Pass the can opener because this particular can of worms is being opened again: circumcision.
The influential American Academy of Pediatrics has come out this week to state that the benefits of circumcision out-weigh the risks.
This is set to be big news in parenting and medical circles. Huge.
After falling dramatically in popularity over the past decade or two for reasons other than religious ones, this could very likely see a turnaround in the number of baby boys being circumcised.
Because this research is not about aesthetics – it’s about health benefits, which seem to be significant for both the boys themselves and their future sexual partners.
Some of the benefits for male circumcision that are said to outweigh possible complications: that hygiene is easier to maintain in circumcised men, that there’s a lower prevalence for sexually transmitted diseases, human papillomavirus and penile cancer, and that there are ‘no adverse effects’ on sexual function.
This from the Brisbane Times:
The surgical removal of the foreskin, now not routinely performed in most Australian public hospitals, offers more health benefits than risks, an evaluation of 10 years of evidence by the academy has found.
In a statement released yesterday, the academy said the benefits of newborn male circumcision justify access to this procedure “for families who choose it”.
It said benefits from male circumcision included the prevention of urinary tract infections, acquisition of HIV, transmission of some sexually transmitted infections, and penile cancer.
It said the procedure “does not appear to adversely affect penile sexual function/sensitivity or sexual satisfaction”.
The new stance is a significant change from the academy’s neutral position on the issue, which was last stated in 1999. That position, while recognising the health benefits of circumcision did not deem the procedure to be a medical necessity for the well-being of the child.
You can also find the RACP’s official position on circumcision here.
So, what are your thoughts on circumcision? For or against? What experience can you add to the debate?
Loading ...You can read more about the circumcision debate at our sister site iVillage here.
Comments
321 Comments so far
Parents circumcise their baby boys to get what they want, then the poor boys have to go through foreskin restoration later in life to get what they want.
I like this saying – Circumcision has always been and always will be an unnecessary practice looking for a medical justification.
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I was circumcised as a baby at birth. I hate being circumcised and always have. I am reminded of my circumcision every single day when I look at my mutilated penis, to me it is ugly and not what it should be. I wish my parents had just left my penis alone, they have done me no favours by having me circumcised. I often get depressed about it and there are no words to describe how I feel about being this way, it’s more than deep sadness, sometimes I feel so devastated that if I had a gun, I would put it to my head and shoot. I don’t want to live the rest of my life having no foreskin, it was what I was meant to have and it’s not there. I have always kept my body as natural as possible, nothing is missing or changed from the way I was born except my penis. I have therefore had an imperfect body all of my life. A penis is such an important body part for a man and for it to be less than it should be makes me feel inferior to men that have a foreskin. I have missed out on so much pleasure that other men have from their foreskins (friends have described the feeling and sensations they get) and I will never ever get to experience that same feeling. Every uncircumcised man I know is happy to be that way and would never want to be otherwise. So it looks like I am going to be miserable, sad and depressed for the rest of my life. I just want my foreskin back.
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Thank you for sharing your views on circumcision.
The beauty of the world is that we all like different things. Vive la différence!
I grew up in Australia born in a time when circumcision was routinely performed on almost all new born baby boys.
My father, uncles, cousins, friends, teachers and almost every man I saw had been circumcised.
I was not circumcised as my mother felt that it should be my choice even though she had never seen an uncircumcised penis until mine.
She told my sister when she was pregnant with her first son that she regretted not having me circumcised and encouraged her to have my nephew circumcised, which she did.
I always felt odd-man-out growing up and wished that I’d been circumcised as a baby boy.
I realised in my late teens, early twenties (when I saw other uncircumcised men and could compare my foreskin with theirs) that I did have an excessively long foreskin that overhung the end of my penis by two and a half inches.
My first partner encouraged me to look into having myself circumcised and found a surgeon who performed a circumcision on me whilst living in the USA.
My only regret about having a circumcision is that I did not have it done years earlier.
The experience I have is that it was a very simple procedure that did not involve any great discomfort and there has not been any loss of sensation, if fact, the opposite.
I feel less self conscious or embarrassed and glad that I finally bit the bullet and had it done.
I understand other men will feel differently but my experience was one which has only brought positives to my life.
I married when I was 28 years old and my fiancé is from a Turkish background where circumcision is universally accepted and performed on all adolescent boys and was thankful I had chosen to have myself circumcised as culturally she is strongly in favour of the procedure.
We have had twin boys three years after our marriage and I had no qualms at all that they would be circumcised at birth and that it was a decision that I knew would be beneficial to them throughout their lives.
