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 DOU.
Medical benefit is for sexually active men. .

Thank you for clarifying this. It is one thing to say there is no medical benefit for an infant, and quite another to say there is no medical benefit at all.

Specializes in Critical Care, Progressive Care.

Surely there are Human Rights issues surrounding this?

Don't you have informed consent in the US?

Might i suggest you leave the boys untill they are over 18 years and ask them then if they want to look like their dads!!!

One would think that this issue would have been examined withing the context of human rights, but I cannot find any specific literature on it.

In the case of minor, informed consent for a surgical procedure is given by the parent.

From a human rights perspective, it is noteworthy that there are two types of rights - individual rights and collective or group rights. It might be argued that an individual has the right to have their genitals left alone (I hold this position). It is also argued that a culture has the right to engage in its cultural practiced even if other cultures find them barbaric. Female genital cutting is a good example here - some would say that we in West have no business dictating cultural norms to other societies. And so a conflict between individual rights and group rights arises.

I agree with you BTW - leave em alone till you can ask em. A friend of mine did not circ her son. He had the procedure done when he was 14. He initiated the discussion with his mother, she took him to the urologist, the urologist tried to dissuade him from doing it but the lad was determined and in the end the urologist agreed.

What does your son think about this? If i were you I wouldn't mention it to your daughter in law in the interest of family harmony but I sure would want to know how your son feels. If he is not in agreement with his wife then he really ought to prevent this from happening.

Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

I think it is Jane's daughter who's married to an American; in this case, I can see where the conflict lies. Where I work we have a fairly high # of Hispanic women - whose culture traditionally doesn't circ - married with American men, who want their sons circed. There tends to be quite an animated discussion among these couples, and it pains me to say it, but they usually decide for circ. And most of the moms aren't happy about it but feel they have no choice.

Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.
Thank you for clarifying this. It is one thing to say there is no medical benefit for an infant, and quite another to say there is no medical benefit at all.

I understand what you are saying.

However, I also think it's worth noting that the US - which has a higher circ rate (~60%) - also has a much higher HIV transmission rate than many many countries that don't routinely circ.

Personally, I'd much rather my son learn about his body, and about abstinence, monogamy and condoms than have me rely on circumcision to keep him HIV-free.

Specializes in Critical Care, Progressive Care.
I think it is Jane's daughter who's married to an American; in this case, I can see where the conflict lies. .

Aha. Perhaps I should read a little more carefully before I post. :trout:

In any event it is tough situation for a grandparent to be in. Best of luck sorting this out. And it is a tough place for a couple to be in at such a joyous time. Although I hope they see fit to leave your grandson's foreskin alone I suspect fighting families do more damage to a boy than circumcision.

It is curious to find you again on this forum Arwen. We both appear to take an interest in the most passionate and polarized topics on Allnurses. Separated at birth?

Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.
It is curious to find you again on this forum Arwen. We both appear to take an interest in the most passionate and polarized topics on Allnurses. Separated at birth?

Maybe, but I doubt it. I weighed 9lbs at birth. There would've been no room for you!!!!! ;)

Good to see you again!

:balloons:

Specializes in DOU.

However, I also think it's worth noting that the US - which has a higher circ rate (~60%) - also has a much higher HIV transmission rate than many many countries that don't routinely circ.

I'm not sure that is relevant. I believe the HIV rate in America is largely due to IV drug use, and not sexual intercourse. If the IV drug use is higher in the US, then it stands to reason that HIV rates would be higher, too.

I think it is Jane's daughter who's married to an American; in this case, I can see where the conflict lies. Where I work we have a fairly high # of Hispanic women - whose culture traditionally doesn't circ - married with American men, who want their sons circed. There tends to be quite an animated discussion among these couples, and it pains me to say it, but they usually decide for circ. And most of the moms aren't happy about it but feel they have no choice.

The same animated discussion happened in my house - and my older boys' dad is NOT Hispanic. It also went on for 3 days after our first son was born . .. the pediatrician kept coming by and asking if we'd come to a decision . .... I ended up signing papers, all the while crying. My ex thought I was being very silly.

steph

Specializes in nursery, L and D.

I cried when I signed the papers both times too, steph! No way I would do it now, but first hubby was so insistent, and the doc pushed for it too. Thought I was doing the right thing. But unlike your kids, my boys have asked how I could do that to them! Major guilts, but live and learn.

Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.
I'm not sure that is relevant. I believe the HIV rate in America is largely due to IV drug use, and not sexual intercourse. If the IV drug use is higher in the US, then it stands to reason that HIV rates would be higher, too.

And have you seen the latest stats on STDs here in the US? They are through the roof, and not just HIV. I have a real problem when people use something like HIV to justify circumcision. There are lots of better ways to prevent it, especially in industrialized nations.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&list_uids=11869658&dopt=AbstractPlus

There is still more HIV spread by heterosexual sex here in the US than in other non-circing countries.

Steph - I know what you're saying. Most Hispanics don't circ and it's really stressful for these moms who come from a non-circing culture to have daddy insist on it.

And have you seen the latest stats on STDs here in the US? They are through the roof, and not just HIV. I have a real problem when people use something like HIV to justify circumcision. There are lots of better ways to prevent it, especially in industrialized nations.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&list_uids=11869658&dopt=AbstractPlus

There is still more HIV spread by heterosexual sex here in the US than in other non-circing countries.

Steph - I know what you're saying. Most Hispanics don't circ and it's really stressful for these moms who come from a non-circing culture to have daddy insist on it.

There was an article this morning about the high rate of chlamydia in our young people.

steph

Specializes in Nurse Educator; Family Nursing.

Not only were there one million more cases of chlamydia last year than the previous year, gonorrhea and other sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise. And, all this in a country with the highest rate of circumcision in the world.

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