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 LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
Well . . .. THAT didn't work. :D:clown:

steph

:lol2:

Specializes in SICU, MICU, CICU, NeuroICU.

Basically it comes down to choice.

I'm glad my parents did it to me. Is it barbaric? I don't think so. Am I happy? Of course.

But the thing is, ask all the guys who have been circ'd, if they wish they hadn't versus those who haven't been circ'd and wish they had me, you'd find that the results were very different.

My children will be circ'd, both my wife and I agree.

I been present for a briss (Jewish ceremony for circ) and also saw it done in the nursery. It's done the same way, just at a different age and we're talking about 6 days or so.

Barbaric, maybe (not to me though). Purely someone's personal opinion, yes.

4) The hygiene argument is a really non-applicable one, especially in the era of soap and water. Either way you have to wash down there, right? It is not that difficult to retract a foreskin, wash & rinse under it, and put it back. If it is, maybe you ought to invest in a protein shake or something. And you really don't even have to do that til the darn thing goes back on its own, which may not be for several years. Believe me, a 3-year-old can do it. My 3-year-old does.

My husband is circumsized and I still want him to wash himself before anything goes on.

My 9 y/o son was circ'ed against my better judgement (my husband decided he wanted it) and I wish I had been more adamant about not having it done.

My four month old, I did not have him cut and I'm glad he's natural.

I have even read of men who are circumsized trying to recreate a foreskin. Seems to be so many viewpoints on it.

I'm not necessarily for or against circumcision, but I can't help but wonder, how many of you think piercing a baby girl's ears is barbaric??

Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
I'm not necessarily for or against circumcision, but I can't help but wonder, how many of you think piercing a baby girl's ears is barbaric??

Not barbaric, but I would never dream of doing it. I think of it as a coming of age rite for a young lady of around 13 who has the ability to care for her ears herself and is motivated to do so.

I guess I'm a barbarian, then, and so is my husband. When I was pregnant we decided that if the baby was a boy he would be circ'd. My doc said my insurance didn't cover it. I said "We'll pay." He said "No problem."

Specializes in NICU.

To each their own.

Not barbaric, but I would never dream of doing it. I think of it as a coming of age rite for a young lady of around 13 who has the ability to care for her ears herself and is motivated to do so.

I agree with this . . . . we seem to be taking away all the milestones for kids by doing them too young.

Then they go for something more over the line . . . .

At least that is my theory . . .;)

steph

Specializes in Geriatrics/Family Practice.

I had both of my boy's circ'd but that was before going to nursing school and seeing how it is performed. If I knew then what I know now, I may not of had it done. I think that men were made that way for a reason. From what I've heard uncircumcised men are more appealing to there significant other, if you know what I mean. I guess the stats are about 50/50 at present with circs. I don't think that there are any complications if the procedure is done in the long run, except for the initial barbaric torture the baby endures, especially for the docs who use nothing to numb. As for the non circ'd boys, if properly cared for they will not have any problems either, except for the occasional stricture.

It seems like there are definitely horror stories from both sides of the issue. There are botched circ's and people who are uncircumsized who had all sorts of troubles. I think both of those groups are in the extreme minority. The health issues that circumcision protects against are, relatively, pretty rare.

I agree that it's cultural and cosmetic in most cases but I don't think it's barbaric if anesthetic is used. If the vast majority of circumcised men are happy about it and don't have health issues then it kindof cheapens the word "barbaric".

Specializes in Anesthesia.
This circ thread is taking off like all the others . . . . .

My argument to my husband when preggers with our 1st child, when he used the argument that the baby wouldn't remember the pain was that then it would be ok to burn the baby with a lit cigarette.

That sorta made him mad . . he had no answer for it though. ;)

steph

Apples and oranges arguments..... try explaining to a full grown man that it is much better now getting the circumcision done then when he was a baby.

The majority of men in this country are circumcised.

The truth is there are valid reasons for it, but for the most part it still remains cultural choice.

We should just add a poll to this asking everyone's opinion on this subject, and one for just the men to see if they are glad they were circumcised as an infant.

I for one am glad my parents had me circumcised as an infant!

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Merged the circumcision threads for consistency of discussion.

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