They were circumcised at 12 days old using a Gomco clamp method by an experienced doctor in Sydney. The cosmetic result of their circumcisions is perfect.
I felt that, seeing as I was making this decision for my sons, I should be with them during their circumcisions and they did not display any behaviours indicative of feeling pain. They did have anaesthetic used and EMLA cream for a few hours before the procedure.
The doctor explained every step of the procedure to me and told me that he had chosen to have his sons circumcised and he felt that the benefits outweighed any risks which were very low.
My sons are now 14 years old and we have discussed circumcision together on a couple of occasions. I have asked them how they feel about the decision to circumcise them being taken away from them and how they feel about having had a circumcision.
They both have stated that they were thankful they were circumcised as they have a few friends who needed to be circumcised in adolescence due to recurring infections and phimosis.
They have said that at least 60-70% of the boys at the school they attend are circumcised and they have said that aesthetically they prefer a circumcised penis and even uncircumcised boys have told them they wished they had been circumcised as boys.
My wife’s family is proud we had our sons circumcised and I am sure if they had not been circumcised they would have felt less accepted.
This is my experience and am well aware that others will feel that I made the wrong decisions.
Circumcision is cleaner by far and in my personal experience has made the sexual experience far more pleasurable.
Again, thank you for sharing your opinions with us.
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I don’t have children, but I do have a number of ex bfs who weren’t circumcised and who had a number of issues with their foreskins due to them being too tight, being torn, etc. It caused them so much pain and trouble and it could have been avoided if they were circumcised at birth.
I understand that circumcision hurts the baby, and that’s not ideal (to say the least). But complications are extremely low, and the infant doesn’t remember it, so logically to me it seems like a good option if it can avoid the pain and complications in the future when they are grown, sexually active adults (at which time circumcision is a lot more risky, inconvenient and painful).
As for people comparing male circumcision with FGM – do some research on FGM and you’ll realise there’s just no comparison.
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What about those how bleed to death and get mitilated for life ,why put a child through this for cosmetic reasons
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Wow I’m glad that I read that. I didn’t know that because my son is circumcised he can’t get HIV or urinary tract infections. It’s very reassuring that if his girlfriend is on the pill that he doesn’t have to use a condom.
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Why is it ok to mutilate little boys when everyone knows its wrong for a girl..??? NOONE’S body should be touched until they are old enough to understand whats going on themselves and chose themselves.. its the 21st century. dont mutliate babies. simple.
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Can you get something through your head lease?
It’s not mutilation, it’s a pretty simple procedure that these days, is painless.
I totally reject and resent your assertion that a circumcised male is “mutilated”, You have no right to say things like that and insult the very large percentage of circumcised men.
We are not mutilated, we are normal.
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Who says it’s painless??
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Female circumcision effectively is disrupting women sexually by cutting them in a manner which makes sex painful and makes orgasm impossible and it has absolutely no health benefits. Male circumcision on the other hand is beneficial to their health and does not have an effect on their ability to have sex (unless something has gone terribly wrong – which is rare).
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This is so irresponsible and wrong for you guys to post this. It is completely unfounded and dangerous.
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looks like the full moon is bringing them out tonight.
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Yes, the American Academy of Pediatrics is such an unreliable source, no news source should ever write an article on their health recommendations. That would be so irresponsible and dangerous.
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I’ve seen my share of penises in my time (ahem), and I’d almost say half circumcised and half not.
Let’s just say if I ever have a baby boy, I want to get him circumcised. Purely because I’ve had some not very nice experiences in terms of cleanliness that has turned me right off.
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Or you could just teach your son how to retract his foreskin in the shower and clean underneath it, it’s not exactly difficult
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How about a fourth option in the poll that says –
Yes – When medically necessary
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After seeing my almost 4yr old nephew have to go through a circumcision at almost 4 last week, in agony, because his foreskin was too tight and he had multiple infections and just weeks ago was hospitalised because the tip of his penis turned black due to lack of blood flow, when my sister wanted it done at birth but couldn’t find a doctor to do it I completely believe in them
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I’m with Mohamed. Since before I had children, I knew this would be done. Our two boys will be circumcised according to our religious beliefs, my cultural beliefs and my partner’s own experience. We don’t care what anyone else thinks, we’re doing what we know to be best for our boys. The same beliefs that we have for vaccinations, public education and taking them to church. That said, my partner is uncircumcised and over the years he has expressed concerns of how uncomfortable it is ‘to look after’ since his late 20′s. Whatever decision other parents make, it is what they believe too. Do we need to judge each other over circumcision too… again?
