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 Community, OB, Nursery.

Our circ rate in the hospital runs about with the nationwide average, so if your boys are around here, they'll be in good company.

I'll be teaching my son a few good comebacks just in case he ever does get picked on, though.

Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.

My intact 9yo has been involved in hockey for five years now, and in spite of the fact that he's been sharing locker rooms with males ages 3-73 for the past five years, he has yet to have anyone comment.

I would think that the easiest comeback for anyone, any age, would simply be to ask why they were looking at some other guy's member that closely in the first place. From a very young age my son knew that your "privates" are meant to be kept PRIVATE, and it's rude to be looking at someone else's groin even if it is visible in the locker room. If someone is heterosexual, they won't like the implication that they might be homosexual, and if someone is a closet homosexual, it won't do them any good to be "outed" unintentionally in that way.

Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

I just plan on having him ask what they are doing looking anyway. :)

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?

Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.
Just out of couriosity, what part of the country are you in?

I'm below the Mason-Dixon line. :)

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. :)

Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

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. :up:

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.

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. :up:

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?

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. ;)

Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.
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.

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.

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.

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