To Circumcise Or Not To Circumcise?

mcr5298 · May 25th, 2004, 09:42 PM

We know that we are having a boy. And I know that this is a controversial topic, but? My DH and I have decided not to circumcise our son. I don't have any strong founded reasons why we should or shouldn't do it. My DH doesn't want to, so I am going along with him on this one. I know that there is a greater chance of infection with uncircumcised men. But if we keep the area clean, and teach our son to do so, hopefully that won't be a problem.

Has anyone out there not circumcised their son?
Has it been a problem to keep clean?

Thanks for the input!

Brooke · May 25th, 2004, 09:58 PM

The cleanliness isn't really an issue anymore. As a society, we're cleaner than we were before circumcision became the norm. So I wouldn't worry about that too much.

I don't care either way if we ever have a boy. DH wants to circumscize so we probably will. My cousin's 2-yr-old is not circ'd and it hasn't been a problem.

Dennis · May 25th, 2004, 11:28 PM

We didn't have Joe circumcised and we haven't had any problems with it.

Dennis

Tiggs · May 25th, 2004, 11:49 PM

We didn't have Carson circumcised and I'm very happy withour decision.

when I had him I passed by the room where they did the circumcisions and it was heart breaking hearing the little guys going through. I knew then and there we'd made the right decision for us.

Kerri · May 26th, 2004, 01:23 AM

The thing with intact babes is that you just basically need to leave them alone. Pulling back or cleaning under the foreskin can cause infections. So a general wash when diapering and a bath every day or two is it. When he is getting about school-aged, it will start to be able to retract and then he can just give it a quick slosh in the bath or shower, but no scrubbing with soap or forcing it back or anything. It is only in the US that many people circumcise for non-religious or non-medical reasons anymore.

Kerri

MelissaM · May 26th, 2004, 07:22 AM

Neither of my boys is circumsized. William is now 9 and Jacob is 2 and a half. We haven't had ANY problems at all with our decision and the boys have never had any problems whatsoever. William is now at the age where he can retract his foreskin when he gets a bath and he does it on his own no problem.

As Kerri mentioned, circumcision is not routinely performed in Canada (and anywhere outside the US) unless for strong medical or religious reasons.

Cortney · May 26th, 2004, 07:46 AM

Whenever we have a boy we won't circ! DH isn't and has never had any problems, plus it's not mecially needed so I don't see a reason.

Carla · May 26th, 2004, 08:47 AM

Our son isn't (even though DH wanted to

) and it's nothing to care for. I didn't have any strong reason for not doing it other than I felt it was right to leave him intact. Later doing research online has made me extremely grateful we didn't do it.

Beccaroo · May 26th, 2004, 09:00 AM

The American Academy of Pediatrics says there is no health reason for circumcision. I did not circ my son because I do not believe in doing cosmetic procedures on newborn babies. DH is an OB-GYN and has to do circ's at a hospital, and it breaks his heart. He says when he is in his own practice he will never agree to do them, because he feels they are cruel.

mcr5298 · May 26th, 2004, 11:44 AM

Thanks everyone! We have pretty much made our decision. But it makes me feel better to here from people with personal experience!

gulp! · May 26th, 2004, 05:02 PM

O.k., not a single person posted here who *did* circ their son, so I'll be brave and do it for them. We got Krishan circ'd, mostly b/c it's what DH and I are both used to. No real compelling reason, other than we felt more comfortable having it done. I have no issues with anyone who decides not to do it- and I don't think anyone should have issues with me for choosing to have it done.

By the way, I have to say that I didn't witness it being done, so I don't know if he cried, but they brought him back to me 10 minutes after they took him to go do it, and he was calm, happy and peaceful.

bunybomb · May 26th, 2004, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gulp!

By the way, I have to say that I didn't witness it being done, so I don't know if he cried, but they brought him back to me 10 minutes after they took him to go do it, and he was calm, happy and peaceful.

