To Circumcise or Not to Circumcise?

[Helen72]

If you were to have a son, would you circumcise?

[sage1001629]

I know i'm late with this but i wanted to add that from what i have heard if they ever want to go in to the army they have to have it done.

[MommaCzech]

I had my son circumcised one reason was because my nephew was supposed be circumcised when he was born but my sister didn't have any money so by the time my nephew was 9 he had so many infections that they had to do a circumcision on him and he was in pain for a week or so after and the other reason being that it is part of the Jewish religion to get your son circumcised.

[mirandann]

I asked the same question. i did a lot of research and even watched a video of the process and although im terrified, i am going to circumcise my son. I am 26+3 days due feb 20th

[Dcat360]

I have a 5year old and we circumcised, expecting our 2nd little boy and will be doing it again.

[deevo123]

I am having a boy and will have it done. I am a medical transcriptionist and do MANY reports on circumcision of men anywhere from their teens to 80's due to problems. I know people who have had to have it done later in life and it is extremely painful.

[Heather3418]

I have discussed this with men and please let me tell you what I was told.  (this discussion was back when I was deciding on circumcision for my own son)

Men told me that the majority of "guys" were circumsized.  In their school days, they said that young boys that were not circumsized, were made fun of.  Boys being boys, kids often go piddle out in the woods or areas that they are playing.  It seems that boys (and men) sometimes look at each other's "equipment" when they are urinating.  Even as young boys, they know that one boy's penis looks different from the other's.  They make fun of that little boy and that boy becomes embarrassed in any situation where someone might see his penis.  It even seems to affect them when they have their first sexual experiences, if they are not circumsized.  It seems that even young women make fun of guys that are not circumsized.

Hearing this from men, made my decision for my newborn son, easy.  I had him circumsized.

[khawkins]

Hey... I am not too sure what it is like in the US, but I have noticed, and same with my doctor,that since Medical stopped paying for the circumcisions, less and less people are doing it because it is now elective and the parents have to pay 100% of the cost.  I know that here in Alberta at my doctors office, it is $300 for the procedure.  When I had my first son circumsized in British Columbia, it was just under $200.  For alot people that is alot of money, and lots of people wouldn't be able to afford that extra expense with a new baby.  PERSONALLY this is my opinion and no one elses.  

[Helen72]

Rates of circumcision in the US are going down actually:
"The CDC reported in 2011 that, following an earlier increase in neonatal circumcision rates, rates decreased in the period 1999 to 2010. Citing three different data sources, most recent rates were 56.9% in 2008 (NHDS) 56.3% in 2008 (NIS), and 54.7% in 2010 (CDM)."
This is way down from 77% in early 90's.  

[mhv]

We had our son done.  I kinda left it up to my hubby, since he is a male and knew more about it.  

[butterflybabies]

It was a hard decision for us to. More like hard to commit to one way or the other. You still have time to decide.

[Helen72]

Thank you all for your feedback!  I keep going back and force.  Dh was circucised and wants the same for the boy.  There is a lot of debate about it right now and I am just not sure...

[kaprovea]

There was just a thing on the Today show a couple of weeks ago that most drs are suggestion to circumcise your boys bc there is less infection and a number of other things.

[butterflybabies]

Oh I forgot to add that if you don't have it done when you clean it your not supposed to pull the foreskin down to clean it. The foreskin doesn't become unattached until he's around 3 years old. If you try to pull it down before that you could actually hurt him and even rip it a little, I found this out when I was debating on cerc or not.

[butterflybabies]

Dh and I debated over this since the moment we found out we were having boys. One minute we decided yes and the next we said no. We still didn't know even after they were born. As it got closer to them coming home we had to decide. My ob is Jewish and he performs these all the time either at his office or at people's houses (who are jewish) and then they celebrate. Anyway dh's cousin wasn't and at age 25 had to be cercumcised. In our religion/culture we don't do cercumcision, but we decided to go ahead and have it done. We didn't want our boys to have to deal with any problems they might get later. Aleks got his done while he was still in the nicu but my ob wouldn't do Maks cause he doesn't like doing them on babies under 5lbs so once Maks reached 5lbs a week after being home we went to my ob office and had it done. Both boys did great. No crying or anything. My biggest worry was them being in pain. I can tell you neither were in pain. What my ob does is numb it with some cream then gives an injection to numb it more then gives them their pacifier that was dipped in sucrose. And then he does it. Some docs use what's called a plastibel which is what my boys had. It's a plastic ring around their penis. It falls off in 4-8 days. It's really a personal decision but speaking from someone who's had a partner who was and who wasn't I really didn't notice much difference. It's a tough decision

[lovelyglover]

I'm getting my boy circumcised

[Jen1st_time_ivf]

I'm going to give you my opinion and experience, I'll explain. I too am having boys and I'm choosing to circumcise. My father was not circumcised and at the age of 58 he is having problems caused by this. It takes work on both ends, you as a mother to ensure proper care and him as a boy to ensure he does proper cleaning. And later in life it can cause issues for him and his partner, if not cleaned it can cause infection. I know I've said a lot and rammbled for the most part, but I am definately for circumcision for many reasons. If you don't mind what ate your reasons for not having it done?

[Helen72]

I am undecided, medical opinion is swinging against circumcision but most ppl still do.  I have a girl so never had to make this decision before.  What do you all think??