The Circumcision Discussion

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

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 :)

Specializes in My son...for now..
There is no way I would let them circumcise my son, the only exception is if it was medically necessary. The reasons "He should look like daddy or he will not look like his friends" or even circumcising for cosmetic reasons makes no sense to me.

Sure some guys will say its better, its cleaner, or they are glad their parents did it when they were born. I think a lot of those guys are in denial. Of course I am not saying every guy that is circumcised feels this way, but I think a certain percentage of them feel this way. I do not blame them, I actually feel sorry for them. I would not be happy either if my parents chopped off a very sensitive part of my body that would never grow back, for the reason "Oh, it looks so much better". I think a lot of those guys circumcise their sons as a way of getting back at their parents for having them circumcised. The cycle never ends. They can not stand knowing that their son will have something they did not have.

The privy parts is the female structure analogous to the male member and the clitoral hood is the equivalent of the foreskin in the male. Why does not the law allow parents to remove their daughters clitoral hood since it is equal to the males foreskin? Please note I did not say remove her privy parts, I said remove her CLITORAL HOOD. Before anyone starts to argue there is no comparison please educate yourself with a medical textbook.

I too am like you and opted not to circumsize my son. He was a 33 weeker and with all he had been through, did not think a weiner wack was necessary. And his dad is European and they don't do it unless the kid is Jewish..

Furthermore, their is a small risk with Penile cancer, but the risk is so small most experts suggest that this is not a strong factor for consideration. I think this practice is no more necessary than any other cosmetic procedure. I was suprised at the response of the NICU nurses and my family when I informed them of my decision not to circumsize. I just don't want to get into wacking body parts unless necessary or until age of consent. Plus he gets to be different and fully "intact"

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
Absolutely Not...

I'm sure some do, but most heterosexual males find it to be a taboo subject. I have no scientific studies and I am sure the other men here will back me up on this one. ROFL

We had a guy come into the ER who tried to circ himself and it went wrong, we thought maybe a B.H. issues, but he had been in jail and was tormented by it not beinging circ.

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Specializes in My son...for now..

That guy sounded unstable was there a psych eval done?

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I belive that there was, but he was not my patient so I am not sure, I hoped that he did.

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When my son was born, the nurse pressured me to sign the circ concent form. After I refused, she showed me that my son's foreskin would not retract, therefore, she insisted that I would have to have him cut. I only found out a year or two later that no infant foreskins are retractable. I'll never know whether she was just ignorant or whether she was on a mission to convince me to sign the concent. Any chance there is a commission paid?

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

Not to nurses, no. I can't speak for anyplace else, but my hospital actually loses money on circs.

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Specializes in NICU.

NICU nurse here.

I would never circumcise my (completely hypothetical) male infant. No way, no how.

One of the three circs I have had the unfortunate opportunity to witness was so horribly brutal I left the room sobbing and our NICU fellow stepped in to take my place. He sympathized because he's from Europe where they don't do them routinely.

I recently had a patient brought to NICU because his circ wouldn't stop bleeding. I held pressure for an hour. Then had to apply topical epinepherine. That situation alone convinced my on-the-fence-about-circ to not do it.

There's no medical reason to do it! At least not enough convincing research to sway my opinion on the matter. Thankfully, our Neo's are outspokenly anti circ as well.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

We hardly do circs in our hospital any more. I realize most expectant parents have their minds made up one way or the other, but I do cover this in my birthing classes. I explain what the procedure is, show expectant parents how the member looks before and after, and that they are best off waiting until breastfeeding and thriving are established, before undertaking the procedure, if they elect for it. I also explain it is up to them as a personal decision, and nowadays, most insurance companies do not cover its costs, seeing it as elective. Further, it is much cheaper to have it done as an office procedure, to boot, which is a strong consideration if insurance won't pay.

Some classes open up for discussion. I do not as it can get very heated and really make the whole atmosphere very tense. I tell them I willing to point them to studies either way after class, if they choose to ask.

I am very careful not to bias my discussion one way or the other.

I am so very glad to see the circ procedure on a 1 day old or less baby in the hospital is all but gone where I work. Relieved, actually. These babies are challenged enough at that time, just learning to breathe, feed and be outside the womb. And it does give babies and parents time to bond before this procedure is undergone.

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Specializes in My son...for now..
We hardly do circs in our hospital any more. I realize most expectant parents have their minds made up one way or the other, but I do cover this in my birthing classes. I explain what the procedure is, show expectant parents how the member looks before and after, and that they are best off waiting until breastfeeding and thriving are established, before undertaking the procedure, if they elect for it. I also explain it is up to them as a personal decision, and nowadays, most insurance companies do not cover its costs, seeing it as elective. Further, it is much cheaper to have it done as an office procedure, to boot, which is a strong consideration if insurance won't pay.

Some classes open up for discussion. I do not as it can get very heated and really make the whole atmosphere very tense. I tell them I willing to point them to studies either way after class, if they choose to ask.

I am very careful not to bias my discussion one way or the other.

I am so very glad to see the circ procedure on a 1 day old or less baby in the hospital is all but gone where I work. Relieved, actually. These babies are challenged enough at that time, just learning to breathe, feed and be outside the womb. And it does give babies and parents time to bond before this procedure is undergone.

I am starting to believe this is a regional cultural issue. My parents also thought it was insane to not circumsize but none of them could say why.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Other than religious considerations, the number one reason I have heard expressed in those who cared to share was so father and son "looked the same" down there.

That is not a really good reason, to me, but it was the reason I allowed my now teenaged son to be circ'd. I would not do the same today, for a lot of reasons. I would not have caved as easily, at least, knowing what I know. It seems lame, what my reasons were back then. I just did not know better.

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Specializes in My son...for now..
Other than religious considerations, the number one reason I have heard expressed in those who cared to share was so father and son "looked the same" down there.

That is not a really good reason, to me, but it was the reason I allowed my now teenaged son to be circ'd. I would not do the same today, for a lot of reasons. I would not have caved as easily, at least, knowing what I know. It seems lame, what my reasons were back then. I just did not know better.

Well if I were you I wouldn't be harsh on myself. The cultural shift has definitely recently changed.. it was a norm when you had your son. You are a good mom regardless..i've read your posts and you sound like a real good mom.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Thank you for that. I have let it go really. But like I said, if I were to have another boy, I would think this through MUCH more before electing to go through a circ (or rather have him go through it). My own mind has changed a lot in 16 years.

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