Circumcisions Gone Bad

I'm currently 31 weeks pregnant with a son and am trying to figure out if I want to circumcise him or not. My husband says yes and I'm not sure. Stories like this make me not want to.

I am 29 weeks and wasn't sure I asked my boyfried it it was an overwhelming yes!

I am 34 weeks pregnant with a little boy. My husband and I keep going back and forth on whether or not to circumcise. Stories like this makke me think it might not be a good idea, but I don't know.

These could be rare occasions, I hear good stories more often then I hear bad ones

When the decision to circumcise had to be made, I left it to my husband. My feeling is that he's the one with a penis and would be better qualified to make that decision. I did however tell him that his reasoning had to be better than "I want him to look like me" so something similar.

When the decision to circumcise had to be made, I left it to my husband. My feeling is that he's the one with a penis and would be better qualified to make that decision.I did however tell him that his reasoning had to be better than "I want him to look like me" so something similar.

I circumcised both my boys but if it hadn't worked I just don't know if I could do it again at age 1 :-/

I think it's horrible to circumcise. I'm not buying the whole "I want him to feel comfortable in the locker room" excuse since I don't know any guy (especially in his teens) that was displaying his penis in high school. Plus, I agree that the "I want him to look like me" is dumb too. My boobs look nothing like my mother's boobs and I survived. I think it's terrible decision to make on behalf of your son. My boyfriend is numb from scar tissue in certain areas of his penis because of circumcision. I think he'd rather have had a few uncomfortable years in the locker room to have full sensation. My brothers are both uncircumcised and they've never had issues being made fun of or getting girls. All that being said, it's a personal decision that one needs to make based on their own views, beliefs, etc. Just please have a reason for it... Remember back when everyone was bottle-feeding because no one was breast feeding any more? Do what's right for you, not what everyone else is doing.

I think it's horrible to circumcise. I'm not buying the whole "I want him to feel comfortable in the locker room" excuse since I don't know any guy (especially in his teens) that was displaying his penis in high school. Plus, I agree that the "I want him to look like me" is dumb too. My boobs look nothing like my mother's boobs and I survived. I think it's terrible decision to make on behalf of your son. My boyfriend is numb from scar tissue in certain areas of his penis because of circumcision. I think he'd rather have had a few uncomfortable years in the locker room to have full sensation. My brothers are both uncircumcised and they've never had issues being made fun of or getting girls.All that being said, it's a personal decision that one needs to make based on their own views, beliefs, etc. Just please have a reason for it... Remember back when everyone was bottle-feeding because no one was breast feeding any more? Do what's right for you, not what everyone else is doing.

My best friend is a nurse who worked in pediatrics for several years and assisted on numerous circumcisions... she's a tough gal who now works with 3rd degree burn victims and has a very high tolerance for gore. Before becoming a pediatrics nurse she always said that she'd circumcise a son so he looked like his father but since participating in numerous circumcisions, she rejected that and now vehemently argues against it. There's no pain medication for the baby and among the accidents and botched jobs she's seen, one baby actually died from complications. Unless there is a religious belief there, its a pretty violent thing to do to an infant.

Circumcision can cut the rate of HIV infection in heterosexual men by 50% http://digg.com/health/Circumcision_cuts_HIV_infection?FC=PRCK1 also reduces the chance of getting other std's by 25%, and the transmission of genital warts.

When we had my son last year, my husband and I both decided not to circumcise our son. We agree with quivondra, in that we didn't want to make the decision for him. Yes, getting it done as an adult can surely hurt more and have complications- it would still be his choice.

It seems very odd, perhaps a little perverse, to choose to perform a surgery on someone else without their permission to prevent a "possible" future sexual problem. Why is Mom thinking about the sex life of the boy only day(s) after his birth? Regarding looks in the locker room, those that choose today to cut may (based on trends in this proceedure) provide the difference that is needed to make them feel self-conscious - the percentage of those left alone is rising. Since the boy will not truely be in a position to harm anyone with his penis for many years, why not just enjoy the child as nature intended. Perhaps by the time he is ready to be active, medicine will have achieved sucess in curing even these issues.

mom's aren't the only ones thinking about their son's sex life right after birth. the hepB vaccination is given w/i the first hour after a baby is born. then again a few weeks later.

