Circumcision Debate

RNPD · Sep 8, 2001

Karen-were you able to actually read the article online? All I see at the link is the abstract you printed in your post.

nursetobe-babe · Mar 30, 2003

In a new born baby, vitamin K ( which produces prothrombin, a key element in the coagulation of blood) skyrockets on the EIGHTH day to a level above normal -110%

Thus if the parents decide to go ahead with it, circumcising on the eighth day is best since there is a decrease of bleeding due to the peak production of vitamin K in the baby's body.

-just though i'd share :)

hogan4736, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2003

Originally posted by lalaxton
Besides there is growing evidence that men are more sexually sensitive if they have not been circumsized. Any comments from the guys out there?

I am circ'd...

But this is my favorite spin on this debate...

More sexually sensitive????

Can you say: "How in the hell can anyone answer this question objectively????????"

Has the evidence come (100%) from men that weren't circ'd, then got circ'd, and reported sex to suck (after the circ)???

I mean really, who are they asking for such results??? 10 year olds? I think not!!

ShandyLynnRN, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2003

Originally posted by hogan4736
I am circ'd...

But this is my favorite spin on this debate...

More sexually sensitive????

Can you say: "How in the hell can anyone answer this question objectively????????"

Has the evidence come (100%) from men that weren't circ'd, then got circ'd, and reported sex to suck (after the circ)???

I mean really, who are they asking for such results??? 10 year olds? I think not!!

I always wondered the same thing. I did work with a gal one time whose hubby had been circed late in life, and said it was never as good as before.

My view on circs is to each his own. I had my son circ'd because his daddy is, and I thought it best at the time. Now that I've seen them done, I'm not sure I'd have another child of mine circ'd, except for the fact that I already have one son that is, and I wouldn't want them to feel different.

I'm glad I had my son circ'd though, because I can't imagine trying to get him to retract and clean, etc, as required.... I can't even get him to brush his teeth properly!

(and no, I didn't read this whole thread, so I'm sure some of what I said has already been said before :) )

hogan4736, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2003

ever tried to cath a little boy that wasn't circ'd?

(specifically the ones whose parents haven't consistently retracted the foreskin, and now it's almost completely closed - you know, the kid pees through a pinhole, and now a circ is practically required)...the catheter wraps up inside the foreskin, and you end up w/ a traumatic/bloody cath

sjoe · Mar 30, 2003

"LEGALIZED CHILD ABUSE"

Fergus writes: "the main reason [besides those of religion] it was adopted in western countries was that they believed it would prevent masturbation and all the diseases that went along with it (like blindness and insanity). "

Correct.

lala writes: "If I had to have a mastectomy at an early age should I think my daughter should have one to look like me??"

The "look like one's father" argument makes absolutely no sense. A little boy NEVER looks like his father (unless that father is VERY underdeveloped).

Y2K writes: "It is cleaner as well"

An argument for similar, female surgery? For amputating feet?

jt writes: "There are have been studies done & data shows that the wives or long time partners of uncircumsized men have a higher incidence of cervical CA & infection. "

That is true. In THIRD WORLD countries.

"It is ultimately a very personal decision"

And for that reason best left up to the male involved when he is old enough to decide--like age 18.

For all of those with "intact horror stories," should we cut off fingers at birth because they sometimes get infected, broken, or cause pain to the person later on?

ShandyLynnRN, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2003

Sjoe, I am assuming you are anti-circumscision???

emily_mom · Mar 30, 2003

I read an interesting study that an RN gave me during my OB clinical. It was done in Boston with 2500 boys between the ages of 12 and 17. It kind of debunked the myths of why parents choose circs. When asked if their fathers were, 90-some % didn't know. When asked if their friends were, 90-some % didn't know. When asked if THEY were, again, 90-some % didn't know.

I wish I could get access to that article again. It was pretty interesting.

I think it's a personal choice, but after assisting with it in clinical with 3 little guys, I don't know if I would. It was very hard to watch and try to comfort him. Some girls left as they got woozy (they had sons).

JNJ · Mar 30, 2003

I'm a European woman; babies are not routinely circumcized in Europe unless there is a religious reason (Jewish or Muslim usually).

As a cultural note - men with circumcisions look deformed to me - I definitely see it as genital mutilation (and I have seen and worked with various forms of female mutilation).

As for all the "hygiene" posts - the European health care systems are not exactly overwhelmed by caring for infections of this area; if they were, the "benefits" of this surgical procedure would be obvious, well researched and more appropriate methods of performing the procedure would have been found.

I have cared for a newborn who died from a slow bleeding circ.

I have also listened to poor mothers, trying to afford to get their infant boys circumcized (so that not being circumcized does not get equated with poverty which is another issue related to discharge time after birth and Medicaid.)

Just food for your thoughts, I hope.

Vsummer1 · Mar 31, 2003

This thread started in 2001 with the following post by:

steve brock

Guest

Registered: Feb 2001

Location: sausalito, ca, us

Posts: 6

07-18-2001 05:54 PM

"Circumcision Debate Post #1

Hi all. Our HealthGate topic of the week is a debate about circumcision. Is it a minor operation, (endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics) that improves cleanliness and that a baby doesn't feel or an unethical mutilation, with no medical basis, that has long-lasting effects"

So, I presume that the information in this statement as the very FIRST POST on the position on the American Pediatrics Association has never been challenged. Note that at that time the Task Force had made its conclusion AND THIS IS ERRONEOUS INFORMATION, 3 years out of date at the start of this thread and now it comes up two more years later? The thread starter was a guest with exactly 6 posts, period. Can we say TROLL?

"The American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on Circumcision (1998) noted that, although there is scientific evidence of potential medical benefits of circumcision, the data are not sufficient to recommend routine circumcision. The Task Force further recommended that is circumcision is performed, analgesia should be used.:

The policy and procedure for our PP unit (where I am currently doing clinicals) is thus:

Instructions To Mother, Infant Care:

"Circumcision

Circumcision is no longer done routinely. The American Pediatric Association, after conducting several studies and interpreting the data, has stated that for most male children circumcision is an unnecessary surgery. You should discuss the pros and cons of circumcision with your pediatrition before making a decision.

Circumcision is no longer done in the hospital. It will be done at the pediatrician's office; so you should discuss this with your pediatrician before you leave the hospital or call the office/clinic for an appointment right after you go home."

Tenesma · Mar 31, 2003

a few points

1) the academy of pediatrics no longer endorses circumcisions

2) there is NO difference in infection rate whatsoever - primarily because the foreskin produces smegma which has both anti-microbial and anti-viral propertis

3) the only thing medical evidence to support circumcision is that you decrease your risk for penile cancer - but the same philosophy applies to breasts (if you have a mastectomy you decrease your risk for breast cancer).

4) with every surgery there are surgical complications that can arise: including surgical wound infection which led to a penectomy (that's right - the member gets chopped off), scarring and disfigurement that leads to painful intercourse... etc...

Most of the European countries do no provide circumcision...

Q. · Mar 31, 2003

To circumsize or not to circumsize:

Parent's Choice.. End of story.