I left the decision up to my DH. It wasn't made due to anything religious or medical. My DH is, so he wanted his son to be. I just made sure DH was with Alex when it was done.

olcott · May 26th, 2004, 06:32 PM

We had Trey circ'd..there was never any other way for us...I know its not medically necessary, but we had it done anyways..Robb is circ'd, and wanted Trey to be, and it didn't matter to me either way....

Robb was with Trey when he was circ'd, and said that he let out a little cry, and that was when they numbed him down there...and that was it..he said it was over in a flash and next thing I knew they were bringing him in to me in the room..

mcr5298 · May 26th, 2004, 06:59 PM

Thanks for your post Stefanie, and others who have had their sons circumcised! I have no problem with a child being circumcised or not circumcised. It is totally up the the individual. And no one should have issues with you for having had it done. I just wanted to know how people dealt with the care of their uncircumcised sons. Thanks again!

aylhu · May 27th, 2004, 11:18 PM

Just chiming in to support your decision. We ended up with two girls, but would not have done the procedure had we had boys. I just don't feel it's necessary.

Girlo · June 4th, 2004, 02:09 AM

We didn't have Alex circumsized and I'm really happy with our decision.

It just seemed unnecessary and an added expense for us.
The clincher for me was learning that they have to cut and PRY the foreskin away from the penis in order to be able to cut it off, because it's fused together until they're a few years old.

It's great that you're doing your research so your decision will be an educated one you'll be happy with later.

Sherry · June 4th, 2004, 08:42 AM

We had our son's done for no other reason than to be like the "other" boys

Dennis · June 4th, 2004, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherry

We had our son's done for no other reason than to be like the "other" boys

I'm not sure where you live, but the nurses in the hospital here said it's about 50/50 now.

Sherry · June 4th, 2004, 10:31 AM

Well, its pretty much 90% here....

aylhu · June 4th, 2004, 11:23 AM

My midwives said west of the Mississippi, it's done less than half the time now.

May 25th, 2004, 09:42 PM	#1
mcr5298 Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Going back to work in the fall?!?! Posts: 1,027	To Circumcise Or Not To Circumcise? We know that we are having a boy. And I know that this is a controversial topic, but? My DH and I have decided not to circumcise our son. I don't have any strong founded reasons why we should or shouldn't do it. My DH doesn't want to, so I am going along with him on this one. I know that there is a greater chance of infection with uncircumcised men. But if we keep the area clean, and teach our son to do so, hopefully that won't be a problem. Has anyone out there not circumcised their son? Has it been a problem to keep clean? Thanks for the input!

May 25th, 2004, 11:28 PM	#3
Dennis . Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 19,604	We didn't have Joe circumcised and we haven't had any problems with it. Dennis __________________ Check out my journal

May 26th, 2004, 05:02 PM	#11
gulp! between here and there. Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 10,874	O.k., not a single person posted here who did circ their son, so I'll be brave and do it for them. We got Krishan circ'd, mostly b/c it's what DH and I are both used to. No real compelling reason, other than we felt more comfortable having it done. I have no issues with anyone who decides not to do it- and I don't think anyone should have issues with me for choosing to have it done. By the way, I have to say that I didn't witness it being done, so I don't know if he cried, but they brought him back to me 10 minutes after they took him to go do it, and he was calm, happy and peaceful. __________________ This Castle Has Rules

June 4th, 2004, 02:09 AM	#16
Girlo I am complete...... Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: North Kitsap, WA Posts: 10,763	We didn't have Alex circumsized and I'm really happy with our decision. It just seemed unnecessary and an added expense for us. The clincher for me was learning that they have to cut and PRY the foreskin away from the penis in order to be able to cut it off, because it's fused together until they're a few years old. It's great that you're doing your research so your decision will be an educated one you'll be happy with later. __________________ Shannon & Paul 26 August 2000 Parents to Steve the Cat and Greta the Dog Proud mommy of Alexander Paul Martin...October 30, 2003 - and Grace Elizabeth Maile...June 12, 2009

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May 25th, 2004, 09:58 PM	#2
Brooke Daniel can count to 10! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Maryland Posts: 12,357	The cleanliness isn't really an issue anymore. As a society, we're cleaner than we were before circumcision became the norm. So I wouldn't worry about that too much. I don't care either way if we ever have a boy. DH wants to circumscize so we probably will. My cousin's 2-yr-old is not circ'd and it hasn't been a problem.

