The Circumcision Discussion - page 88

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... Read More

  1. by Joe12
    Apr 15, '09
    Quote from Elvish
    I just plan on having him ask what they are doing looking anyway.
    Just out of couriosity, what part of the country are you in?
  2. by ElvishDNP
    Apr 15, '09
    Quote from Joe12
    Just out of couriosity, what part of the country are you in?
    I'm below the Mason-Dixon line.
  3. by Joe12
    Apr 15, '09
    Quote from Elvish
    I'm below the Mason-Dixon line.
    I kind of meant state, but if you're not comfortable with answering that geographic region perhaps? You said that circumcision is running about the national average I just like to know where that is. If you say, Georgia or Virginia that's pretty good if you say California I am not surprised that's all I just like to get a feel for what's happening in different places that's all.
  4. by ElvishDNP
    Apr 15, '09
    South-east US, if that clears things up for ya. I do think we do pretty well, since we're not California, like you say. I'd rather not say state if that's ok.

    I have seen a drop in circ rates at my hospital in the almost-4 years I've been there.
  5. by AirforceRN
    Apr 15, '09
    Quote from Elvish
    I just plan on having him ask what they are doing looking anyway.
    I'm sure most people wouldn't have an answer to that question but to be honest...if you're in a shower room and everyone is naked...you're going to notice anyway. Human nature I suppose.
  6. by Joe12
    Apr 15, '09
    Quote from Elvish
    South-east US, if that clears things up for ya. I do think we do pretty well, since we're not California, like you say. I'd rather not say state if that's ok.

    I have seen a drop in circ rates at my hospital in the almost-4 years I've been there.
    That's good enough, I figured SE most people in CA wouldn't say below the MD line. That's good to hear though. Do the staff do any education to help dissuade people?


    Quote from AirforceRN
    I'm sure most people wouldn't have an answer to that question but to be honest...if you're in a shower room and everyone is naked...you're going to notice anyway. Human nature I suppose.
    It's not so much a question of seeing or not it would be a question of making an issue out of it. I've never had a problem with it and I am in a locker room 4 - 6 times a week. I'll also add that as with most other people there I try hard not to notice and it's the only time I am glad my vision is about 20/80 and I only put my glasses/contacts back on last before I'am about to leave and for good reason.
  7. by ElvishDNP
    Apr 15, '09
    That's good enough, I figured SE most people in CA wouldn't say below the MD line. That's good to hear though. Do the staff do any education to help dissuade people?
    On the whole, do staff help dissuade? No. There is a pocket of a few of us that remind parents that this is not a 'have-to' sort of thing under any circumstances and try to open a discussion. The truth is that about 90% of folks have their minds made up before they ever set foot in the hosp. We do not have an extraordinarily high % of patients that do it for religious reasons, so mostly people do it for the supposed hygiene issue, or the matching-Daddy thing. It's a funny thing, though - 3/4 of our mgmt is totally against it, and almost all our hospital NPs are against it. I don't know why there isn't a bigger push in that direction.

    I do, however, make it a point to thank people who've chosen NOT to do it. It's amazing the response I get when I do that - I had one Mom breathe a big sigh of relief as she'd caught a lot of guff from family and friends re: not circing her boy.
  8. by Neveranurseagain
    Apr 15, '09
    Ther is less HIV transmitted with circumcised boys. Here is an article from Newsweek: http://www.newsweek.com/id/192472

    But my 15 yo son is not circed--he can do it later if he feels it needs to be done.
  9. by CEG
    Apr 15, '09
    Quote from awsmom8
    Ther is less HIV transmitted with circumcised boys. Here is an article from Newsweek: http://www.newsweek.com/id/192472

    .
    This is going to open up a whole new can of worms but let me just say that condoms are far more effective at preventing HIV with no risk of surgical complications, less expense, and without permanent alteration of a body part.

    Also, there is a lot of question about the methods and quality of this study and the associated conclusions.
  10. by ElvishDNP
    Apr 15, '09
    Uncirced & condom > circed and rubberless any day of the week for me.

    ETA - that came out way wrong. I meant that in terms of HIV protection, the former is far superior than the latter, and that's what I'll be teaching my son when he's of age.
    Last edit by ElvishDNP on Apr 15, '09
  11. by brillohead
    Apr 15, '09
    Quote from Joe12
    It's not so much a question of seeing or not it would be a question of making an issue out of it.
    Exactly..... etiquette is that you don't go looking at other peoples' private areas, and you certainly don't comment about it if you happen to see something unintentionally.

    People may happen to notice, but they shouldn't be making comments about it, because that will publicize the fact that they were looking where they shouldn't have been looking.
  12. by Joe12
    Apr 15, '09
    Quote from awsmom8
    Ther is less HIV transmitted with circumcised boys. Here is an article from Newsweek: http://www.newsweek.com/id/192472

    But my 15 yo son is not circed--he can do it later if he feels it needs to be done.
    They've been talking about that for two year now. The thing is that we have to be careful how we apply this information. Even accepting the risk reduction suggested, usually around 50%, that has to be viewed in the context of the local risk. Regardless of what is read in the media the difference in risk between a circumcised and an intact boy in the US is going to be very small simply because the prevalence is low in the US especially among heterosexuals. I'll add that most other countries have already acknowledge that limitation. It might be a good reason to circumcise in some African countries but not here. Though I'll add even in those countries it should be an adult decision.
  13. by Joe12
    Apr 15, '09
    Quote from Elvish
    On the whole, do staff help dissuade? No. There is a pocket of a few of us that remind parents that this is not a 'have-to' sort of thing under any circumstances and try to open a discussion. The truth is that about 90% of folks have their minds made up before they ever set foot in the hosp.
    I suspected this was the case.

    Quote from Elvish
    We do not have an extraordinarily high % of patients that do it for religious reasons, so mostly people do it for the supposed hygiene issue, or the matching-Daddy thing. It's a funny thing, though - 3/4 of our mgmt is totally against it, and almost all our hospital NPs are against it. I don't know why there isn't a bigger push in that direction.
    This seems to me to be a wider spread situation then our rates would suggest. That is to say many medical professionals tend to be against it but not to the point of 'doing much' about it. The thing is that this is really how it was ended in New Zealand and Australia about 35 and 25 years ago respectively. Basically, they just stopped offering it; kind of a we just won't bring it up thing. I think this could be a model for the US. This is probably a decision made higher up but if most people on your floor were against it and just said let's just stop offering it might make more people think twice. I don't think there is a bigger push because they are afraid of offending others.

    Quote from Elvish
    I do, however, make it a point to thank people who've chosen NOT to do it. It's amazing the response I get when I do that - I had one Mom breathe a big sigh of relief as she'd caught a lot of guff from family and friends re: not circing her boy.
    That's great. I hope everyone here does something like that, give the parents some strength and encouragement especially considering the grief they might get from others. Something like a thank you, or "What a lucky boy!"
    Last edit by Joe12 on Apr 15, '09

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