Circumcision?

[Claire236]

I've never started a thread in AIBU before as it can be quite scary so please be nice. My dh was circumcised as an adult for medical reasons & ds1 had to have an operation so has in effect been circumcised. ds2 (almost 5 months) is as nature intended but I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to have him circumcised. Firstly as that way he will grow up looking the same as his brother & dad which I think could make a difference to how he feels when he gets a bit older. Secondly because it seems more hygenic. I'm unsure due to the fact that ds1s op for horribly painful & I wouldn't want to put ds2 through that for no good reason. I haven't spoken to my GP about this so don't know when is normal to have it done or anything but I'd really like to know if people think I'm BU considering this.

Apart from when there is a medical need for it, which is not terribly common, it's a disgusting superstitious mutilation that ought to be outlawed.
However, if you think there is a hereditary issue here with a medical need for it (ie inherited tendency to phimosis) then get your DS looked at by a GP. IF the GP says all is well, leave your poor little boy's willy alone.

YABU, because you seem to want to cut bits off your baby for no good reason.

But again, all these studies are being done in AFRICA...where are the UK studies??

zapostrophe, on the one had you may have a point. On the other hand, using a condom has a far better effect than circumcision with regards to your point.

Also, re the argument about hygiene - do mothers and fathers not take time to learn how to clean a willy with a foreskin. Surely, it should not be that hard to be hygienic.

After seeing my son go through it - for medical reasons - I would say that as a a mother you are absolutely bloody insane to want to put your child through this horrid horrid procedure so he looks the same as his father and sibling!

Have you asked your DH how it's affected his sensitivity since he was circumcised? Most men find it reduces the pleasure of sex substantially. I can't think why you would have it done unless you have strong religious/cultural/medical reasons. To look like his brother/dad is not a good enough reason IMO. And as you said, you wouldn't want to put your DS through that for no good reason

I personally wouldn't do it. Unless of course there is a good reason for it, i.e. medical.

I do not even believe that it should be done for religious reasons, as it is mutilation. I think cutting of body parts should be the person's own decision and we should never make these for even our own children. I actually had a discussion about it lately with a friend. What if I would say I like all little boys to only have 4 fingers because my God told me so? People would think I am crazy to get out the big kitchen knife .
I don't see how penises are different.

And having done some research about it I would be worried that my son could be that tiny little percent that loses some ability down there.

My partner by the way overcame a case of phimosis with loads of ehm, practice I would say. So even then I would always advice to try teaching them to stretch their foreskin before undergoing surgery. And I really hope GPs agree with that!

Can i ask a question (without being flamed please!)

My Grandmother once told me that women have a much lower chance of having cervical cancer if they are sleeping with a circumcised man. Does anyone know if there is any truth in this?

p.s - My Grandmother has some extremely strange views and opinions

p.s.s - i am not pro circumcision!

can you tell i am terrified of the AIBU board!

yabu

Yanbu, i dont see why people should flame you for this its quite a normal thing
and as for someone saying no surgeon will do it for them, of course they will! well to have it done in theatre you need to wait til 12 months i think, but you can just have it done normally with the local anasthetic, up til 2 yrs?

Just looked it up and it seems to be the case that circumcised men don't catch and carry the virus that triggers cervical cancer a often. Sorry, not very scientific here.
That's really interesting though, I had no idea! Also great that your grandma knew about this. When did she tell you? Is it one of these she just knew (like grandmas do) or did she read about it recently? Because the studies I found seemed to be quite new

"Before the age of about 2 months I think they use some special gel and it is relatively painless for them. I think you should look into it properly and check on the things I have said. Personally, if it was just the case of a gel I would have done it but once you get to the stage of giving a baby anaesthetic I wouldn't."

There is no gel - commonly, no anaesthetic is used at all (even local). It's thought to be painless by some because the babies tend to not cry, and sometimes fall asleep - symptoms of severe shock

In the US where infant circumcision is routine, plastibells tend to be used - google it if you want to know, I won't go into it on here as it gets too emotive (have probably said too much emotive stuff on this post already TBH)

AIBU is definitely terrifying at times. I thought about it for a week before starting this thread.

LadyBiscuit - My dh has never mentioned a reduction in sensitivity. Not to go into detail but he always seems pretty sensitive.

Some research says yes, some no. If it makes any difference either way, it is probably very small.

zapostrophe I think it depends how old DS is...we don't specifically clean DS's foreskin yet...he's only 3, so we just give the area a wash in general...you aren't supposed to force it to retract before it's ready...

that was to Elenio btw!

The human appendix is superfluous to requirements and has a tendency to become inflamed, leading to dangerous illnesses like peritonitis.
So how about we take all newborns, give them general anaesthetics and just whip out that tiresome little appendix? They won't know about it, they don't need it, and I'm sure some fuckwit or other can come up with an imaginary friend argument that the appendix is a mistake in human evolution wot SATAN SATAN SATAN made up.

love you SGB

To cut bits off another person without their informed consent should put you in prison. That also includes religion.

AliGrylls wrote "do mothers and fathers not take time to learn how to clean a willy with a foreskin?"

We have done.

I think all those who are suggesting that circumcision is a good idea to reduce HIV should check out this great new invention called the Condom or Sheath! It is far more effective at reducing infection with the added benefit of not requiring surgery.

Hi claire,
My husband and son are both circumcised and so is my husbands brother (all for medical reasons). When my son was born we thought about having it done as we know it is best done early on and can be a dangerous op on an older boy/man.

My husband and his brother and other members of his family all had problems with tight foreskins and could not retract them. When we first discussed this with our doctor he refused to even take a look at him. It took till he was five years old for them to admit he had the same problem and give him the op. I belive he suffered a lot more as a result.

Footnote;

When little boys have erections and there is nowhere for them to go, due to tight foreskins, it is incredibly painful and distressing . Circumcision done properly in a hospital with anaesthetic is not always a bad thing.