I am 30 weeks pregnant and I really don't care either way. When I asked my husband he said "no way, no chance, that's final." So that's final. I don't even need a explaination.

You might also want to check out the following: Canadian Paediatric Society http://www.cps.ca/english/statements/fn/fn96-01.htm "Recommendation: Circumcision of newborns should not be routinely performed." http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/pregnancy&babies/circumcision.htm "Circumcision is a 'non-therapeutic' procedure, which means it is not medically necessary." "After reviewing the scientific evidence for and against circumcision, the CPS does not recommend routine circumcision for newborn boys. Many paediatricians no longer perform circumcisions." Royal Australasian College of Physicians http://www.racp.edu.au/download.cfm?DownloadFile=A453CFA1-2A57-5487-DF36DF59A1BAF527 "After extensive review of the literature the Royal Australasian College of Physicians reaffirms that there is no medical indication for routine neonatal circumcision." (those last nine words are in bold on their website, and almost all the men responsible for this statement will be circumcised themselves, as the male circumcision rate in Australia in 1950 was about 90%. "Routine" circumcision is now *banned* in public hospitals in Australia in all states except one.) British Medical Association http://www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/malecircumcision2006?OpenDocument&Highlight=2,circumcision#Circumcisionformedicalpurposes "to circumcise for therapeutic reasons where medical research has shown other techniques to be at least as effective and less invasive would be unethical and inappropriate." Drops in male circumcision: USA: from 90% to 57% Canada: from 47% to 9.2% UK: from 35% to about 5% (less than 1% among non-Muslims) Australia: 90% to 12.6% ("routine" circumcision has recently been *banned* in public hospitals in all states except one, so the rate will now be a lot lower) New Zealand: 95% to below 3% (mostly Samoans and Tongans) South America and Europe: never above 5%

As far as the revision goes, it's not that uncommon. General anesthetic isn't a bad idea anyway. In Scotland, the NHS won't perform circumcisions until boys are at least 6 months old, specifically so that general anesthetic can be used.

It's a decision that should be left up to the parents - I don't think anyone has the right to judge. Obviously, we are all trying to do what is right for our kids the best way we can. We went back and forth as well but after reading a lot of information about the benefits, we decided to do it. It was not an easy decision but luckily we did not have any problems at all with the procedure or the after-care.

we're 18 weeks into our pregnancy and there's no question that we'll choose circumcision. many uncut men who choose to have the procedure later in life encounter complications and pain. and, yes, many man do choose to do it. aside from the aesthestic appearance, a circumcized penis is cleaner and less prone to infection. (i know i'll get flamed for saying that. yes, i know you can clean the foreskin rather easily, but many reports do confirm what i'm saying here. btw, it's hard enough to get an 8-year-old boy to take a bath. how about pushing him to care for his foreskin?) and you know something else? i'm not ashamed to say that i want my son to feel confident in his appearance. to those who say boys don't compare in the locker room, i have to ask if you were ever a boy. girls don't exactly whip out our breasts but we sure as heck notice each other's bodies and many of us felt (or still feel!) inadaquate or ugly. my son is not some organic hippy-dippy experiment for me.

This is one of many reasons we will not be circumising any sons we have. "I circumcised both my boys but if it hadn't worked I just don't know if I could do it again at age 1" I'm genuinely curious as to why the difference. I mean at least there is some pain killer when they are 1 as opposed to newborn. I would think that would be the better way to go.

@kikidawn I currently have a one year old and I think it would be harder to heal at this age. He's constant motion and doesn't completely understand cause and effect. When he had it done at 3 days old he didn't cry or fuss or seem bothered. I'm not going to debate anyone else's choices or try and argue for mine. I was just sharing my thoughts and personal experience on the subject at hand.

macgirl, I wasn't trying to debate or seem rude about it, I just was curious.

