Circumcision - give me pros and cons

Dh and I are undecided, though I think I am leaning way more towards Yes.

These are my pros and cons so far. Please share yours:

Pros:

1. Easier to clean (for me and for him when he gets to be a gross little boy)
2. Less chance of infection due to reason 1
3. Prettier to look at!
4. Less stigma in the lockeroom and w/ girls as he gets older due to Reason 3

Cons:

1. studies now show medically unnecessary
2. Risk of infection at time of circumcision and healing
3. Loss of feeling (so my brother argues - also that this is the reason for Viagra - because the hood protects sensitivity, blah, blah, blah)

Truthfully I'm a little grossed out about having to pull it back and cleaning it, but DH thinks there's no reason to make the poor kid endure it if he doesn't have to.

Your thoughts?

Re: Circumcision - give me pros and cons

I know all the pros and cons, like you mentioned...I totally left it up to DH. I am iffy on the subject because I don't have one, and DH made the decision to do it if we have a boy.

Re: Circumcision - give me pros and cons

we're european, so we're accustomed to the hood staying intact, unless there is a religious reason.....

The vast majority of men around the world keep their hood, and there's no problem. They maintain sensitivity, there are no infections.... (You have to have pretty bad hygiene to have a problem)

The cons are obvious.... it's surgery, and while commonly there are no problems, sometimes problems DO arise. Scarring from impropper surgery could lead to pain/problems during sex in adulthood.

It's an elective surgery that can't be reversed.....

Re: Circumcision - give me pros and cons

This is a hard one. We did circumsize for religous reasons and had a Bris. But if religion weren't a factor we probably would have chosen not to.

Re: Circumcision - give me pros and cons

I'm in favor of it when it comes to my own son, mostly b/c of reason #4 and b/c it will be easier for him to clean. My sister & I had a debate over this b/c she is dating a European and does not want to do it if she has boys. To each his own.

Re: Circumcision - give me pros and cons

My DH was born in PR, he isn't circumsized.

We did not cut my son either.

DH has never had a girl turn him down after showing his stuff

He has never been made fun of

He has never had an infection

We are raising our son not to pull it out and show his friends. I never remember anyone inspecting my stuff and I played sports throughout middle school and high school.

I do believe in the sensitivity factor as well. I have only been with DH, but I can't imagine certain things being done without the skin It definitely plays a role.


ETA: its going to be years before I have to really clean it or show him how to clean it. You just leave it alone.

Message edited 2/5/2008 2:08:34 PM.

Re: Circumcision - give me pros and cons

With DS I told DH it was up to him (I didn't want it done) and he couldn't decide so I told the nurses not to do it. I don't regret my decision one bit. As far as cleaning it is just starting to be able to retract now at 22 months. I never bought into the whole lockerroom idea and honestly, if a woman is going to get turned off when he gets older then she isn't right for him.

Re: Circumcision - give me pros and cons

okay here is MHO. Let me just say that I would say yes for all the pro reasons you listed above.

But in addition, i know for a fact that most girls do not react well to an uncircumsized penis. I know that it has scared some of my girlfriends off and i wouldn't want my son to go through that. Vain... yes. But reality... absolutely. I just feel like there is enough ridicule to go around these days. Why add one more thing to the mix. JMO.

Also to have the surgery as an adult (if he chose to later on) would be quite painful so i'd want to spare him that as well.

Message edited 2/5/2008 2:41:36 PM.

Re: Circumcision - give me pros and cons

I asked my husband about this because personally, I don't have a problem with the hood (or the turtleneck, as I call it). My husband recommended the circumcision because he believes it is easier to "keep it clean" that way. I am sure we will talk about it again after we find out the sex of our baby.

Also, I think if a woman is going to turn down my son because he is uncircumsized, then he needs to find another woman. He doesn't need to be with someone that shallow.

