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Circumcising boys - has anyone got experience of this?

222 replies

Marty8542 · 22/09/2014 21:43

Hello all,
My husband and I have recently returned from the US, where our first son was born. As is very common in the States, our son was circumcised as a newborn, as a matter of routine.
We now have a second boy on the way, and he will be born in London. I just found out today that if we wanted our son to be circumcised, we'd have to arrange this ourselves and get it done privately on an outpatient basis. I've done a little looking online and can see that there are a few private clinics that offer newborn circumcision to parents who chose this for their sons.
Before I decide on where and when to get this done for our second son, does anyone have any experience or suggestions as to how best to chose which clinic, which method, at how many days old, etc?

OP posts:
Seriouslyffs · 22/09/2014 21:45

Hold onto your hat OP. It's unusual and unpopular in the UK.

Theas18 · 22/09/2014 21:46

You won't get te answers you as looking for here I doubt. The uk ( is rightly ) quite anti circumcision for non medical reasons. Just because no 1 son was chopped doesn't mean you have to do the same phone number 2.

Theas18 · 22/09/2014 21:46

X post lol

Seriouslyffs · 22/09/2014 21:49

I've just seen you said you returned so you were brought up here? Was your husband too? Research if you wish, but I'd really not bother. As I said, apart for religious reasons it's very rare here.

Hakluyt · 22/09/2014 21:51

Nope. You won't get any advice on how to get body changing unnecessary surgery performed on a person unable to consent. Well, at less I hope you won't.

Whooshtheyweregone · 22/09/2014 21:51

Why do you want him to be circumcised?

redspottydress · 22/09/2014 21:52

Why would you want it done at all? Did you know they were going to do it to your older son?

KeemaNaanAndCurryOn · 22/09/2014 21:53

It's very uncommon outside of religious communities and frowned upon by a lot of people in the UK. It's genital mutilation.

ravenAK · 22/09/2014 21:54

You could always let him get his own willy trimmed when he's old enough to make decisions for himself.

Marty8542 · 22/09/2014 21:56

Yes, I'm returning to the UK, where I grew up, and where I met my American husband. My husband is himself circumcised, but as it happens, my two brothers were circumcised as babies. But that's because my mother is originally South African and for cultural reasons believes it's best for boys to be circumcised. My brothers never seemed to mind being circumcised, even though in this country they were in the minority. I guess it's just what they were always used to since they could first remember.

OP posts:
joanofarchitrave · 22/09/2014 21:57

My ds was circumcised at 6 weeks by a mohel/GP in London. I don't think he would have done it if we weren't going to bring ds up in Judaism.

I regret it more than I can say.

ColdCottage · 22/09/2014 21:57

Also interested as to why you would choose this for non medical or religious reasons?

My DH isn't but his brother is due to medical reasons as a child. They aren't bothered not being the same.

As I understand it, it makes them less sensitive during sex, now I wouldn't want to lessen anyone's sex life in purpose. As for the cleanliness issue, its not an issue if they are taught how to wash thoroughly.

So, as I said, just interested in the thought process. Obviously they are your child and "because I want to" is a fair enough answer. Smile

ColdCottage · 22/09/2014 22:00

Sorry, I was writing while you replied.

Fair enough, has it occurred to you and DH that you don't need to find anywhere if you choose not to follow family traditions?

Do you know why they do it in America?

Marty8542 · 22/09/2014 22:03

Well, we do want to follow family tradition. It matters to is that our second son is circumcised like most other males in the family.

OP posts:
ItsNotEasyBeingGreen · 22/09/2014 22:06

I don't think you're going to get any advice on MN on how to mutilate your child or where to get it done. I'm sorry if that is harsh and offends or upsets you.

Marty8542 · 22/09/2014 22:08

Don't worry, you don't offend me. You are merely being irrelevant and unhelpful to the purpose of this thread.

OP posts:
Fairylea · 22/09/2014 22:09

I'm so glad that following family tradition is more important than putting your baby through unnecessary pain HmmHmm

ItsNotEasyBeingGreen · 22/09/2014 22:10

Okay then, I'll leave your thread and you can just keep bumping, someone may come along and pass on their experience, knowledge etc... but I find it unlikely.

Viviennemary · 22/09/2014 22:11

You should seek medical advice. I don't approve of circumcision except when there are medical reasons.

FoxSticks · 22/09/2014 22:12

There's a good reason why it's not easy to access this "service" in the UK.

SuburbanRhonda · 22/09/2014 22:12

Surely there's a group somewhere where you can ask for advice from other like-minded baby mutilators?

Why on earth would you ask on here?

Marty8542 · 22/09/2014 22:14

Maybe people are unlikely to contribute useful advice and experiences because they feel intimidated by anti-circumcision bullies.
But a good number of baby boys clearly do get circumcised in this multicultural country of ours. It may not be mainstream, but to many people, it is perfectly acceptable.

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ArgyMargy · 22/09/2014 22:15

If you move to Birmingham you can get it done on the NHS for religious reasons.

Twunk · 22/09/2014 22:18

Many things are acceptable to some people...doesn't make them right.

It's mutilation and an unnecessary procedure on a baby. IMO that is never right.

Marty8542 · 22/09/2014 22:20

Fine, Twunk. Whatever.

Back to my question. Does anyone have any actual experience of circumcision?

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