[QueenAngie]

DH and both DSs are circumsized. It is cleaner, tidy, and best that father and son have similar appearance.

We had a friend, of one of our sons that was a premie....so never had it done as a newborn. In the 4th grade, he began to get infections, and had to be put to sleep for this surgery in the 4th grade.

The week before we were married, DH's uncle (only 2 years older) as an adult developed an infection problem and had to be circumsized. The week before our wedding no less!
He did not make the trip. He was married at this time. (I always wanted to ask the question, if he felt any difference before vs after.......but never could ask.)

I do know that both of my sons' grandfathers were born at home and are not circumsized.

MIL told me when my DH (her son) was born, the doctor did not give her any option, "That's what is done!"

Just think of the aging population,
we have more elderly on Medicare than ever before,
and the baby boomers are right behind,
that I would guess most will end up
in an extended care facility with staff having to care for their
hygiene on a daily basis.

Here are some 2003 stats for the USA.



http://www.cirp.org/library/statistics/bollinger2003/


Next....

[wanttobemommy]

Personally in our family we understand the pros and cons to circumcision. Personally if this baby is a boy he will be circumsized. I really cant state a real reason as to why we will be doing it besides the same debate that my sister and mother got into. If the daddy is circumsized it is just easier as far as explanation of body parts goes. Most daddy's will 'potty' in front of their boys at one time or another and I just dont know how we would be able to explain to our son that they are different than their daddy without scareing them. Trying to explain that daddy's peepee got the tip cut off just doesnt seem like a nice conversation to have with a kid.

[mollymae]

I think the key thing here is that IS a culteral thing. All the things that a lot of you are saying are thing that you have been taught/brought up to beleive is true. The oh its easier to clean a circ baby boy just isn't true! Its far far esaier to clean a uncirc boy than a girl! Once you remove the foreskin it leave the uretha uncovered and unproctected. The glands toughen up and become more like normal skin. This takes away some sexual sensation. But I can except that US doctors probably reccomend it but thats what they have been taught. If infections really are as prevailant (sp?) as you've all made out then the UK & European hospitals would be full of men with problems and the woman would all have thrush. We don't, that's the plain simple truth of it.

[twinzplus3]

That's true. . .it is very cultural. But circumcision still substantially protects against STD's and cervical cancer. . .those are WHO's statistics not the US's. Like I said, I imagine that in more developed countries hygeine is just not as big of an issue.

[mollymae]

I agree there is some evidence to back those claims up but on looking at the statistics those figures seem to apply more to under developed countries where sexual health problems are a problem regardless.

[twinzplus3]

Yes. . .I did say that didn't I? In one article I read somewhere, WHO or UNICEF (I'm not sure which one) said that circumcision was so effective as a means of preventing the spread of HIV they were setting up adult clinics to do all the men in a village! Um. . .OUCH!

[mollymae]

oohhh ouchies!

[twinzplus3]

Can you imagine being the person going around trying to convince grown men to cut off the tip of their *****? Now THAT's a job I wouldn't want!

[allybama]

Originally Posted by 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.

Dictionary.com says:

mu·ti·late /ˈmyutlˌeɪt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[myoot-l-eyt] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –verb (used with object), -lat·ed, -lat·ing. 1.to injure, disfigure, or make imperfect by removing or irreparably damaging parts: Vandals mutilated the painting.

I'd say cutting off a part of the body counts. I couldn't imagine subjecting my son to that....it makes my heart hurt to think of all the poor little boys who have this done everyday.

[twinzplus3]

Okay. . .then to use your words. . .there are some people that would rather mutilate their baby before he suffers from an infection and has to get mutilated as an older child or adult.

Let's be respectful here.