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My sons were done at 3 days old. It was a non event. They fed and went to sleep. They certainly haven’t been traumatised in any way. Having said that, the doctor who did the procedure was Graeme Reeves. I handed my babies to a monster.
If circumcision prevents penile, vuvla, cervical and throat cancer then the benefits may outweigh the risks. Still on the fence.
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The regional court in Cologne ruled on Tuesday 26th June 2012 that child circumcision constituted ‘illegal bodily harm,’ even with parental consent. In the verdict, the court said that the ‘fundamental right of the child to bodily integrity outweighed the fundamental rights of the parents.’
The case came about after a four-year-old Muslim boy’s circumcision led to complications, and he checked back into hospital days later with severe bleeding.
Prosecutors then charged the physician – identified under German media practices only as Dr K. – who carried out the operation at the parents’ request with grievous bodily harm.
‘A child’s body is irreparably and permanently changed by a circumcision,’ the court said. ‘This change contravenes the interests of the child to decide later about his own religious affiliation.’ .
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Circumsition works.
Less infections and diseases ( anyone know how to keep a tight or long foreskin clean ? ) is the number one reason.
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Circumcision isn’t necessary (except in extreme medical cases – I get that).
STD’s can be contracted whether you’re cut or not. How can being circumcised prevent contracting an STD (of any kind)? Because it’s ‘cleaner’? No. The only way that a penis would be considered cleaner is because there is really nowhere for dirt and bodily fluids to be ‘trapped’, if not cleaned properly.
Those of us debating this topic, we’re not in a 3rd world country. We’re not living in the desert anymore. We don’t ride camels or horses everyday. We bathe regularly, have so many options on soaps, we wear underwear and ‘protective’ clothing.
The argument that ‘teenaged boys are generally unlean and don’t care about hygiene’ ?? Tell them that if they don’t keep their penis clean then there’s major repercussions. And if they don’t practice safe sex, there’s major repercussions there too!!
Just leave the foreskin alone. It has a purpose.
Both American sites, but a penis is a penis!
http://intactamerica.org/learnmore
http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/info/unnecessary.html
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Ever had a yeast infection, treated it, yet constantly kept getting it again because of your partners foreskin? Didn’t think so. You’d change your tune if it was the case.
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You needed to also have your husband treated for candida. I also had the same problem, but as soon as my husband was also treated problem over. You also need to be wary about oral sex because if you have a yeast infection and your husband goes down on you it gets it in his mouth and you get reinfected the next time you have oral sex. Maybe it was your husbands mouth and oral sex giving you yeast infections and not his uncircumcised penis.
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It annoys me that as parents we can no longer make decisions about the welfare of our children such as this or vaccination without someone judging us and telling us what a terrible person we are.
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Freedom… do you really want to be free or do you really want to let others tell you what you can and can’t do, do you really feel upset when others choose to do different things than you or think different thoughts than you, do you really think your opinion is the truth. Can we live together as individuals, or are we so shallow that we are afraid of what other people have to say or do. Fear leads to a lose of freedom and silly things like circumcision are Mia’s way of dividing and conquering your thoughts and hearts, while she reaps the bounty of hard cash, she loads us up with caffeine and we all drink it with eager anticipation.
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Genital mutilation, what are you a donkey with your head in the sand and your ass in the air for anyone to see? It’s a women’s choice, kill and mutilate the unborn child and yet a very simple and healthy decision that some people choose to make on behalf of their children is condemned as if it were a major criminal act…”mutilation” don’t be so over dramatic and if you want your children to uncircumcised so be it but really who cares what you have to say when you clearly don’t understand the very words you say and cannot destinquish between your emotion and a logical thinking process.
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Not everyone believes it is mutilation. It’s just an unnecessary cosmetic procedure to some.
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how is is NOT mutilation> the kid has no choice in the matter its just plain wrong..
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My OH has a medical condition called Phimosis which has been present from birth, however because it can’t be picked up at birth, his parent’s never opted for a circumscision. This condition is largely inherited and OH has said that should we have a son one day, he would like him to be circumscised. He says he would much rather have him done as an infant than having to suffer through an adult circumscision which is what my OH is on a waiting list for. He says best to get it over and done with when our son is younger and before he knows any different so there won’t be an adjustment period and so there are no painful accidents which can cause irrepairable damage. I am happy for OH to make the decisions regarding a sons penis, simply because I don’t have one
If OH feels this is what is best, then we will hunt down the best private specialist willing to do it under proper anaesthetic and have it done 
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I don’t understand why so many men get circumcised when they have phimosis or a tight foreskin. This condition can be easily rectified by doing some gentle stretching exercises several times a day (with some steroid cream if need be) until the foreskin can comfortably be retracted over the glans of the penis. The time for this to be effective depends on how tight the foreskin is, it may take a week or it may take a few weeks but it is definitely better than having to get circumcised.