May 25th, 2004, 11:49 PM	#4
Tiggs Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 24	We didn't have Carson circumcised and I'm very happy withour decision. when I had him I passed by the room where they did the circumcisions and it was heart breaking hearing the little guys going through. I knew then and there we'd made the right decision for us.

May 26th, 2004, 01:23 AM	#5
Kerri Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: May 2004 Location: Chilliwack, BC, Canada Posts: 246	The thing with intact babes is that you just basically need to leave them alone. Pulling back or cleaning under the foreskin can cause infections. So a general wash when diapering and a bath every day or two is it. When he is getting about school-aged, it will start to be able to retract and then he can just give it a quick slosh in the bath or shower, but no scrubbing with soap or forcing it back or anything. It is only in the US that many people circumcise for non-religious or non-medical reasons anymore. Kerri

May 26th, 2004, 07:22 AM	#6
MelissaM Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 1,239	Neither of my boys is circumsized. William is now 9 and Jacob is 2 and a half. We haven't had ANY problems at all with our decision and the boys have never had any problems whatsoever. William is now at the age where he can retract his foreskin when he gets a bath and he does it on his own no problem. As Kerri mentioned, circumcision is not routinely performed in Canada (and anywhere outside the US) unless for strong medical or religious reasons.

May 26th, 2004, 07:46 AM	#7
Cortney Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: NC Posts: 3,155	Whenever we have a boy we won't circ! DH isn't and has never had any problems, plus it's not mecially needed so I don't see a reason.

May 26th, 2004, 08:47 AM	#8
Carla Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: living in a state of insanity Posts: 1,536	Our son isn't (even though DH wanted to ) and it's nothing to care for. I didn't have any strong reason for not doing it other than I felt it was right to leave him intact. Later doing research online has made me extremely grateful we didn't do it.

May 26th, 2004, 09:00 AM	#9
Beccaroo Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Iowa City, IA Posts: 43	The American Academy of Pediatrics says there is no health reason for circumcision. I did not circ my son because I do not believe in doing cosmetic procedures on newborn babies. DH is an OB-GYN and has to do circ's at a hospital, and it breaks his heart. He says when he is in his own practice he will never agree to do them, because he feels they are cruel.

May 26th, 2004, 11:44 AM	#10
mcr5298 Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Going back to work in the fall?!?! Posts: 1,027	Thanks everyone! We have pretty much made our decision. But it makes me feel better to here from people with personal experience!

May 26th, 2004, 06:32 PM	#13
olcott Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Riverdale, NE Posts: 2,453	We had Trey circ'd..there was never any other way for us...I know its not medically necessary, but we had it done anyways..Robb is circ'd, and wanted Trey to be, and it didn't matter to me either way.... Robb was with Trey when he was circ'd, and said that he let out a little cry, and that was when they numbed him down there...and that was it..he said it was over in a flash and next thing I knew they were bringing him in to me in the room..

May 26th, 2004, 06:59 PM	#14
mcr5298 Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Going back to work in the fall?!?! Posts: 1,027	Thanks for your post Stefanie, and others who have had their sons circumcised! I have no problem with a child being circumcised or not circumcised. It is totally up the the individual. And no one should have issues with you for having had it done. I just wanted to know how people dealt with the care of their uncircumcised sons. Thanks again!

May 27th, 2004, 11:18 PM	#15
aylhu Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Abq, NM Posts: 259	Just chiming in to support your decision. We ended up with two girls, but would not have done the procedure had we had boys. I just don't feel it's necessary.

June 4th, 2004, 08:42 AM	#17
Sherry Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 5,399	We had our son's done for no other reason than to be like the "other" boys

June 4th, 2004, 10:31 AM	#19
Sherry Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 5,399	Well, its pretty much 90% here....

June 4th, 2004, 11:23 AM	#20
aylhu Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Abq, NM Posts: 259	My midwives said west of the Mississippi, it's done less than half the time now.