Australia
4 May 07
I have an 8 month old boy and he is not done. It never even entered my mind to get him done. Hardly anyone I know is done. Like you said everyone gets theirs done so they dont get infections. Well there is a simple solution. Spend the time with your child and teach him how to clean it properly. I think you did the right thing no matter what anyone says. God has put it there for a reason, your born with it so why interfere with nature.
3 people like this
@amoreco (180)
• United States
3 May 07
I come from south america, where people don't circunsise,and i always heard problens.Infections,pain...a lot of boys would do it later, and the longer you wait to do, more painful it will be.I circumcise my son right after birth,and I don't regret.If you want to avoid problems in the future,the best thing is to do it.Some peolpe don't do it for religious reasons,and i understand.
3 people like this
@wmaharper (2316)
• United States
3 May 07
I really think it's a personal descision. I have two boys, and we did it to both, b/c their daddies is circumsized. I think nowadays, there are so many children and adults whom don't have a circumsision, that it's not really a big deal either way. Like I said, I think it should be based on personal preference, whether you want to or not.
3 people like this
• Philippines
4 May 07
I have 3 boys and I have already had one of them circumcised... I think that boys should be circumcised at the right age. I don't know how your husband can say he wasn't circumcised when he conceived children with you. In my studies in the medical field some babies born are circumcised right after they give the child to their mother. maybe he just didn't know he wasn't? Anyways, having a circumcision is really a bit hard to handle..to avoid infection one has to take the proper medications for it. They should also handle it with clean hands when they are dressing it. You shouldn't wash it after circumcision you have to wait for a week for it to heal a little before you wet it. You just clean it with what your doctor suggest. Infection can be prevented if you handle everything in a clean way. I am not sure why your ob and Pediatrician says it's only for show..Maybe you should ask for a second opinion.
@mememama (3076)
• United States
4 May 07
I think a man would know if he's circumcized or not, there's a huge difference.
1 person likes this
@eden32 (3973)
• United States
10 May 07
wow- I just don't even know how to respond. Not all men are circumcised. I think it's safe to say, all men know whether they were done or not. It is only for show. There is no legit reason to cut boys at birth.
• United States
4 May 07
i think all males should be circumcised. It is more cleanly and looks much better. Uncircumcised p enises look like they belong on an animal and later on in life when your boys become intimate, this is a huge turn off for a lot of women. Also, they will recieve a lot of grief over it when their friends find out. It just isn't very cleanly and doesn't look very good if they are not snipped.
@eden32 (3973)
• United States
10 May 07
What an absurd argument. I happen to think lip piercings are sexy, so should I demand all men have their lips pierced to please my eyes??? Have you ever seen a botched circumcision? I've seen two; it's not real attractive.
• United States
4 May 07
Agreed! Unless you're in a country where uncut is the norm, most women are going to be turned off at best, repulsed at worst by it. We had our son circumsized the day after he was born. It never crossed my mind not to; it's just the norm in my family and my husband's. I'm glad I did, though - I can only imagine how awful it would be to have a lover turned off by the uncut version, since circumcision is normal here. I have been on the other side of that. I dated a guy from the other side of the world who was uncut. I found it unpleasant and a huge turn-off; in the back of my head all I could think about was all the nasty things that could get trapped in that extra skin.
@starr4all (2863)
3 May 07
I think it's the parents decision. I have two boys and one on the way. They are circumsized and my new son will be too. Personally, I think it's more for health than anything. But also, I don't want to run the risk of having my sons austracized for not. It's not right, but that's how society is today.
2 people like this
@eden32 (3973)
• United States
10 May 07
You don't think it's important to install a sense of pride in being an individual in your sons? We are society- if we don't challenge what we don't agree with nothing would ever change.
• Italy
4 May 07
Why do you would to do that? NO!
1 person likes this
@lisado (1227)
• United States
4 May 07
While we chose to circumcise our sons, it was our choice. My husband and I talked about it and decided what we wanted done. It's none of anyone else's business, family or otherwise. No one else (except the dr) needs to be consulted. It's a personal decision between you and your husband. As long as you teach them how to keep themselves clean (which should be done with all children, not just un-circumcised ones) what's the big deal? Should it be done? That depends on each family. Everyone has their own view of if it should be done. There is no right or wrong answer here. It's something you opted not to do and your family needs to understand that and get over it.
1 person likes this
@mememama (3076)
• United States
3 May 07
You did the right thing! You probably opened a big can of worms here lol, but I believe it's best to leave them intact. Circumcision is cosmetic surgery, that's why some insurances don't cover it. My husband has had no problems with his foreskin and he's 27 years old. Meanwhile, my father is circ'd (I only know this because my grandma proudly displays the receipt for the procedure in his baby book) and he has chronic urinary tract infections. It's not even recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics ;) Just in case anyone will say that since it usually comes up http://www.aap.org/advocacy/archives/marcircum.htm “Circumcision is not essential to a child’s well-being at birth, even though it does have some potential medical benefits. These benefits are not compelling enough to warrant the AAP to recommend routine newborn circumcision
• Malaysia
4 May 07
erm.. in my opinion.. to circumcise or not.. it depends on the boy opinion.. it shouldn't be the parents opinion.. and yes. .parents can always discuss this with their children.. and let them make their own decision.. of course.. have to tell them about infections and the process of circumcising.. right? ...i think circumcise or not will make very little difference as some people didn't circumcise and they didn't get any infection in their private parts.. i'm lucky to be on of the person now... i do have friends that circumcise.. and they advised me to do it too.. i think i'll consider someday.. =)
1 person likes this
@jalbeos (1175)
• Philippines
4 May 07
Yes, go circumsized your son.
19 May 13
It's a personal choice. I feel if a parent chooses to get this done they should research everything & not get it done just because someone else is. Just know the facts. I don't think parents should be bashed on either choice. As long as its done within the first 4 months of life & not an older child, I'm not against it. As for being cleaner, well either way you need to teach the correct way to clean. Even circumcised people have to clean well. Circumcision isn't done so you don't have to clean it! There is actual health benefits involved if your research. Circumcised men have a less chance of infections, yes, but also they reduce the cancer risk. So it's not just a religious thing are because it's a hygiene issue. There is some good out of it. But again, do it or don't do it. It's the parents choice. It's not abuse. Just do your research and talk to several doctors, not mylotters. By the way, you will have to pull the skin back either way. Just learn to wash it right, plus dry. You can't just clean the outside.