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I am a doctor and I strongly disagree with this. The authorities / specialists on the health of men’s bits for the vast majority of a male’s life are Urologists, not paediatricians. There is definitely no blanket recommendation from Urologists in favour of circumcision. I suspect the recommendation from the U.S. comes from a group who are a strongly conservative, Christian group. Let me just say – science/medicine and religion/politics do not (should not) mix. We had our son circumcised as he had a very abnormal foreskin at birth and we really had no choice if he was to be able to wee normally. The Urologist who operated on our son explained the detrimental effects in detail to me (at my request). There were many, but one was the loss of protection and lubrication of the glans (I’m only using medical terms because this comment is being repeatedly rejected). The skin there thickens and develops a protective squamous layer (a bit like the thick skin on your heels, for example). Just because men can still have intercourse, climax, father children etc does not mean they do not have reduced pleasure. I guess the only saving grace is these men will never know what they are missing.
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Gee, MM. I have now cut and pasted my comment ten(!) times, removing all possible suspect (yet medical) words, checked and double checked there’s nothing offensive, and still you won’t let my comment through. Good way to lose a loyal reader and regular commenter!
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Sorry mouse – our spam filter has gone a bit bonkers…..
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I am a doctor and I STRONGLY disagree with this. The authorities on the health of mens’ bits and the specialists who manage all things pe**s-related for the vast majority of a male’s life are Urologists, not paediatricians. There is definitely no blanket recommendation from Urologists in favour of circumcision. I suspect the recommendation from the U.S. comes from a group who are a strongly conservative, Christian group. Let me just say – science/medicine and religion/politics do not (should not) mix. We had our son circumcised as he had a very abnormal foreskin at birth and we really had no choice if he was to be able to wee normally. The Urologist who operated on our son explained the detrimental effects in detail to me (at my request). There were many, but one was the loss of protection and lubrication of the glans (I’m only using medical terms because the filter is repeatedly rejecting this comment). The skin there thickens and develops a protective squamous layer (a bit like the thick skin on your heels, for example). Just because men can still have intercourse, climax, father children etc does not mean they do not have reduced pleasure. I guess the only saving grace is these men will never know what they are missing. (* due to comment filter!!)
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Should we now start chopping women’s breasts off as a prophylactic measure against breast cancer (not just those with a genetic history)? Statistically breast cancer is more common that penile cancer. Or are we guilty of double standards?
My husband is circ’d, both my teens are not. They have no problem not looking like their dad (an argument often used). If there were a solid medical reason to do it then we would have had it done. At one stage it looked like we may have to, but once puberty hit all was OK. They know how to keep it clean and all about condom use. If they want to get rid of their foreskin, that’s up to them. So far they have no interest.
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Some women do make the choice to remove their breasts to avoid breast cancer. It is not common practice, but it happens and Drs will agree to do it. I’m certain that we aren’t comparing apples with apples in the breast cancer/penile cancer debate here though… There is a remarkable difference between the two decisions and the two procedures.
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I am a doctor and I STRONGLY disagree with this. The authorities on p*nile health and the specialists who manage all things pen*s-related for the vast majority of a male’s life are Urologists, not paediatricians. There is definitely no blanket recommendation from Urologists in favour of circumcision. I suspect the recommendation from the U.S. comes from a group who are a strongly conservative, Christian group. Let me just say – science/medicine and religion/politics do not (should not) mix. We had our son circumcised as he had a very abnormal foreskin at birth and we really had no choice if he was to be able to wee normally. The Urologist who operated on our son explained the detrimental effects in detail to me (at my request). There were many, but one was the loss of protection and lubrication of the head of the pen*s. The skin there thickens and develops a protective squamous layer (a bit like the thick skin on your heels, for example). Really NOT good for optimal s*xual pleasure. Just because men can still have s*x, climax, father children etc does not mean they do not have reduced s*xual function. I guess the only saving grace is these men will never know what they are missing. (* due to comment filter!!)
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I want to know if uncircumcised men are more likely to carry HPV and what implications this has on cervical and throat cancer. Anyone know?
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My brother-in-law is an urologist and his son is not circumcised.
That’s good enough for me!
