The Circumcision Discussion

Specialties Ob/Gyn

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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 :)

In all the articles I've ever read about female circs, they are done under NO anesthesia whatsoever, to older girls. No attempt at anesthesia is even made. After the excision is done what is left of the labia is sewn together, leaving a small hole through which the girls void and menstruate and have intercourse. One of the arguments about male circs is the level of sensation the men feels....not whether or not they feel anything, but how much. With female circs the privy parts is removed and without the privy parts there is no sensation.

Yeah, I'd call it abuse.

Absolutely, but that wasn't my question. My question is (and I remember reading a few years back that this actually happened) that if a family comes from a country where they traditionally circumcise their females, and wants to have a less traumatic or abusive 'Americanized' version done here, why is this disallowed? The entire thing is completely banned here in the west, not just the whole shebang where they'd remove everything, causing damage and long-term pain, etc. ANY cutting of a girl's genitals for non-medical reasons is considered an abuse of her basic human rights, including a simple ceremonial cut to the genitals in respect of religious belief or custom. There was a bill or some such thing passed which granted females the right to what they call 'genital integrity'.

IMO, boys should be allowed the same.

And FTR, if there isn't any imminent danger in my son keeping his foreskin that will cause him great problems before he is of age to decide the pros and cons himself, and whether or not the purported benefits are of substantial value to him, I see no need for me to make this permanent decision for him. He was born healthy and perfect and I see no reason to change him based on societal norms. Talk about the ultimate in peer pressure.

My husband is a circumcised male, and agrees with me wholeheartedly.

I also think it says a lot that the circumcision rates are dropping. That means that more and more circumcised fathers are not choosing to have this done to their sons. So much for the idea that all men are happy with having had it done. The reality is that there are men out there who aren't happy about it- they simply tend not to be too vocal about it because of the reaction they would get- comments along the lines of them having 'issues' or that they need to 'get over it'. The unfortunate thing is that, unlike men who are unhappy that it wasn't done, they can't do a single thing about it.

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

valuable information regarding circumcision can be gleaned from the following web page:

http://cirp.org

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.
This is obviously a woman or someone who is not circumcised. The practice is neither barbaric or unnecessary. There are a lot of medical reasons, and social reasons for the practice of circumcision. Uncircumcised men are more likely to develop Penile cancer, STD's and UTI's. The only people opting out for their children are the ignorant and uninformed. I am very happy to say I am a circumcised male.

As for medical reasons, the AMA, AAP, and AAFP say there are potential medical benefits. Not concrete ones, and not enough to recommend routine male circs. Just because you are circed doesn't mean you won't get an STD/UTI, and just because you aren't doesn't mean you will. And how many people do you know who get penile cancer anyway? Is it really worth it to cut thousands of little boys on the off chance that ONE might develop penile cancer? Doesn't sound like a risk/benefit ratio that's worth it.

And social reasons....hmmmm. At the current circ rate of about 60% nationwide, both the circed and uncirced boy will likely have plenty of similar-looking memberes with whom to compare. And even if not, parents need to teach their boys that they are fine the way they are -- cut or uncut, regardless of what others may say. I wouldn't bleach my kid's skin so he could look like everyone else and I won't cut his member for the same reason. I can respect the fact that someone is Jewish or Muslim and their faith dictates that their boys be circed. Even so, many Muslims don't circ and there is a significant movement in the Jewish community away from circing. http://www.noharmm.org/jewhouseholds.htm

I'm glad that you're ok with being circed but I don't appreciate the insinuation that I'm uninformed and ignorant for leaving my son intact, as I am neither. It's possible to disagree without insulting.

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Specializes in Urgent Care.
It's possible to disagree without insulting.

There has not been alot of that going on in this thread. Clearly a very emotionaly charged issue for many.

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Specializes in pediatric ER.

I just thought of this. A few years ago I was assisting with a circ on this little baby boy... family wanted to watch, doc said it was fine. We did the sweet ease thing, doc numbed with local lido then the kid went to sleep. 5 min later, procedure's done and the doc goes, "All done, another pencil sharpened!" The parents started laughing... it was pretty funny!

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Specializes in ER, telemetry.

I, by no means, think I am ignorant or uninformed. I have thoroughly read up on the research, both pros and cons of circumcision, and made the best decision that I could with the information available for MY children. To be labeled ignorant is just rude and uncalled for.

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Specializes in ER, telemetry.

Yes, we should be able to disagree without being insulting, but I guess that how wars start.

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We had our son circumcised. My decision (my wife let me make the call) was based mainly on hygiene. I have found it hard enough to get my older child to wash her hands. I was circumcised and don't remember the procedure at all. I'm also really glad that I wasn't called foreskin, helmet head etc in highschool. I think that a circumcised member is more aerodynamic as well.

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We had our son circumcised. My decision (my wife let me make the call) was based mainly on hygiene. I have found it hard enough to get my older child to wash her hands. I was circumcised and don't remember the procedure at all. I'm also really glad that I wasn't called foreskin, helmet head etc in highschool. I think that a circumcised member is more aerodynamic as well.

Don't forget anteater. LOL:rotfl:

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

A VERY INTERESTING ARTICLE REGARDING CIRCUMCISON APPEARS IN THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE:

http://CIRP.org

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Specializes in Lie detection.
a very interesting article regarding circumcison appears in the following web page:

http://cirp.org

thanks, i checked it out the first time you posted it, very interesting.

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[color=#483d8b]i also want to say thank you to everyone so far for participating. i have no children yet but this has been really informative and quite an eye opener in many ways.

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[color=#483d8b]i've learned and that's always a great thing. i guess i never realized there was so much controversy regarding this issue.

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

Each Person Wants To Believe S/he Has The Right Answer.

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