Re: Circumcision - give me pros and cons

DH has a friend that is not circumsised but when they had their son, they circumsised him. I think most people do it for hygenic reasons. DH and I intend to circumsise any sons we have.

Re: Circumcision - give me pros and cons

Posted by Superkat
Also, I think if a woman is going to turn down my son because he is uncircumsized, then he needs to find another woman. He doesn't need to be with someone that shallow.

Re: Circumcision - give me pros and cons

I left this choice up to my DH. (If I have a boy, that is)

Re: Circumcision - give me pros and cons

There is a recent study out that just proved that circumsized men in Africa had a huge reduction in the transmission of HIV and the infection rate. Just google it. The study says that circumcision is almost as good as a vaccine in those areas.

Re: Circumcision - give me pros and cons

I honestly think if I am having a boy I don't want to circ him. My husband would probably want to. We'll talk about it more after we find out the sex. We have plenty of time.

Re: Circumcision - give me pros and cons

Re: Circumcision - give me pros and cons

I told DH it's up to him if it's a boy and he wants to circumcise. It's such a personal decision.

Re: Circumcision - give me pros and cons

Re: Circumcision - give me pros and cons

I also think that more and more parents in the US are choosing not the circumcise their sons so #4 may not be such an issue when your kids are older. I mean, look at the responses here; about half of the people who responded said they weren't going to circumcise their sons and you have to figure these will be the kids that your son shares the locker room with, KWIM?

It's less of a debate outside of the US and I think most men in a country that doesn't usually circumcise their boys would be offened if we thought they were less clean just because of that.

Re: Circumcision - give me pros and cons

This was a hard decision for us, almost as hard as the amnio. We hadn't even completely decided when he was delivered, and we talked about it that night before going to sleep.

We started out thinking we would skip it, but then the more people I talked to, the more stories I heard about boys or men they knew who needed to have this done when they were older due to infection or retraction problems. Our pediatrician at home and the one in the hospital actually did recommend it because of this possibility, though she did note that the Amer. Ped. Assoc. does not recommend it overall.

We decided to do it, and DS was fine. You do have to be really careful to clean that area every time you change or bathe him, and put a good dab of vaseline on gauze so he doesn't stick to his diaper. But if you are careful, he should be fine.

Re: Circumcision - give me pros and cons

Oh, we considered the stigma thing too. I asked DH what he thought, and he said boys are not going to stare at other boys penises in the locker room. Just won't happen.

Also, I researched this a bit and about 48-52%of Americans are choosing to not circumsize these days.

Re: Circumcision - give me pros and cons

Re: Circumcision - give me pros and cons

I spoke to my boyfriend about it and it took him one second to give me his response - "If the baby is a boy he will be circumcised." It's such a personal decision for a couple. Good reasons on both side. I just left it up to the dad to decide.

Re: Circumcision - give me pros and cons

Thanks for all the responses ladies.

And truthfully, it is just my ignorance and fear of not cleaning it the right way and/or hurting him.

I did not mean to bash anyone who's DS or DH were not circumcised and I hope it was not meant that way! truth be told, they're all kinda gross to me when they're not in action, KWIM!!

It's definitely reassuring to hear that if we decide not to, cleaning it will not be as much of an issue as I originally thought.

Re: Circumcision - give me pros and cons

Posted by racheeeee
Its a personal choice, I just hate all this Uncut Penis Bashing!!!

Re: Circumcision - give me pros and cons

Posted by racheeeee


I see your points (pros and cons) and to be honest, I personally don't think that your pros list are relevant. I don't think an uncut penis is not nice to look at and I find it kind of offensive that soooo many people say that!! and again, my husbands is pretty damn clean. I wouldn't do some of the things I do to it if it wasn't. The stigma thing really isn't relevant, I mean how many kids REALLY see each other naked in the locker room???? I never once in my days of school saw a girl naked in the locker room...maybe thats just me. Its a personal choice, I just hate all this Uncut Penis Bashing!!!

Its a really personal choice, its up to you!