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…and then it disappears on MM.
I’m slowly learning to write it elsewhere and copy ‘n’ paste, just in case.
Can’t this problem be fixed, MM?
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Not sure what is going on except that our spam filter seems to be on steroids at the moment! So sorry. Working on it. Xx
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Well said Pia. So many things are decided for children, and circumcision is just another. I believe which ever way the parents go, they are doing what they believe is best.
In regards to those saying we don’t have tonsils taken out ‘just in case’.. I think the point is that circumcision is a FAR simpler procedure at birth.
Paediatricians will say it is not necessary (and it isn’t), but my dad was a GP, and as he put it, the paeds aren’t dealing with these patients when they turn 30, 40.. 70. My dad said he couldn’t tell me the number of infected penises he’d seen over the years, but he could tell me how many of them were circumcised – one. Just one. Penis infections/problems aren’t really something people discuss at the water cooler at work – so it’s good to get an idea from someone who actually sees what’s going on.
Now, we chose to have my son circumsized (as you may have guessed), and my best friend chose not to have her sons done. We don’t even discuss it. End of story. We’re both happy with our decisions. I don’t judge those who don’t do it, because while I’ve listed my reasons above, I know they have just as valid reasons for their decision.
To those who get a bit crazy over the issue – I always wonder, who are you trying to convince? Yourselves perhaps?
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I’m stunned about how many women leave this decision up to their husbands, on the basis that he has a penis and they don’t.
Who owns this penis? The baby does!
Let HIM decide when he is able!
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I wouldn’t call it ‘bowing’, but rather taking advice. People often take advice on things they have no experience of.
More a case of considering your partner’s views than submission.
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Circumcision creates the same explosive and emotive responses in the community as public vs private schools and breastfeeding. When my sons were born 18 and 24 years ago it was still common practice for boys to be circumcised. Within a matter of a few years it became, politically incorrect, considered mutilation and child abuse. Parents were made to feel extremely guilty by medical practitioners, nursing staff, maternal health staff and often family for even asking questions about circumcision and opted not to circumcise simply because it was too hard. Like the public vs private school and breastfeeding debate, guilt, feeling socially accepted and fitting in with current social norms often clouds parents decision making processes.
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the Journal didn’t recommend circumcision – It recommended people want to have have access- very different from promoting it. they sound to me like they are saying it has some benefits so shouldn’t be frowned apon.
hardly saying it is best like the title of this article
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“The annual incidence is approximately 1 in 100,000 men in the United States, 1 in 250,000 in Australia, and 0.82 per 100,000 in Denmark. In the United Kingdom fewer than 500 men are diagnosed with penile cancer every year.”
I hardly think that the number of circumcisions that need to be done to prevent one case of penile cancer warrant the procedure. The Nation’s money can be better spent.
Now compare that to vulvar carcinoma:
“About 280 Australian women, or about two women in every 100,000, are newly diagnosed with vulval cancer each year. Vulval cancer accounts for less than one per cent of all cancers in Australian women. ”
It would make more sense for women to have their vulvas removed.
But we don’t.
Is there really any difference though in the arguments for and against each practice? If one is inhumane, why isn’t the other?
Imagine the same pro-circumcision arguments applied to females…
Women would never miss the sexual effects of not having a vulva if it was done as a baby; it would be much less painful if you did it when very young; it looks tidier; it would be so much easier to clean and shave if you didn’t have all of those ugly wobbly bits; there would be much easier access to the clitoris…
When the child is old enough to give informed consent for the procedure, fine. But I prefer they have the choice.
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Please, if you want to make an informed response, read some of the studies. it’s far from just being about penile cancer.
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We had our son circumcised at 2 months old. We got it done at a well renowned clinic using the plastibell method. They used a numbing cream and so he felt very little pain and had almost stopped crying before they had even given him back to me. There were no complications at all.
The thing I find the most disturbing about the whole process was watching the 5 year old go in before us. Sitting in the waiting room listening to him screaming as strangers held him down and circumcised him. I sure it was for health reasons but just imagining what a traumatic experience he must have gone through. How do you explain to a 5 year old what is about to happen. What do you say after, “This is ok because mummy and daddy allowed it to happen but if any other person touches you there it’s a very bad thing and you must tell us immediately!”? My son did not have the mental capacity to understand what was happening, he does not have a memory of the event at all, that five year old will probably remember it for the rest of his life.
Trust me prevention is better than the cure.
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I’ve seen and heard babies have the exact same reaction to the Plastibell procedure as that poor 5 year old. I remember holding one poor child while the parents were outside the room. It left me quite shaken.