Sorry kikidawn, that wasn't totally pointed at you. This post just seems to bring out some extremist on both sides and I didn't want to get into all of that :-)

What "circinfo" won't tell you: Penile cancer is extremely rare, affecting maybe 1 in 100,000 men. The risk of getting penile cancer is lower than male breast cancer, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer to name a few. Penile cancer is a disease of old men, leaving the boy decades to decide if he is worried. The American Cancer Society also notes that Denmark, where circumcision is almost nonexistent, has similar penile cancer rates to heavily cut America. Circinfo talks about UTIs being 12 times more likely in boys. 12 x next to nothing is still next to nothing. Furthermore, the 12x (typically listed as 10x) "advantage" comes from the Thomas Wiswell study where he compared healthy full term circumcised babies to premature catheterized intact babies. Prematurity and catheterization are strongly associated with UTIs making the study completely worthless. Does Europe have an epidemic of UTIs among its (intact) male population? Nope. In our circle of friends, none of our intact boys has had a UTI or any penile problems at all. Circinfo brings up the latests in HIV/STD propaganda. Check out the HIV rates for the United States. Compare them to Europe. The United States has far more HIV despite having a majority of males circumcised. If one pays attention to the major media, there are countless stories about our STD problem, including a 25% HPV infection rate among teenage girls. If circumcision had any preventative effect, those numbers would be lower. Really, if you want to protect your kid, you'll teach them about safe sex and make sure they have condoms. Get your daughters vaccinated against HPV. Having unprotected sex with multiple partners will get you an STD, regardless of circumcision. Circinfo obviously missed the news from Georgia regarding the $2.4 million payout in malpractice after a doctor cut off the head of a newborn's penis. But I guess if you're promoting cosmetic baby genital surgery, this is an acceptable risk. His last point about female partners is ludicrous. Do European women drop dead faster than American women? No. The opposite is true, thanks to better access to health care. People like CircInfo will promise you the world with circumcision, but all your boy gets is a smaller penis.

macgirl, no problems, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't taken wrong and that all is alright :) and yeah this topic brings out a lot in people... I try to avoid it too.

After my husband and I educated ourselves on http://www.ksnocirc.org we decided against circumcision. Our boys are now 10 & 13 and have never had any problems with hygiene, teasing or looks (fathers and sons don't compare penises). We did not think it was our decision to put them through cosmetic surgery for fear of what might not happen not to mention removing the most erogenous part of the penis.

I would never circumcise my child after I did the research. I've been with non-circumcised and circumcised men and the difference is kind of tragic. Not life-and-death tragic, but a-part-is-missing tragic. It's completely unnecessary from a medical standpoint, and somehow the rest of the world understands that - the USA still has the highest circumcision rates in the world. The history of circumcision begins (and continues) with curtailing masturbation. I'm disturbed that any modern parent would care about that, but it's so firmly entrenched that people do it without thinking. There's just almost no debate outside of the USA (other than among Jewish families, which I respect). It shocked me, frankly. I agree that it has slimmed the rates of HIV infection in African nations where condom usage is difficult to dictate. But any parent who would rather circumcise their child than teach their boy to use a condom is not worth his or her salt. Just my opinion.

p.s. once a man has a foreskin? he's not gonna want to get rid of it. and there's really no need. so moms who are concerned that he will have to suffer later in life - well, he probably wouldn't do it unless forced to. also, how would we feel about lopping of pieces of a little girl's body to make her look like her mother? or to make her more aesthetically pleasing later? I suppose as a parent, I would think twice about such a procedure that seems routine but (in adult life, as I've discovered) is actually pretty extreme.

just don't do it. i have to assume my father had it done because of his age, but i know my parents said my brother didn't, (even though he wouldn't have 'looked like daddy') and he turned out fine, has had lots of success with women, and played on many sports teams. there is no way to justify putting your HELPLESS BABY at risk for complications. since 40% of americans are already not doing it, dont worry that your son will be the one weirdo if he doesn't have it done..... move forward and let go of this barbaric tradition people! thank you for the stats, comment 23

I would avoid entertaining any of the propaganda presented as facts on circinfo.net. The web page is run by "Brian Morris, a man on a mission to rid the world of the male foreskin." - Basil Donovan Director, Sydney Sexual Health Centre. circinfo.net claims, "the predicted lifetime risk of penile cancer for an uncircumcised man has been estimated as 1 in 600 in the USA" The American Cancer Society says, " Penile cancer occurs in about 1 man in 100,000 in the United States. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_are_the_key_statistics_for_penile_cancer_35.asp?rnav=cri Where is circinfo.net getting a number so distant from the American Cancer Society? I can only assume that circinfo.net realizes the power of the "c" word and the fear it creates.

"Mortified, I asked what could be done about it" what the heck is there to be mortified about? and an uncircumcized penis is just as clean as a regular one...I would know.

