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 :)

I remember during clinicals this poor 11 pounder was screaming!!!!!!!!..... My preceptor told me that the doc that performed the procedure was the only one they'd experience who is known to perform poorly. I was alittle relieved that performance doesn't happen on a daily base.:uhoh3: I never wanted to see another done when I had options.

I know some ppl are against it but, I'm not....as a guy I'm glad I don't have that extra skin. I can't imagine having it. When I do Tx's like antifungal to penile gland, it gets me retching. It is so disgusting....(cottage cheese). I can do stage 4's but I can't do peniles.:nono:

Specializes in pediatric ER.

I've assisted with a lot of circs and only see them start screaming out because they feel the PRESSURE of the clamps used to ensure the doctor makes a correct cut. Because, remember, anesthetic helps with pain, but nothin can cover up that pressure... just feels a bit odd is all. And we know anything that feels different and a bit uncomfortable, but not necessarily painful can make a baby cry.

Specializes in Psych, Derm,Eye,Ortho,Prison,Surg,Med,.

What the heck is stage 4s?

Instruct your patients to freshen up before you administer a procedure.

Specializes in Accepted...Master's Entry Program, 2008!.
I give kudos to any male who has been circumcised.:yeah: I witnessed my very first circumcision this morning. I never gave much thought to the whole procedure until I actually saw one with my own eyes! OUCH!:smackingf I am glad that they don't remember this when they are adults!!!!!!! Thank heavens Im a girl!:w00t:

Yeah, thanks. Unfortunately none of us actually had a choice or made a decision.

I have 3 boys and all were circ'd.. my brother in law wasnt and tells me everyday he wishes he was. I think the decision should be left up to mom and dad.

As far as the pain, EMLA cream used 1 hour before the procedure seems to keep the child in lil to no pain. I have seen babies sleep through it. I think this is the way to go. But then again, I am a woman and would have no idea.

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.

Yes, I know the top half is swaddled, but the bottom is not. No baby likes the feeling of cold air on their skin.

Sometimes they settle down, sometimes they don't. Newborns do not like being forced into a position and then messed with.

Screaming during the procedure: I have lost track of how many kids are anesthetized for sutures but start screaming as soon as they feel the doc touching them. They don't feel the actual suturing but they feeling the pressure and the pulling, and it feels "wrong" to them.

Specializes in pediatric ER.
I have lost track of how many kids are anesthetized for sutures but start screaming as soon as they feel the doc touching them. They don't feel the actual suturing but they feeling the pressure and the pulling, and it feels "wrong" to them.

YES! Thank you! I completely agree. It doesn't hurt, just feels weird. Some fall asleep and some scream bloody murder through the whole dang thing.

Babies also scream at the top of their lungs when having a rectal temp taken, and we all know that's not painful at all.

Specializes in ER, telemetry.

I have found that most infants do not mind rectal temps. Its the older infants and toddlers. I know that when I told my OB MD that I did not want my son circumsized, he was a little surprised, but said, "thats great, if it were up to me I would never do another one". My two boys are circ'd, have never had a problem, are healthy and happy. If you were to see them in the grocery store or on the street, you would not be able to tell them apart from another child that has been circumsized. I have taken care of very old men that have lived long healthy lives without being partially dismembered as a child. It's all in how you are raised.

I have found that most infants do not mind rectal temps. Its the older infants and toddlers. [Q/UOTE]

I guess CA infants are more sensitive then.

I did not want my son circumsized, he was a little surprised, but said, "thats great, if it were up to me I would never do another one". My two boys are circ'd, have never had a problem, are healthy and happy. If you were to see them in the grocery store or on the street, you would not be able to tell them apart from another child that has been circumsized.

Are they or are they not circ'd?

Specializes in Med-Surg so far.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20070305/hl_hsn/scientistsdiscovernaturalbarriertohiv

For decades, the common wisdom was that HIV easily enters and infects Langerhans cells. Geijtenbeek's team has now cast doubt on that notion.

Looking closely at the interaction of HIV and Langerhans cells, they found that the cells "do not become infected by HIV-1, because the cells have the protein Langerin on their cell surface," Geijtenbeek said. "Langerin captures HIV-1 very efficiently, and this Langerin-bound HIV-1 is taken up (a bit like eating) by the Langerhans cells and destroyed."

In essence, Geijtenbeek said, "Langerhans cells act more like a virus vacuum cleaner."

Only in certain circumstances -- such as when levels of invading HIV are very high, or if Langerin activity is particularly weak -- are Langerhans cells overwhelmed by the virus and infected.

The finding is exciting for many reasons, not the least of which is its potential for HIV prevention, Geijtenbeek said.

So that kind of mitigates the "circ prevents HIV" study. It is also important to remember that the study was performed in Africa where there is a high rate of HIV infection, and it was done on consenting adult males. In addition that study has many flaws as far as control groups, not being double blind (how could it be?), etc. and as far as I know, has not been peer reviewed.

To me, circumcision is a cure looking for a reason. If it had all these medical benefits, routine infant circumcision would be recommended by the APA, AAP, or WHO, and guess what...it's not.

Specializes in ER, telemetry.

Oh, sorry they are NOT circumsized, I was typing a little too fast.

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