I have also seen babies end up in hospital with post circumcision infections. It’s quite nasty and not rare.
A 5 year old should not have a circumcision done as a procedure under local anaesthetic. That is cruel and I personally find that unethical. And having worked with kids I have had to do some nasty invasive diagnostic procedures on babies. But they were necessary to prevent serious morbidity and mortality in the short to medium term.
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Where were you to hear a 5 year old being circumcised while awake? We were told if we needed to have or 6 year old circumcised it would be done under a general. Thankfully we didn’t need to go down that path.
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Wow so many Interesting arguments on both sides.
I’m a very happily uncut 20 year old straight male And my dad was circumcised.
Very barbaric practice.
safe sex prevents disease not surgery!
Americans are usually circumcised and have. Higher HIV/STD rates then Europe who don’t circumcise. HOW DOES THAT WORK?
And for the UTI argument, a girl gets a UTI (which is more likely) gets on antibiotics.
A BOY, has to get his foreskin sliced off!
Doesn’t make sense at all.
And for the cleanliness myth, just shower like you shower any other body parts.
Vaginas can be just as dirty there’s more skin folds.
Learn how to clean its common sense!
Surely if we didn’t need foreskins evolution would have caught up with us?
Foreskin has its sexual functions it’s not a birth defect!
Thank you people, peace!
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I agree.
I’m uncut and perfectly healthy And fine!
So if I get circumcised. I dont need to wear a condom ever again?
Hygiene is simple my mother taught just like washing other body parts.
I wouldn’t circumcise my son simply because that would be doing a Cosmetic procedure to a non consenting human being with a non diagnosed problem!
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Alex, that is a ridiculous argument. Like saying if you get the flu jab, there’s no point in washing your hands. No one is advocating not using condoms.
Adam – instead of me repeating it, please read Carisma’s comment below – contracting an STD does not simply occur because of penetration. And no, teenage boys are not always the most clean people on the planet, despite the fact that they may grow into men that are. By then, for many girls, it’s too late and they have contracted a life-long virus or infection.
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I think he was being sarcastic.. My partner isn’t circumcised and I’ve never had an issue with it. He is very clean and hygeinic. We wont be getting any sons done as Im sure my clean partner will teach these skills to his sons.
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I am not tied to circumcision by any religious or cultural traditions. My dad and my husband are both circumcised, my two little boys are not. Maybe I will consider it when the WHO recommends circumcision as a routine procedure and primary method of preventing STDs in first world countries. Until then not so much!
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Just a thought……how would we like it if suddenly doctors came out and said if we cut of the clitoris in baby girls we would prevent them geting STD’s? Would we do that? (Yes, I know in some countries this happens all the time but for other antiquated beliefs) But would we? I certainly wouldn’t’ do it to my daughter.
For me, the enjoyment of sex as an adult and the guilt of mutilation that I would feel as a mother made me certain that I couldn’t do this to my own boys. Just because it was popular in my parent’s time doesn’t mean I was going to do it without adequate thoughtfulness for my child.
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RIDICULOUS!!! Cutting off the foreskin does not impair sexual pleasure as chopping off the clitoris would, Your argument is ill-informed, inflammatory and frankly, upsetting for those poor girls who do go through this. Fuming.
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Actually there’s evidence that it does indeed hinder sexual pleasure through the desensitisation of the glans of the penis.
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I hate the fact that a child has no say in the matter – he can get his foreskin removed once he is older, but he can never get it back. And then there’s the pain… A friend of mine once defended the practice by saying: “He doesn’t remember it!” But does that make it any less painful?
I do, however, support it when it comes to medical reasons – but I’m curious to know – is there a possibility of general anaesthetic?
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What bothers me most about this debate is people who call it mutilation, and say it’s a terrible thing to do. How hard that must be to hear for parents who are forced to ‘mutilate’ their child for medical reasons.
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Ignorance and stupidity, you can lead a camel to water but you can’t make it drink…who is the idiot who asked “does the child get a say in it” ” you people in the west are so blind to reality that you legalise the murder of your own “unborn” and rant about “save the whales”…then when it suit your view point you completely go the other way and you change your stance based on a mere whim and think you are wiser then seven wise men.
let every one else do your thinking for you and when you do get a thought and an opportunity to voice an opinion and make a difference ” shut up”
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So what are you trying to say?
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Several people have made comments below regarding that people should be wearing condoms in order to prevent spreading HPV (which can lead to cervical cancer).
