Choice on circumcision. Wondering what others have done in the past or planning to do.

Just curious to see how many moms plan to circumcise their son or not.(or have or haven't in the past.) I already have one son and I did choose to not get him circumcised since there is no medical need for it, same for my next boy. My sister made the same choice with her two kids. How does everyone else feel about it? Also I want to know other moms reasoning for doing it or not doing it. Thanks :)

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84%

 (21) 

Circumcised

12%

 (3) 

Uncircumcised

4%

 (1) 

Unsure

25 Members voted

[marisol_jose]

At first I was with the whole circumcision idea but after my husband and I watched a video on or and saw what they do we completely changed our minds. There's no way I wanna see my son cry like that.

[Tryingforbaby2]

I chose to circumsize my son for a few reasons. It was a very quick deal and he had no problems afterwards. Our reasoning is because my husband is and he thought it was best. Also, I know a few little boys who didn't get it done and did develop infections from not cleaning well and that was way painful, worse than being circumsized I was told.

[sweetpea03]

Circumcision is a very personal choice. Some do it for religious reasons or for personal reasons, and that is their choice to make. There really isn't a right or wrong answer for what to do. Circumcision done in the hospital is a very quick, easy procedure that is much less painful to get done in infancy than later in life. Those who require circumcision later in life will have a much longer recovery time and can have more complications.

I don't have children right now, but I don't plan on circumcising any son I may have. It is just something my fiance and I have agreed on and we don't want to do that.  

[AmyG89]

I am having a boy and we plan on having him circumcised. I was with my friend when they brought her son out after he was done in the hospital and he was completely fine. It's a super quick procedure and even though there may not be any medical reasoning to do it, I still think it's much cleaner & easier this way.

I also think it's best to have my son be the same as his daddy = )

This is just my opinion, don't mean to offend anyone.

[Ashelen]

We did choose to circumcise our son, because we did a lot of research and I trusted the information I was given.

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/circumcision.htm this is from the American Center for Disease Control (CDC) - a well-respected national research institute.

http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/rtis/9789241596169/en/ and this is the World Health Organization - a very widely respected international organization that focuses on health and safety.

I felt that the evidence was compelling enough to say that there are medical benefits to circumcision, and I've known many uncircumcised men who have gone on to do it later in life because of health complications or preferences in their sex life. It's hard to make the decision, and you have to search your soul and make the choice that you fully believe is right, no matter what that choice is. As parents we are all only doing the very best we can. there is no RIGHT and no WRONG answer when it comes to circumcision...just weigh all of the pros and cons (there are many of both) and make the choice from your heart.

But to say there is no medical reason is not entirely accurate. There may not be a medical reason you feel is COMPELLING enough to do it, but there is standing research that says there are medical reasons to do it. However, just because you choose not to doesn't mean your son will suffer from horrible UTIs or HIV or anything...but because it lowers the risks, I felt it was a good choice for my family. Whatever you felt was right for your family probably IS right for your family :-).

[AmyG89]

I haven't done much research on this yet but I always thought there actually was medical reasoning in favor of circumcision. Thank you for posting those links.

[the_other_half]

I also agree the boy should be like their father is. :) My husband is not circumcised which also help me to make the decision not to other then the doctor telling me it was not a medical necessity. I did however catch a lot of bad comments from family and friends for not doing it which is why i was wondering how everyone else felt about it.  

[AHP84]

As Ashelen said, there is no right or wrong decision to make with this issue. You do what you feel will be best for your child and your family.
I have two sons and both are circumcised, and I will have any other future sons done as well. My reasons for having it done are because I felt there was more evidence health-wise to the benefits of circumcision and also because I think it's important for the boys and their daddy to look the same.
Circumcision is not a medical necessity, but there are benefits to doing it and not doing it. There are risks either way. It's such a common infant surgery that very few complications are likely--sure you'll hear of the random case of a botched circumcision, but very few circumcisions go wrong on the grand scale. Then there are risks to not having it done--the child *can potentially be* more susceptable to UTIs and STDs, and may require a circumcision at an older age as medical necessity. But again, on the grand scale, this happens in only a few cases.
So really, have it done or don't have it done, there are risks either way. It's up to the parents and there is no right or wrong choice to make.

[Michele, Katy, TX]

With my first son, I had it done without even thinking about it.  I have had 5 daughters since and it has been nice not having to think about this.  Now I am having a boy and I plan to have it done again.  I am dreading it, but I think in the long run, it will be better for him for cleanliness reasons.  It is also easier on the mom changing the diaper because you don't have to pull that skin back and then worry that you might have missed something, and then risk infection that way as well.  It's already hard enough to make sure to get every crack and crevis down there, without having one more.

I haven't broken this to my husband yet.  He probably won't like the idea because he isn't and it isn't commonly done where he is from.  Well, it wasn't when he was born anyway.  Things may very well have changed since then.  I am actually surprised about that too because I know this is Biblical and his family is very religious.  We are all Catholic.  But again, I am sure things have changed since he was born.

So yes, we will be having it done.  My husband just doesn't know it yet...

[snagglepuss1]

For me personally unless there was a medical reason either of my boys needed a circumcision then I think it's best just left alone.