^not to mention, "mortified" is an adult man finding out that his penis has 40% less feeling thanks to the removal of his foreskin. I can testify to that. But it's really none of my business, so I will stop commenting here. I know it's a family tradition for many people.

http://www.thepatrioticvanguard.com/article.php3?id_article=3752 Read this article and try to keep an open mind. When you've finished reverse the gender and read again. This is why all people should be allowed to make their own decisions about cosmetic/"prophylactic"/ritual procedures. They are irreversible after all.

The Patriotic Vanguard article (above) is a perfect example of the parallels of the two surgery's.

You should leave the penis alone from here out. Thankfully your son still has some of his foreskin. This will give him room during erection later in life and preserve some sensitivity. This was not a botch, as more doctors are beginning to recognize the importance of the foreskin they are leaving more intact. Please leave what your son has left of his foreskin alone. My husband has a partial circ and I am so happy b/c he has retained most of the function of his foreskin. It also is better for me b/c the foreskin protects the inside of the vagina during intercourse. I hope you will leave any future sons intact. It is his body and should be his choice. Having an intact boy is so much easier to care for b/c you don't do anything. You never try to retract and you only clean what is seen. Learn more at intactamerica.com

If parental rights don't include sexual abuse, why should they extend to the actual amputation of sexual tissue? Circumcision - of boys or girls - is a psychosexual disease passed on from one mutilated generation to the next. As for "medical benefits", female circumcision prevents vulvar cancer - far more common than penile cancer. An uncircumcised vagina is harder to keep clean, and harbors smegma. There's no medical study proving that uncircumcised women have more sexual pleasure. And in countries that cut girls, it is almost exclusively the women who do the cutting. The parallels are unmistakable once you step out from your cultural blinders. Very few men with a whole penis will decide to remove part of it, just as few women will agree to vaginal reduction surgery. The only people pushing circumcision are those who are circumcised.

Vain freaks. It's a dick, it doesn't NEED plastic surgery. It's ugly regardless. How cruel can you be?

Both of my brothers are uncircumcised; one brother is 30, and the other is 7, and neither has ever had an infection or problem with his equipment. In fact, my husband told me that when my brother found out that I was pregnant, he took my husband aside and had a serious conversation with him about how, if we have a boy, he would strongly advise, as an uncircumcised man, against getting our baby circumcised. I'm much more willing to trust a dude that's gone through 30 years of life as an uncircumcised man than anyone else who wants to push their opinion on the matter on me. My husband lamely used the "he should look like me" excuse, but quickly backed down. My mom is also a prenatal nurse, and she is very much against the circumcision. She said that if any father really pushes for it, he should be forced to watch the procedure, and more likely than not, would then change his mind.

Hi, i was reading your article, and i haven't ever seen a circumcised penis, then when i see my son penis half of it is just like very wrinkled, like puffy, and nothing like the skin should be... so I was wondering how am I suppose to know if it was a good circumcision? My friend's baby is circumcised too and doesn't have what mine has... Can anybody help me?

We did not have our son circumcised. I feel it is completely cosmetic and our pediatrician and OB agreed. We haven't had any problems.

Wow I didn't even know circumcision was an issue! I live in NZ and I do not know anyone who is circumcised, I would never consider doing that to my son or daughter

I am a guy from Europe and it really is beyond me that Americans still persist in keeping this horrible practice alive. If there's a religious motive for it, I can (sort of) accept it, if the skin is too tight then it is necessary, but otherwise leave it alone. Nature didn't put it there without a reason. There are thousands little nerve endings in there and it gives more pleasure during sex. All my boyfriends who have been circumcized (I myself am not) agreed that for them the sex was less 'flexible' so to speak. The penis gets dry, there's little movement in it, and they always need the lubricant. As for the point of hygiene, never heard of a shower? And what if I would say the same thing for a woman? Oh, cut away the labia, it's much cleaner. It's such a double standard for boys. But most of all: what about the right of the baby to have its own say what happens to his body? If he decides to get circumcised later in life, fine. But untill then, just let him be.

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A boy should decide if he want's to be circumcised when he is old enough to make that decision. Not his mom or his dad. It is afterall, his penis.

