The Circumcision Discussion

[jmspeach]

I know this can be a HUGE debate, and I'm not looking to start any arguments. I was just wondering as you are OB nurses. I'm expecting a boy in July and not sure if we should circ. or not. My husband says yes, it's better medically in the long run. My gpa who just turned 70 had to have a circ. due to endless complications lately.

As nurses in this area, is the medication that they use good? And what are some questions to ask my Dr. about it. I already know that my hospital i'll be at uses a med. when they perform it, I"m just wondering what you all think.

Thanks

Jen :)

[ambil]

I really don't understand why our genitals are being manipulated so much. Males are circumsized in certain parts of the world and unfortunatly little girls too. Common sense tells me that both examples are barbaric and outdated with what we know about the human body and personal hygiene today. Yes, it's a personal decision and is sometimes based on religious principles. We can't change deep rooted practices. I'm just not one for causing unnessary physical pain. I hear alot about "personal choice". Babies just can't be asked, can they? But how can a grown man know what he is missing when it was taken away before he could remember. Who knows, maybe he would like it better not being circumcised.

[vashtee, RN]

As for the one who wrote about Jews against circumcision, never heard of them, must be Reform Jews, who are known to to practise many of the Jewish laws.

As a Reform Jew, I can tell you with certainty that the Brit Milah Board of Reform Judaism believes strongly in a traditional interpretation of brit milah.

[fergus51]

Don't know why all the anti against circumcision. .

Unfortunately I've seen some really bad circumcisions. I didn't have any feelings on the matter one way or the other until the baby I saw almost bleed to death after his circ. That was it for me. Then there were kids needing stitches, the screaming, the throwing up, the way they were strapped to the board, the poor cosmetic outcomes... It was all just a little much for me. I respect anyone else if they choose to do it. It's just a personal opinion with me that I don't think it's worth doing. I'm glad everything went well with your sons and the circs you've witnessed have all been so peaceful though.

[labcat01, BSN, RN]

There is information at these sites at the CDC

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/index.htm

http://http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/320/7249/1592

That was a very compelling argument for circumcision. Also, I had no idea that the CDC was recommending that men consider circumcision as additional protection against HIV transmission.

[fergus51]

I hope everyone remembers to tell circed men that the protection against HIV has only been shown for HIV transmitted through lady partsl intercourse and they still need to use condoms since the protection isn't that good. The main ways HIV is spread in the US is through IV drug use and anal sex.

[vashtee, RN]

I hope everyone remembers to tell circed men that the protection against HIV has only been shown for HIV transmitted through lady partsl intercourse and they still need to use condoms since the protection isn't that good. The main ways HIV is spread in the US is through IV drug use and anal sex.

Hmm... I'm a little confused, though. If a circumcision protects by removing cells from the member that are more receptive to the HIV virus, why would that NOT offer some degree of protection for anal sex, too?

[CTYankeeRN]

Having had assisted at many circs... when I was pregnant 21 years ago I decided that if I had a son I would not subject him to it. The research supported that decision and so did common sense. One is usually wrong when trying to improve on mother nature...and it may have made sense in a desert culture during biblical times...but not so much now. 21 years later my son is still "intact" and has never questioned my decision. If he had I would have told him that "they didn't make any clamps big enough!";)

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Last night I was charge in the nursery while the OB resident was doing some circs (not the same one whose head I bit off in another post, lol). I asked her what her take was on it, since she does it for a living. I was heartened to hear that, although she had no real strong feelings for it one way or the other, she leaned toward not circing.

Part of my job as nursery charge is to have moms sign circ consents after the MD has talked with them about it. While I'm doing that I try to engage mom (and dad, if he's there) in a meaningful conversation as to what goes on, how we do circs, what analgesia/anesthesia we use, and what circumcision means to them. It has been educational for me, and most patients are very receptive to at least talking about it. I don't tell people they MUST change their minds, but I let them know it's not ABSOLUTELY necessary and why.

I respect and can understand someone who has their boy circed for religious reasons. That said, some people in some parts of the world cut girls' genitalia (religious and/or social reasons, I'm guessing) and it's (rightly) called child abuse. But I really don't understand any other argument (than religious faith) for circing boys. JMO.

[fergus51]

Hmm... I'm a little confused, though. If a circumcision protects by removing cells from the member that are more receptive to the HIV virus, why would that NOT offer some degree of protection for anal sex, too?

We assume it's the recipient that isn't protected. There are no studies showing tht the man receiving anal sex is at any less risk than before. That's the reason the US has a relatively high HIV rate despite having a high circ rate compared to countries like Japan (lower HIV and lower circ rate).

[KYCNM]

I believe part of the reason is the tissue of the glans member is not cutaneous tissue, but mucocutaneous which is more permeable to viruses. There is an interesting article about the prepuce and the foreskin at:

http://www.cirp.org/library/anatomy/cold-taylor/

[msmcrn5]

I am sorry, but unlike most of you, I am all for circumcisions. Not only did I circ my son, but I try to convience my pts to do it, if they ask my opinion. If they say they are not going to do, I don't ever mention it. Most of my pts are hispanic and they don't do.

Everyone in my family is circ'd and I have only been with men that have been circ'd, and it is so much nicer to look at then an uncircumcised member.

While I worked in hospital a while ago, and helped men with baths, I noticed the uncirc's men and they are very ugly, and to be honest, stunk. The smelt that they get under the foreskin smells really bad.

I don't want to upset anyone, but I feel that all men should be circ's. I have seen numerous boys that had to get circ's while they were kids. My grandfather had to have it done when he was 15.

[lovemyjob]

cosmetics/aestetics are not a reason to submit an infant to great pain and risk of botched circs and all of the other cons discussed here.

a man who is in the hospital where people do not bathe an uncirc'd male properly is going to have an odor, as is a female who has not been bathed properly.

convincing a patient who is unsure of whether to circ or not is unethical. if they are unsure, you should speak of pros and cons, including the fact that it is deemed unnecessary by the aap, and stick to facts only, not including that fact that you think they stink or are ugly.