[Rhi315]

I was having a very hard time with this decision as well. I am 38 weeks almost 39 and we have decided to not have it done. I have done SO much research, I have talked to uncircumcised males my age, I have talked to parents of uncircumcised males and I have asked nurses, family and friends! One of my concerns about not having it done was how it would effect him when he gets older, as far as with girls or if he would be teased, or if it would effect his self esteem at all.

The guys I have talked to say that it is not a problem to them, that they haven't even considered having it done and that they really have never given it too much thought.

I know 2 different families who have each had to have their 4 day old son hospitalized and had to have spinal taps due to infections from the circumcision. (totally not worth that to me)

My friend, who works as a nurse in l&d, said that she has always said that she would get her son circumcised, until she had to watch the procedure being done. Now she is undecided. She said it was the most stomach churning thing she has ever seen. A lot of people I've talked to don't seem to mind that their baby goes through that, I personally would just feel terrible. I'm sure all babies handle the pain differently.

My moms best friends step son is 19 and uncircumcised. His father said that his whole childhood, he has never once had a yeast infection or a UTI. (The same goes for my friend that I talked to who is uncircumcised, he's never had any infection)

I asked my doctor about it the other day, she said that majority of people are still having this procedure done, however, that number HAS dropped dramatically. She said that there is absolutely NO medical reason for it what so ever, it is purely cosmetic, cultural and/or religious. She also said that some studies show that it MAY help prevent HIV, however, so does wearing a condom and not sticking your penis in random places. LOL. She also said that males who are circumcised tend to have a lower tolerance for pain.

My take on religious reasons: I personally believe in God. I am non denominational. I have read the scriptures debating this topic in the Bible and I have decided that if removing the foreskin is supposed to be a sacrifice to/for God, then it is meaningless if that person does not make that sacrifice themselves. But I also believe that God will not turn down man just because he is uncircumcised if he follows him and has him in his heart. (Not trying to get all religious or anything)

Again, these are just all the reasons that my fiance and I have chosen not to have it done. I don't want to subject my son to any unnecessary pain. They're currently trying to ban this procedure from the whole country.

[Ashelen]

Please bear in mind, Rhi, that it's YOUR doctor's medical opinion that there is no medical purpose....I posted some research that proves there is some medical basis for the decision. I just want to clear that up...we all know that every doctor's opinion is different and you should absolutely positively trust your doctor's opinion, but I don't want anyone mislead because there IS medical research and backing to prove that there are valid reasons to circumcise behind the cosmetic.

Let's just be clear about that....but again, I have no problem with anyone who doesn't circumcise, we all do the best we can and make our choices with the information we feel comfortable with...absolutely nothing wrong with that, but let's make sure everyone is given fair information.

[Rhi315]

No, not trying to argue or anything, but I have read random brochures, hospital print outs, etc. It's not just my doctors opinion, her sons are circumcised. The newer studies are saying that it was once believed that there was a medical reason for it, but now they're saying that there is not one. She did not give me HER medical opinion, she gave me whatever the american association is saying.

[Rhi315]

I would also like to add, that the only thing I read in either of those articles that had to do with medical reasoning was about the risk of contracting/spreading STD's ..which I stated above, wearing a condom is just as, if not more, effective. I gave fair information.

[Ashelen]

Alright, if you think you did, that's fine. I disagree, but that's OK. We can agree to disagree. I think that assuming your son will always use condoms is wishful thinking and that minimizing the risk in any way you can is what made our mind up for us...but once again, I don't mind that you don't plan to circumcise, but I want to make sure that there is balanced information on both sides. And I personally have my problems with the AAP...after 2 kids I've decided that for the most part they give good information and guidelines, but some of it's bogus. I trust the CDC and the WHO when it comes to this; they're more specialized.

But again, agree to disagree.

[Rhi315]

Well, females do not have the option to alter their bodies to reduce their risk of contracting STD's. If my son chooses not to wear condoms then that's his decision, just as it would be my daughter's if I were having one. We can agree to disagree that's fine. I put my full confidence in my health care providers, that's why I chose them, and if that's who they trust, then so do I.

[Ashelen]

Alright that's good I'm glad you have confidence in them...as I've said before, we all do the very best we can and have to trust our decisions are the right ones. And in this case, there IS no right or wrong answer...that's what my point was earlier, I just wanted information for both arguments listed.

[angela418]

Rhi315 - I am glad you're not circumcising because that's what you're comfortable with based on all the information that you have gathered.  And, you have done quite a lot - I know you asked about circumcision in the June babies club, too.  

Ashelen - I did not think that Rhi315 was trying to discount anything you said, though from your responses, it seemed that way.  To me you came off a bit harsh - I think y'all both have valid points - hence the purpose of the thread - to get information from both sides - not to keep arguing with the other side as you seemed to be with Rhi315.  But, that's just how I read it.  Sorry if I am the one who came off harsh.  I enjoyed the thread and discussion up until the banter back and forth, which I found unnecessary.

[angela418]

Oh and to address the person who started the thread, I voted circumcised because that's what my husband chose for our son.  He's circumcised also, and I felt he could make the right decision for our son.  

