How Far Would You Go to Circumcise?

November 27, 2007

It's a Jewish tradition to have a bris on a baby boy's eighth day of life. And, roughly half of all parents choose to circumcise their sons. On Desperate Housewives recently, Bree and Orson got into a disagreement over circumcising their newborn. So she went to a friend's bris and had her own son nipped without Orson's knowledge. Would you ever go behind your partner's back to circumcise your son?

31 Comments

3 years 6 weeks

Both my husband and I are Jewish so there was no conflict. Our sons are circumcised.

3 years 18 weeks

Bree does the right thing by having the little boy "done" as early as possible. It is irresponsible not to circumcise ASAP after birth when the opportunity exists (starting with a good circumcision unit and well-trained doctors). Countries in which circumcision is not practiced, of course, cannot really brag of a track record there! But circumcision is not only the sexual preference of most women, it is also considered exciting by many gay lovers, and hygienic and health benefits have been proven again and again (less urinary tract infections, no penile cancer, less danger of cervical cancer, less danger of transmitting other infections, etc...etc...). I know that in Holland, to quote a "non-American" country, circumcision is increasingly practiced, for all those reasons. About 1/3 of males worldwide are circumcised, and it is quite likely that in tren years' time the figure will have risen significantly - gradually the majority of males will be "snipped" as a matter of course - which is a very good thing. With both my wives we never had any debate - we agreed wholeheardetly that our baby boys would be circ'd before leaving the hospital after birth, or shortly thereafter (sometimes doctors decide to delay the operation a bit). It is cruel to leave a foreskin on a male till he's facing a major operation to have a clean-cut cock, when it is so easy, simple and quick in early infancy. Parents who do not circumcise should be blamed, not the reverse!

3 years 47 weeks

I would never circumcise my son, because the benefits of being normal 'down there' are massively greater than otherwise. (Yes, for you Americans, by normal I mean having a foreskin, because about 80% of males world-wide are uncircumcised) But really, you have to be really misinformed, which most Americans tend to be on the matter, not surprisingly, or just mentally ill to do something like that to a child, who has no choice in the matter. It's illegal in Sweden also. Hopefully one day laws will be passed world-wide banning circumcision completely.

Dominique Rooney 4 years 17 weeks

Ylatan, my facts have been checked. Stop being so dramatic. I am a Greek Orthodox woman. Your little story that you googled is entertaining. Things have changed and there are new medical discoveries every day. Again, because there are so many different opinions and studies about this subject the available data is not sufficient to recommend routine neonatal circumcision. It's a personal decision. P.S. The Doctors just aired a show that verifies some of these facts.

Dominique Rooney 4 years 30 weeks

I had to respond to this after my first comment and a reply to my comment. I hate it when people respond to things just from what they read on the internet. Once again it HAS been proven that circumcised boys have a smaller chance for infections and other problems and my facts are also from a reliable source. I did not talk about the disadvantages in my comments. It's a given...As noted...there are always potential risks with every surgery, I apologize for not stating so. Because there are so many different opinions and studies about this subject the available data is not sufficient to recommend routine neonatal circumcision. This is true. For us there was enough data to see the benefits.

scolaccij 5 years 2 weeks

I can't believe this. If she were my wife, I'd immediately file for divorce and sole custody on the basis of endangerment. That's just plain wrong. As far as Rachellebelly, you have it backwards: it's cruel to do it. Believe me, I was done. I wish every day someone had told my parents how wrong they were. I don't understand the last part of your post. You DON'T have to do it later and if you decide to go that route, it's our choice. I agree it's disgusting, but if an adult chops themself up, that's their loss. Most men are never circumcised and even in the US, where it's ridiculously high at 60%, those who escape the knife very very rarely get it done.

rca 5 years 12 weeks

i think going against nature is wrong and it should be the persons choice later in life.

CaterpillarGirl 5 years 24 weeks

"it looks cleaner" i dont get that. its a Penis's natural state. So naturally its dirty?