Condoms are good, yes, they protect against many STDs. Do they 100% protect against HPV? No.
“The types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer and genital warts are spread through genital-skin to genital-skin contact (not just penetrative sex). The virus enters the body through tiny breaks in the skin. Condoms offer some but not total protection from HPV, as they don’t cover all of the genital skin. You can be exposed to HPV the first time sexual activity occurs, from only one sexual partner.”
- Cancer Council Australi
So people please stop insinuating that all women who contract HPV and those who’ve suffered from cervical cancer did so due to unsafe sex.
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Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!
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My husband had to be circumcised when he was 30. It was necessary, could not be avoided and was very, very painful. For the most part, lots of boys will never experience any issues that require circumcision, but for some thereare very real medical issues that can develop as they grow that become very serious. For us, if we ever have a boy, he will be circumcised because we know what can happen and it is far worse than the to snip or not to snip debate. However, this is a totally personal choice and it should be for everyone. I wish it wasn’t debated quite so much because a lot of people now see it as a taboo, or are frowned upon if they want it done. You can only do what you feel is right for your and your family and that is enough said.
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If you have a son, you will have him circumcised because you “know what can happen?”
Following your logic, you might as well take his tonsils, appendix and gall-bladder out at the same time – because we all know “what can happen” to those body parts too!
Then again, while you are at it, it’s possible he could break a leg or an arm while growing up, and that is also painful, so….
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Because we know it all don’t we (above). What a rude remark. Of course our personal experience shapes how we live and the decisions we make.
How could it not?
But what I really want to know is, who are you to judge?
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I imagine it would be very painful, lots of nerves in the foreskin.
Probably just as painful as stitches following a difficult birth.
We left our son intact, if it needs to be done in the future for medical reasons it will be done under a GA and he will have us to support him and painkillers.
If I thought itbwould prevent penile cancer I would have to have my daughters breast tissue removed as there is more chance of her getting breast cancer.
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Didn’t for my sons, still wouldn’t, no problems to report thus far, both happy and healthy.
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They rarely use scalpels anymore. When I took my son to get it done they used a plastic ring called the plastibell. No tears, no blood. I did it for both health and religious reasons. I wouldn’t criticise those who haven’t had it done so please don’t criticise me and say I mutilated him. Women get their daughters ears pieced all the time and that is seen as acceptable. I also feel that with the health benefits that I did the right thing. If you have ever worked in a nursing home you will notice how many elderly men are getting themselves circumcised and it is not fun for them. That is because 1 in 3 men will require a circumcision due to health reasons.
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Sorry but comparing the piercing of ear lobes to the removal of nerve-rich sexual tissue that changes the form of the penis is abhorrent. Whether you like it or not, by dictionary definition, male circumcision is genital mutilation.
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I’m curious about the source of the statistic you’ve quoted regarding 1 in 3 men requiring a circumcision for health reasons…
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’1 in 3 men will require a circumcision due to health reasons.’
Really, really want to see where this statistic came from.
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I know this sounds old fashion but I think men have a clearer view on this topic and mothers are too soft. I didnt want my son done but my husband did so I did the research spoke to friends who had boys and came to the conclusion my hubby was this time correct haha as he also said to me he had it done and if it was a bad thing he wouldn’t want his son to go through it. I realised whilst this was our decision he had more experience and I think more place then I to make the final decision.
So we found the best, it was done at 6 wks old took 2 min exactly and he didn’t scream or cry it was totally healed within 4 days. My nephew was done at 7 from infection he was hospitalised knocked out, given drugs and was in pain after and has scar tissue he took three wks to heal big difference.
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So if my husband is against circumcision does this mean he’s soft?
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Sorry I didn’t mean it like that I meant when men want it done mainly because he has it done he thinks more alone the lines of father like son, my husband does believe it helps decrease stds he believes it’s cleaner etc men think from a more logical stand point wether they want it done or not. Us mothers we automatically think I don’t want my baby in pain, soft in the spence of maternal softness. My mothers group has spoken on this topic some of their hubbies have agreed and some haven’t all us mothers have agreed we are softer towards our kids then they are.
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This issue just confounds me to no end. This form of male genital mutilation is more harmful than some forms of female genital mutilation (piercing and scraping for example), yet it is widely accepted in our society. Circumcision is an example of engrained cultural sexism that actually oppresses males. Chopping off bits of human beings unnecessarily without informed consent is obviously a breach of human rights and Germany recently recognised circumcision as a breach of human rights. I hope other countries will follow suit.