No, circumcision is not right for everyone - that's why polls like this get in to heated discussions - but I'm just telling you what worked for us. :-)

[bebe2011]

I would get the circumsion, it is so much easier to keep clean

[jenkaye21]

My 3 sons are all circumsized, mostly to be like dad.  I will say that. after my first, I questioned the need to do it but at that point didn't want my boys to be different, so we kept doing it.  I may add that while the idea of such a painful procedure on a newborn babe is scary, all of mine have conme back from surgery either sound asleep or happy as can be.  Crazy, huh?  
I would also like to add that I was NOT real impressed with my youngest's surgery; it looks like the doc didn't take enough skin off and I was told it might have to be repeated at about one year of age.  He's almost 2 now, and we haven't had to do additional surgeries but it still looks a little weird; I can only hope that as he grows it won't look so odd.  Makes me even more reluctant to cicumsize any future boys we may have.

[centralmnmom]

The foreskin has a purpose.  Who are we to question God's creation and remove body parts on a newborn baby.  Please everyone do some serious research about the functions of the foreskin.  The foreskin is not just some useless piece of skin.  It protects the penis and is full of nerve endings.  

[centralmnmom]

The baby probably came back sleeping because he essentially passed out from the trauma of the circumcision.  Please watch a circumcision video on youtube and I think you will feel differently about the procedure.

[Ms_ro]

We getting one for my son when he born i heard & study boys whose not circumsized are more prone to infection...plus looks good so he will thanks us someday

[proudmommyandwife]

I had my son circumcised and plan to have this one as well, my son didnt act as if he was in pain or as if it bothered him. I have heard uncircumcised boys tend to get more infections, there wasn't really a question to my husband and I about whether we were going to or not though we always planned to do so

[Mummiofboys]

I have 3 boys and all are circumcised I felt it would be cleaner and as they got older I didn't want them to feel self concious about it. Plus my dad had to get his done when he was 16 due to repeated infections and said it was the worst pain so I decided do it when they are young enough not to remember.

[westernbabe]

I choose to have my sob circumscribed bc I know a little boy who hadn't had it done & u could barley pull back the skin for him to pee yes this is from his mother not taking proper care of it but I didn't want to risk it

[stacey10]

In Australia it is not routinely done and you have to hunt for a doctor to do it, I have 6 boys and none are circumcised and I have never had any problems with any of them as long as you teach them to clean themselves from around the age of 4-5 there shouldnt be any problems with the fore skin

[MamaBear0612]

I honestly had no real feelings on the issue, so I let my child's father decide this one if it's a boy. For him it's both a religious and a cultural issue (it's common in my religion and culture to circumcise as well) and I would guess he also wants the baby to be like him...you know how guys are. But most of the boys I know, including all the boys I know of in my very large family are circumcised with no negative effects, so I'm not that worried about it.

[stacey10]

hmm I bet everyone would be so accepting if it were girls we were talking about

[MamaBear0612]

Female circumcision routinely takes out the mechanisms necessary for sexual pleasure. All the circumcised guys I know have no problem with sexual pleasure, so it's an apples and oranges comparisons. And there are possible medical benefits for this, as the poster said above, that's arguable of course but it's up to every parent to decide what's best for their child. But we make girls go through pain for traditional reasons as well. I was less than 6 months old when I got my ears pierced, very common in my culture, and I'm told I screamed my little head off. And since I have no recollection of it, I'm perfectly fine with that.

[stacey10]

Your right of course ;) but it does come with risks involved and there are plenty of botched circumcisions

[MamaBear0612]

I've heard of a few. It sounds like in Australia the norm is uncircumcised. Here in the U.S. it's generally the opposite. I've never really heard of guys with issues from it, and know of no one in my life who has been negatively affected by this. It's just a different cultural expectation, I think, as I said, I think it's a personal decision. One of the reasons I really didn't have any strong opinion on it is because either way, I think my little boy (assuming I even have one lol) would be okay. :)

[stacey10]

it used to be routinely performed here and in new zealand, but they stopped doing it quite a few years back, my eldest son is 16 and they didnt do it then, I understand the religous point of view I just think its an unnecessary thing for baby to have to go thru if its done so baby  "can be just like dad" over here your the odd one out in the change rooms if you are circumsied, and I gather it would be the other way around in America, its funny because the majority of "men"over here have been done , and the majority of the children havent, my boys havent mentioned the difference between their fathers penis and theirs, so as you said it all comes back to personal choice

[westernbabe]

I agree with stacy yes there can be complications for either siide but I'm not one sided in the subject I would be ok with circumsied or not but for piercing ears of little girls I don't agree with I think they should b able to say weather they want it done or not. I would say boys could be the same but that would be so traumatic for them but like I said is. I would b fine with either

[KrystLeigh]

We don't have any children yet but are ttc. I have left this decision solely up to the hubby and he said there's no way his son isn't getting circumcised, regardless of anyone else's opinion or videos we have seen. I'm with him 100% either way and we're not religious in any way. He believes there's not good enough reason to not have it done. He had it done and never had any problems because of it and rather his son have it done as well.