CaterpillarGirl 5 years 24 weeks

I am not circumcising my child, my hubby isn't neither are his 3 brothers. Its just not necessary anymore, and if you teach your child good hygiene there wont be any problem. I don't see the need to mutilate a child for no reason at all except for cosmetic reasons.

ylatan 5 years 24 weeks

For those who think every baby boy should be circumcised, please read this: http://www.mothersagainstcirc.org/fleiss.html

Rachelleybelley 5 years 24 weeks

every baby boy should be circumcised- its cruel to do it later on in life. Besides for looks its also alot cleaner.

ylatan 5 years 24 weeks

Dominique Rooney, you really need to check your facts. yikes! Also, perhaps look up what is LOST when someone is circumcised... I wouldn't do anything behind my partner's back, and neither would he. We just don't function that way. Thankfully, we agree that circumcision is totally wrong. My son is not circ'd. :)

Jessamyn 5 years 24 weeks

When we didn't have a baby boy, we said we would circumcise him. Then we had a daughter, and 3 years later, a boy. We didn't circumcise him. I couldn't do that without any medical reason. Over here in Germany, circumcisions are NOT standard.

Dollylo 5 years 24 weeks

That's something I really want to do if I have a baby boy but I certainly won't do it without my partner's approval!!!

jennifer76 5 years 24 weeks

Dominique - I'm not sure where you're quoting those statistics from. But, it's the AAP's official position that [e]xisting scientific evidence demonstrates potential medical benefits of newborn male circumcision; however, these data are not sufficient to recommend routine neonatal circumcision. They found that there are some potential medical benefits, but that there are also potential medical risks and none of the data they have seen are enough to sway them to recommend it as a routine course. That's pretty straightforward and from a very credible source.

Jennifer777 5 years 24 weeks

I wouldn't do it behind his back! My husband is Jewish (I am not) and while we haven't had a child we have discussed this topic. I agree with circumcising but I am having a hard time with the idea of a rabbi and not a doctor doing it.....

macgirl 5 years 24 weeks

Would never do anything behind his back. Hubby is more for it than I am, he's the one with the penis so I default to his expertise.

Dominique Rooney 5 years 24 weeks

I have to be honest. It's a proven fact that circumcised boys have less chance of infections among other problems. We both agreed that it would be best for our son in the long run. But I would have never done it behind his back. As a mother it's important to care... A retrospective study of boys aged 4 months to 12 years found uncircumcised boys exhibited significantly greater frequency of penile problems (14% vs 6%; P < 0.001) and medical visits for penile problems (10% vs 5%; P < 0.05) compared with those who were circumcised. In infants born in Washington State from 1987-96, 0.2% had a complication arising from their circumcision, i.e., 1 in every 476 circumcisions [65]. It was concluded that 6 urinary tract infections could be prevented for every circumcision complication, and 2 complications can be expected for every penile cancer prevented [65].

jennifer76 5 years 24 weeks

Eek! No way. What a way to set a precedent. How could you ever expect your husband to honor your wishes after something like this!? And for the record, I wouldn't circumcise a child anyway.

colormesticky 5 years 24 weeks

Hubby is all for it, and since he understands what it's like a lot more than I ever could I'm letting him have the final say. I don't care one way or the other. I've had several friends who've done it later in life and a couple more who want to, so if it's that important then I'd get it done as a baby and get it over with.

MsBabyNurse 5 years 24 weeks

As a nurse I have seen way too many circumcisions go wrong and I know the procedure is both painful and medically unnecessary. So I did not have my sons circumcised - my husband was also in agreement. However, if it had been really important to my husband, I still would have refused to consent but I would have been fine with having my husband discuss circumcision with the boys as teens and allowing the boys to choose it for themselves if they desired. As far as the DH episode, a marriage should always be based on trust and communication. If one spouse blatently goes behind the other's back and does something the other vehemently opposes, that marriage will greatly suffer due to lack of trust. I would never do something behind my partners back. It does not surprise me in the least that Bree did something like this. It would have been out of character for her to listen to reason and do something like honor her husband's wishes! ha ha!

psychotic_virus 5 years 24 weeks

both of my boyfriend and i agree with circumcising if we have a boy. i personally dont see a big deal. i thought it was more hygenic and easier to clean no? hm.

erinflower 5 years 24 weeks

We didn't do it anyway but never behind the other's back. My husband would have preferred him to be circumcised but the no trumps the yes in this argument.

kiwitwist 5 years 24 weeks

i wouldn't go behind my hubby's back.

ufshutterbabe 5 years 24 weeks

I'm so very against it, but my husband is for it. We wouldn't do anything behind each other's backs, especially when it is so important and permanent. But I just can't see myself changing my mind on this. Thank goodness we aren't having kids anytime soon!

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