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Criticising is not fair in this case. Mutilation is your opinion and for many people it is offensive to call it that. Especially when it has numerous health benefits. I wouldn’t criticise those who chose to leave the skin on knowing the risks. I think a respectful thing you could do is acknowledge that everyone is different in their opinion on this topic and you must respect their choice without calling it inhumane and mutilation. Even Dr’s approve.
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Can you please think about what you’re saying in the context of female genital cutting? Should we be respectful and acknowledge that everyone is different in their opinion and we must respect their choice to cut little girls’ genitals? Why should it be any different with males? The alleged health benefits do not really apply in a society with potable water and ample condoms but discounting that for a second, there are studies that show female circumcision reduces the spread of HIV too. Does that mean we should allow female circumcision? Can you see the sexism in the attitude of our society to this issue? If you look at the origins of male circumcision you will see that it’s actually about sexual oppression; cutting penises was a means of promoting chastity and curbing masturbation.
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Please show me those studies Claire. Female circumcision is about taking away the pleasure from the woman and the rationale behind it that it will stop cheating. Male circumcision removes the foreskin which mostly does not influence sexual pleasure. Yes I know that some men say that they have a reduced sexual pleasure due to circumcision but the procedural purpose is different between the two
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And so the pendulum swings – when we had our son 5 1/2 years ago, it was all against and it is now moving towards the for. We didn’t and now we have. My husband had heard the talk on 702 and looked up websites, researched a bit further and told me he wanted our son circumcised, I was not keen. He was circumcised, his father wasn’t. I have one brother who was and one who wasn’t. So it was a bit of an even split in our families. I read the research and we spoke to a specialist who had was neutral. In the end we had him circumcised because his foreskin was not retracting and caused him pain. Everyone has their own individual situations and it needs to be addressed that way. However, with the beauty of hindsight it would have been easier to get it done at birth. My son dealt with the loss of a bit of skin off his penis and the pain that went with it, and now marvels at the new shape it has taken. It will be interesting to see if he remembers when he is older.
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Your right Amanda it does go back and forth our son was done 12 wks ago it is something that is coming back in and is once again becoming the done thing to do.
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Foreskins don’t really need to retract until puberty. If you try and retract it while they’re little, you can damage it and make circumcision necessary. Both my boys looked like they made need to be circ’d, but in the end they didn’t. Once they hit puberty it was all fine.
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Foreskins should be able to be retracted by 4-5 years of age. The good thing is at that age they’re still willing to let their parents show htm how to wash it properly. Cn you imagine trying to teach a teenage boy how to wash his foreskin?
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My husband is circumcised and we have had both our boys (4yrs and 10mths) done at 10 wks old. They were in and out with a local in under 10 minutes and didn’t even cry or seem uncomfortable in any way. I have never met a circumcised man who wished he’d never been circumcised or felt he’d been mutilated. I have however, had 3 male friends who had to be done in their teens for medical reasons and they were adamant that they wished they were done when they were babies. Having said that, I don’t really see how my childs foreskin or lack thereof is anybody else’s business. Just as someone else’s child’s foreskin is none of my business. People should make the decision that is right for them and their children and get off their soapboxes and stop preaching. Same can be said for breast feeding, natural birth preachers. You do what suits you and I’ll do what suits me and we can agree to disagree.
I will add that my husband was adamant that our boys be circumcised and as I do not have a penis and he does, I feel that he is the authority in the matter and agreed with him.
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I know a number of circumcised men who wish they weren’t and that they had the full sensitivity of an uncut penis. Especially as they get older.
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I agree with the previous poster, if the fact that my son has his foreskin causes him to believe that he is more suseptible to STI’s and other infections/diseases, then good! Maybe then he will ALWAYS practice safe sex, ALWAYS wash his bits properly (inside and out) and be forever vigilant. Big perk to having that extra skin, I say. And just quietly, when I hear people say that it’s ‘cleaner’, I have to wonder, what other, erm, ‘moveable’ body parts aren’t you moving to clean properly?? She we start chopping all those bits off too??? (*shudder*).
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I’m teaching my kids that they are no safer with or without a foreskin to protect against STDs and AIDS.
I’m teaching my kids that the only way to protect themselves is via a condom.
And my son will remain as God intended unless there is a medical reason later in life to change him.
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That the minimal reduction of the transmission of the aids virus by circumcision programs in sub saharan Africa is now being used to justify circumcision in the first world worries me – that message will get muddied and men will start thinking they can ride bareback because they’re cut.
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Exactly Essen, it’s like getting African kid’s stomachs stapled coz white kids in the west get fat.
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