Did you/will you circumcize your baby boy(s)?

[Annie]

Did you/will you circumcize your baby boy(s)?

[Annie]

Anne - 21/09/2004 20:08
Since there is no medical reason to circumcise, and the Canadian Pediatric Society does not endorse routine circumcisions, we decided against circumcision. I liken it to taking out the appendix at birth because you could get appendicitis later -- you wouldn't do that, so why circumcise for "just in case"? That said, it is a very personal topic and I respect everyones decision.

Aaron Markson aaron-markson@aol.com - 19/09/2004 17:05
Circumcision is preferable choice to be made by a parent as the child does not remember and gains a life time of the benefits from being circumcised such as improved hygeine, lowering risks associated with HIV and UTI, aesthetic advantages and the improved feeling of self esteem from knowing you have been circumcised. I was not circumcised at birth but done as an adult and have had both my sons circumcised at birth. They are bth in their teens now and have stated that they are proud that they are circumcised. My wife also has a preference for circumcised penises and I believe many women also prefer their partner to be circumcised.

[Unregistered]

To Aaron: Maybe it's the crowd you hang out with. I am a woman, a nurse-midwife, a mother. I much prefer uncircumcised men to those who are circumcised, as do all the women that I know. We have discussed this a number of times & there are some women in our group who actually will not be with a circumcised man, because they feel that he has somehow been "deformed" and it bothers them. (Okay, those are not the most sensitive women, for sure.) However, as a nurse-midwife, I attended many many circumcisions of newborn infants. No anethesia was used, the babes were strapped down to what was called "the circ board" in a splayed position, & it was very traumatic for them, as you can imagine. They screamed their little heads off & didn't ever again sleep naturally while in hospital, as did their uncircumcised brothers. And, as another poster pointed out, there is NO medical reason for circumcision and most medical and pediatric associations around the world strongly discourage it. I have 3 sons & I did not have them circumcised and to this day they thank me for not "butchering" them (their word - they are grown now). If you want to circumcise your children for religious reasons, that is your choice. To do it for any other reason, except in the very rare case it is medically indicated for some reason, is a poor idea, in my opinion. I mean, think about it - when else do we cut off a piece of healthy living flesh from a human being for no medical reason and not call it either "primitive" or "torture"? God put it there for a reason. - for protection, primarily. Btw, the general consensus of women I've spoken with is that uncircumcised men have more sensitive penises which is often pleasurable for the woman.

[Unregistered]

I vote NO. In addition to the person with the swath of good information about it being medically unnecessary, I am not Jewish either. That would be the only other thing that might get me to consider. After our son was born my husband was talking with three other new dads in the ward - all of whom were circumcising their babies. None of them had "good" reasons other than "it's unattractive". I am with the other "unregistered" person... I don't find circumcision sexy or "fulfilling".

[Unregistered]

??? You have got to be kidding me. It has nothing to do with self esteem... and why on earth would you teach your child that he is SOMETHING just because he's circumcised? No no, self esteem should not be brought into this here. I guess when he's older my boy will be happy knowing he is "thicker" and more sexually satisfying to have his foreskin. I wonder if the boys will discuss that aspect when they are comparing their weenies in grade 5?

[tami]

I had my sons done and my daughter had her sons done, plus my other daughter is having it done if she has a boy..

[Unregistered]

I had my son circumsized before I knew the harm in it. I feel very sad that I did that but I will never have my future sons circumsized, so I voted no.