[GraciesMommy]

Dh and I were watching Penn & Teller's B.S. show the other day and it was about circumcision. Up until this point if we ever had a boy I was planning on doing it, but after watching the show I could never do tthat to my baby. They showed a circumcision being done and it brought tears to both mine and DH's eyes.

On they show, they talk about why it was done in the past (mainly religious) and why it's still done in the US today (main for looks).

Those of you who have baby boys, did you have it done? Why or why not?

[twinzplus3]

Yes we had it done bc when it came down to it. . .I couldn't convince my dh otherwise.

However, it is really, IMO medically unnecessary in the United States--especially if you teach your children abstinence before marriage. If those were not our values I would frankly think differently.

In other countries, circumcision is generally thought to be hygenically safer and reduces the risk of UTI's in boys. In the US--I doubt this is really a serious issue. However, newer studies are showing that circumcision substantially reduces the risk of AIDS and cervical cancer as well as other STD's. Various health organizations are starting to give statements about the benefits of circumcision in stopping the spread of AIDS etc. So in that sense it is a peventative measure. Consequently I'm not opposed to it either.

[mollymae]

My boys haven't been done. Never had any problems or infections. Its not the norm in the UK to circumcise. I've heard people say 'Well its easy to clean a circ boy' and 'oh but it looks nicer' I don't think either of those a valid arguments to chop part of your baby's antomy off. You don't clean under a baby's foreskin because firstly you can't and secondly it doesn't get dirty up there its self cleaning. As for it looking nicer that a matter of opinion! Cutting the foreskin off leaves the head of the ***** unprotected and because of this the skin toughens up and becomes a lot less sensitive.

[jadis]

My fiance is an RN, and have seen what an infection can do. At the moment he works in the ICU where the average patient is quite old, and may not have necessarily taken adequate care of themselves (due to forgetfulness, illness, etc.). It's rare, but when it does happen it's really painful- when he worked in peds he has also seen it happen to younger boys, and IMO it's probably less traumatic to do it as a baby when they don't remember as opposed to getting a painful infection and needing to get it done. That really is what is informing his opinion.

Not all methods are scary and barbaric- there are a few options, some less invasive than others. I would be leery of what they showed on tv, as they had probably showed the most heinous videos that the anti-circ nazis peddle around as "proof".

[MiaCamille]

My son isn't and i just couldn't make him go through that, dh showed him that he needs to take care of "it" to keep it clean and he and DH never had any problems...

[twinzplus3]

Oh Jadis. . .I hadn't have even thought about the fact that it could become infected when they're older and less capable of caring for themselves.

[LeanyBean]

I've had my boys circumsized. Their father is and I do not want them thinking that they are freaks or that their father is a freak. Also, I believe it is quicker to clean up during the diaper changing process, at least after the skin is healed.

I understand why people do it and why others refuse to do so. To each his own. I choose to circumsize out of personal preference.

[floridamama]

My son is circumcised...and we don't regret it. I think that for him...it was the right decision.

[allybama]

My son is NOT circumcised. Just as I would never mutilate my daughters' bodies, I would never mutilate my son's.

[twinzplus3]

Some people don't see this as mutilation but rather preventative care. Mutilation is a pretty strong word but really, both view points. . .ei it is unecessary vs. it is preventative are really valid in this situation.