PLEASE DON'T DO IT. IT IS MUTILATION. Your son's penis will be damaged, check out http://www.noharmm.org/ Even if it goes 'well' he will not thank you later in life when the area around his glans becomes hardened and desensitised and it takes him 45 minutes of rough, painful sex to climax - his wife won't thank you either. It's common sense: cutting sensitive tissue from people's sex organs is insane. Just because it's commonplace doesn't make it OK. It takes place in the US because doctors get PAID for it. STOP THE MADNESS PLEASE, and leave your son as mother nature intended. You will told told it cuts risk of complications later on, i.e. phimosis, but that isn't true. This condition (tight foreskin) can be cured with a bit of stretching and some prescribed cream. Nor is it dirty. If it was, mother nature wouldn't have put it there - it's easy to keep clean, just ask the millions of men (the vast majority worldwide) who are intact. Read some of the accounts of men who've had it done in adulthood who can compare sex before and after and they'll tell you how it messed up their sex life. Read about the boy's who had botched circumcisions and lost their entire penis. PLEASE DON'T GIVE IN TO THE PRESSURE/BRAINWASHING. Think for yourself, use your common sense and remember that once it's gone, there's no putting it back. I know you'll make the right decision. Thanks.

I hope all of you mothers know that whether your son's circumcision goes "well" or not, he will still feel violated and will forever deeply resent you for having him circ'd. :P

I like how the mommy telling this story tried to keep it cute by refering to his genitals as his 'nether regions'. I've seen video footage of this process and I can say that circumcision is more gruesome than any other crazy mutilation people have thought up in human history. There was a circ educational video that showed the process carried out on a real baby (along with sound). It was more like torture porn than education. Any monster who has the idea that they need to butcher part of their newborn's body, while calling themselves a person of "God", should be condemned, but instead they are just a normal part of this great American society.

Last post called circ torture. In terms of pain, that's correct. Not a reason to not circumcise. A medical issue with religious overtones that persist, see Cheryl Schatz on circumcision (Google) males can't approach God without first being circumcised see also blog "A Penis Free Columbia" female MD likens circumcision to castration and carried it out on multiple males in a typical hospital morning, saying she hoped only for "a foreskin free Columbia" and achieved her wish with surgeries on unwilling males.

I have lived w/ botched job and known of a family where using anesthesia on young boy for optional surgery ruined his life. First there is no reason to cut what is needed to have a normal life. My son is natural and he likes it. I remember feeling bad to find out that they modified my body for no reason other than a bunch of Dr. LIES. Which is what goes on in this country. Second when you find out that it was a botched job you go crazy. I was cut to the balls and have very little feeling in that part thanks to an insisting Dr. spreading his lies and needing the money. Yes CRAZY and I have the titanium to prove that. Third now that we can research on line and see a child being cut up for no good reason and you think that was you at one time. Well I take my urine in a bottle and pour it on Mom's stone! fourth My son hates Dr. because when he was growing up they were no help. Had an ear infection Dr. looking in ear said yes it is an ear infection and I need to circumcision him right away. My son never cared what I looked like he only cared about what he looked like. SO he cried NO! and We did not go back to him! Also, found old med book 1950s that if RIC not done then leave it alone because of psychological trauma. Just try to find a Dr. that will be honest enough to tell you that. 5 locker room lie. If the others don't like it it is because they are mad that no one asked them and now they are stuck! 6 Don't trust Dr. they have their own attitude and agenda. And best of all they don't have to raise your son. They are happy to stick you with a bill and a broken kid. 7 IF you did this to him take responsibility for what you did. Talk to him more than That is your private parts and "WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THAT!'. Well if it is SO private then why were you so quick to modify it and damage it for no good reason. If it is damaged talked to him and cry with him. It is a bad sean where they send you out into the world not knowing what is going on, because No one ever said to me "poor thing your mother must have picked a bad Dr.' No it was always "What's wrong with YOU, don't you like girls" The medical profession is relying on guys like me being so embarrassed about it that word never gets out. Well they should be embarrassed and ashamed for keeping up the lie. I feel like I was an UGLY baby and since NOTHING EVER GOES WRONG it must have been on purpose to keep me from spreading my UGLYNESS. Well I did anyway, but with great difficulty. As for GOD, well read your New Testament, Paul said that we now have a circumcision of the heart and the physical one is not needed. Unless you don't believe the New Testament and want every one to look like the members of your Tribe. Isn't that what motivates you Dr.s. Enough said, 6 decades and still feeling abused and CRAZY.