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 Orthosurgery, Rehab, Homecare.
I also have to differ with you on the asthestic superiority of a circumcised member. In my opinion it's appearance is more vulgar...:coollook: It is an immodest, brazen, and naked appearing member, with nothing left to the imagination.:cool:

Garden Dove, this cracked me up. I think, though, that it's true.

~Jen

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Specializes in OB, lactation.

I'm in the preservation camp. My husband is done but my 3 boys are not & they are fine, just like most of the rest of the world that doesn't do it.

I work in OB and all of our babies scream like they are being tortured when they are circed (I had my kids before I was a nurse, btw). This is even when the docs use EMLA &/or nerve blocks; maybe they aren't doing the blocks well enough but that's my experience.

All our opinions aside, the fact is that most people are NOT very educated about circumcision. More folks should at least read up a little and make an educated decision about it. The history of it is pretty fascinating actually, whatever decision parents end up making!

There is lots of info on the net of course, for both camps. One site supporting not doing it (with studies to back up their points) is http://cirp.org/

Other sources of info include the American Academy of Pediatrics, etc. etc. The professional medical organizations understand that it's a cultural decision to be made individually, but none actually recommend the practice.

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I'm in the preservation camp. My husband is done but my 3 boys are not & they are fine, just like most of the rest of the world that doesn't do it.

I work in OB and all of our babies scream like they are being tortured when they are circed (I had my kids before I was a nurse, btw). This is even when the docs use EMLA &/or nerve blocks; maybe they aren't doing the blocks well enough but that's my experience.

All our opinions aside, the fact is that most people are NOT very educated about circumcision. More folks should at least read up a little and make an educated decision about it. The history of it is pretty fascinating actually, whatever decision parents end up making!

There is lots of info on the net of course, for both camps. One site supporting not doing it (with studies to back up their points) is http://cirp.org/

Other sources of info include the American Academy of Pediatrics, etc. etc. The professional medical organizations understand that it's a cultural decision to be made individually, but none actually recommend the practice.

Hi - good post.

I have to say that the only babies who cry are the ones who are circ'd by the doc who does NOT use lidocaine. I don't help him, as I've mentioned.

All the other docs do a great job - and as I said, the babies don't cry.

But I still wish I had not been forced to have it done to my 3 boys - but the truth is if Dad wants it, Dad wins. He is the male - they are male. I'm just a woman, what do I know? :cool: And MY 22 y.o. and 24 y.o. are GLAD they are circ'd.

It is a strange world.

steph

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I work in OB and all of our babies scream like they are being tortured when they are circed (I had my kids before I was a nurse, btw). This is even when the docs use EMLA &/or nerve blocks; maybe they aren't doing the blocks well enough but that's my experience.

And maybe it's just that the babies are laying there with their nether parts hanging out in the wind, with their legs strapped down straight. They are not swaddled and warm, which is what the little guys desire at that moment.

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I work in an ICU and have spent a lot of time volunteering in a Level I trauma ER. ICU's and ER's are full of people who put off getting things checked for weeks and months, things that should have been taken care of long ago. I've seen some nasty, nasty stuff and have caught some aromas that make me beg for cabbage and mayo that's been sitting in a car for three days in 105 degree heat. Of all the stuff I've smelled and witnessed, only one time have I ever had to walk away and go sit down for a little bit. It was during school and my O.B. rotation at a high risk labor/delivery unit in Denver, watching a newborn be circumcised.

I have a serious aversion to needles anyway, always have. Not good for someone who's going into anesthesia. :nuke: Anyway, they gave the little guy a pacifier with some sweetener on it to keep him occupied and he was pretty content. The doc used some numbing medicine just under the skin and injected it all around. Next came this cup-like device that fit just over the top of the little guy's peanut. He put it on and turned it counter-clockwise a bit, getting it as deep in the foreskin as he needed to. Next were the sterile scissors, making an initial cut vertically, then cutting around the cup-like device. I kept looking at the kid...looking down at me...looking back at the kid...looking back down at me. Enough. I walked away and found a chair, right next to a smiling classmate who was swaddling a newborn in her arms.

She says, "Are you okay??!!!"

Me: "No."

"What's wrong?? You look horrible!"

Me: "I really don't feel good. Not at all. Does my face look flushed?"

"Well, it doesn't look flushed really. It actually looks really pale."

Me: "Yes, pale. That's the one I meant. Pale."

I was out of it. Completely. Things were spinning, tunnel vision, light headed. I managed to do just fine after sitting down for a while and drinking some ice water. I've never come so close to losing it like that ever since.

Wow, very interesting to know that this is a normal reaction. lol, the same exact description of how you felt happened to me as I observed a corrective penile surgery for hypospadia.

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Specializes in Pulmonology/Critical Care, Internal Med.

Its funny, I watched two circ's the other day in the nursery, infants just laid there, no screaming (EMLA put on 1hr prior to procedure). I actually found it pretty neat, and quick, no fuss, nothing wrong, even afterwards, give the little guy a pacifier with some sugar on it and hes a happy camper.

However, I get a little *funny feeling* anytime I have to put in a foley without the use of an anesthetic gel used pre insertion. We get on our soap boxes about cutting off some foreskin yet we see nothing wrong with putting a rubber hose up someones urethra without the use of anesthetic gel...hrmmmmm???

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I'm almost afraid to post! This is only my opinion!

The uncircumcised member is just downright ugly! I'm sorry but it is. Not to mention nasty most of the time. Soap and water once or twice a day, even three times a day just isn't going to get it.

Oral sex would be absolutely out of the question unless possibly right out of the shower. :eek:

That is proof right there that all men (gay and straight) should be circumcised. End of thread.

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:coollook: It is an immodest, brazen, and naked appearing member, with nothing left to the imagination. .:cool:

The same can be said of a privy parts :eek: ....but that might be :offtopic: .

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Specializes in Cardiothoracic Transplant Telemetry.

My mom refused to let my brother be cut when he was born, he now has 2 sons, neither of which was cut either, so I assume that he was not traumatized by growing up with a member that looked a little different than most of the other little boys.

I have never known a guy who was cut that wishes that he wasn't, and I have never known a guy who wasn't that wishes he was. I think that every guy prefers their member exactly the way that it is and can not imagine it another way.

I also totally agree with the argument that most guys want their little men (I mean their sons, not their memberes, lol) to look like them. My sister circ'd her son because she understood her husband's feelings on the matter.

I have no children. If I did have a son, I would have a very hard time with allowing him to be circ'd, but I grew up in a family that didn't do it. If I came from a family that did, I could very well feel differently on the matter.

Slightly off topic, but when I was in nursing school I had a friend that had never seen a intact member, and she was nervous about how she would react when confronted by one for the first time. During a study session at her apt one night she confessed this to a male friend of ours, who then used a rolled pair of socks to demonstrate the appearance. The whole situation was so funny that we all nearly peed our pants. That is one memory from nursing school that I will never forget!!!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, acute hospital care, rehab.

If it ain't broke DON'T fix it!! :nono:

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Specializes in Med Surg, Specialty.
Ummm....Avyah....i'm gay....thats how I know. :smokin:

That's fine if you are. I only asked because my experience contradicts yours and dixie's.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Specialty.
And maybe it's just that the babies are laying there with their nether parts hanging out in the wind, with their legs strapped down straight. They are not swaddled and warm, which is what the little guys desire at that moment.

With the circs I have seen, the top half of the babies are swaddled. They fuss when the legs are initially being put in that position and cry a bit after the pain shots, and then settle down and are fine being in that position. Then they start screaming with the procedure.

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