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GP not being very helpful regarding Circumcision

439 replies

Debster7808 · 08/01/2012 12:07

I went to see the GP recently at the first check-up after DS2 was born, and I said that because DS1 was circumcised (-he was born in US, where it kind of gets done as a routine just after boys are born-), we wanted to get DS2 done as well, while he's still a newborn. I was really surprised when the GP tried to talk me out of getting it done, which means that I'm a bit lost as to where next to turn to get this done. I can understand that circumcision isn't available on the NHS, which is fine, but if I want to go private, don't I need a GP referral? Should I just seek a second GP's opinion?
Anyone have any experience of getting their boys circumcised in a culture that generally doesn't do it?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Asinine · 08/01/2012 14:35

Gribble Grin

That's my quote of the week

Thumbwitch · 08/01/2012 14:35

And yet there is a group of men who try to restore their foreskin as they believe it should never have been chopped off without their say-so (obviously when they were to young to have a say) www.norm.org/
This link provides more useful information:
www.noharmm.org/reclaim.htm

Quote from the link:
'Kettle, 44, is in the midst of restoring his foreskin. ?I have been denied my rights as a person to make decisions in matters of my body,? he said. Kettle says the medical community has brainwashed North Americans into believing that circumcising infant boys is the best thing to do for the children. ?We?re damaging someone?s body without their permission and while they?re in a state to do nothing about it,? he said at his home in Toronto.'

What more do you need to know?

Debster7808 · 08/01/2012 14:35

Persuasive use of words there Gribble. Impeccable logic.
I really do feel like I'm being converted to your way of thinking. Almost there! Almost!

OP posts:
bemybebe · 08/01/2012 14:37

Gribble Hmm??

Asinine · 08/01/2012 14:38

Debster

Are you tempted to try the glitter suggestion? I think we could all agree that would be painless.

differentnameforthis · 08/01/2012 14:39

Thumb..thank you!!

I have been looking EVERYWHERE for that link!!

Faverolles · 08/01/2012 14:40

I found this interesting in Bunbakers link:

"Medical ethics
The removal of a functioning, normal body organ is contrary to the motto of medicine "First do no harm". Circumcision is a breach of fundamental medical ethics."

Explains why your GP isn't being very helpful, doesn't it?

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 08/01/2012 14:40

What men will put themselves through to regrow a foreskin.

Thumbwitch · 08/01/2012 14:41

Welcome, Different! I remembered that there was an organisation called something like "reclaim the foreskin" from a Ch4 programme I watched some years ago, where a man had developed a series of weights that he attached to the end of his penis and he'd perfected the shape of the weights using a trumpet mouthpiece as his model! Ch4 was very informative in its early days... Grin

differentnameforthis · 08/01/2012 14:41

Impeccable logic

About as impeccable as your logic for cutting off your son's foreskin for the sake of 'health' 'neatness' etc.

differentnameforthis · 08/01/2012 14:42

Doesn't sound too comfortable that, thumb!

Gribble · 08/01/2012 14:42

Bemybebe - ??

Debster - wow if thats all it takes to convert your thinking then maybe you dont really want to get it done Wink

nailak · 08/01/2012 14:44

Why is it not ok for someone who believes abortion is murder to say that on a thread in which someone is getting an abortion, but it is ok for someone who believes circumsision is mutilation to say that on a thread where someone isa asking advice about circumcision?

Debster7808 · 08/01/2012 14:44

That's right, Gribble.

I have been so overwhelmed by the display of logic and reason, that I no longer wish to have my son circumcised. But next time I get an itchy foot, I shall be sure to have my leg amputated.

Happy?

OP posts:
BoffinMum · 08/01/2012 14:45

Too risky, IMO. Unless it's medically indicated I'd be nervous of putting any of my sons through this.

nailak · 08/01/2012 14:45

Op where are you? If you are in London there are private clinics that do it, it costs around $150

Asinine · 08/01/2012 14:45

Thread hijack, but justified i hope.

Has everyone seen the thread for helping expats dd with leukaemia?

Thumbwitch · 08/01/2012 14:50

From NORM: (edited for brevity)
The Lost List

Many people think circumcision removes nothing more than a little extra skin. The truth is that circumcision removes several critical components of male sexual anatomy. This list enumerates everything currently known to be lost when one is circumcised. Included are notes on whether these losses can or cannot be amended by foreskin restoration.

It should be pointed out that circumcisions performed in North America may be more severe than those done elsewhere. In the United States, most hospital circumcisions are done to the Bris Periah standard of removing every ounce of foreskin and, in a large percentage of cases, some shaft skin.

Foreskin
The foreskin comprises roughly 50% (and sometimes more) of the mobile skin system of the penis. If unfolded and spread out flat, the average adult foreskin would measure about 15 square inches - the size of a three-by-five index card. This highly specialized tissue normally covers the glans and protects it from abrasion, drying, callusing (also called keratinization), and contaminants of all kinds.
Restorable

Frenar band
The frenar band is a group of soft ridges near the junction of the inner and outer foreskin. This region is the primary erogenous zone of the intact male body. Loss of this delicate belt of densely innervated, sexually responsive tissue reduces the fullness and intensity of sexual response.
LOST There is no known method of restoring the frenar band.

Gliding Action
The foreskin's gliding action is a hallmark feature of the normal, natural, intact penis. This non-abrasive gliding of the penis in and out of its own shaft skin facilitates smooth, comfortable, pleasurable intercourse for both partners. Without this gliding action, the corona of the circumcised penis can function as a one-way valve, making artificial lubricants necessary for comfortable intercourse.
Restorable

Meissner's Corpuscles
Circumcision removes the most important sensory component of the foreskin - thousands of coiled fine-touch receptors called Meissner's corpuscles. Also lost are branches of the dorsal nerve, and between 10,000 and 20,000 specialized erotogenic nerve endings of several types. Together these detect subtle changes in motion and temperature, as well as fine gradations in texture.
LOST There is no known method of restoring Meissner's corpuscles or other specialized sensory nerve cells. However, restoring and restored men almost universally experience tremendous increases in sensitivity, in part because the highly sensitive nerve cells in the glans are no longer buried under several layers of keratinized skin.

Frenulum
The frenulum is a highly erogenous V-shaped structure on the underside of the glans that tethers the foreskin. During circumcision it is frequently either amputated with the foreskin or severed, which destroys or diminishes its sexual and physiological functions.
LOST If the frenulum is amputated, there is no known method of replacing it. If only a small portion of the frenulum is left, it is probably no longer functional as a tethering structure. There is no known method of attaching it to a restored foreskin, but some men have reported stretching the frenulum remnant as they stretched their foreskin.

Oh there are too many more but they include immunological cells that help protect against infection, cells that produce pheromones - you can read the whole list on this link if you are interested.

Just to say, my DH is also circumcised - and he has definite loss of sensation in comparison to previous lovers who were not circumcised. I don't consider it a benefit.

bemybebe · 08/01/2012 14:51

Gribble - my dh's unmutilated penis is very attractive and not 'dog shit'

Nailak - because a woman's body is a concern for her and nobody else, whilst parents have no ownership of their dc's body. HTH

Gribble · 08/01/2012 14:51

Debster - I have loved our little sparring /flirting match, but in all seriousness look back at your last post and think about it.

Gribble · 08/01/2012 14:52

erm bemybebe - I didnt say penis's look like dog shit Confused

bemybebe · 08/01/2012 14:54

sorry, that is how i read it. misunderstanding then Wink

TheSecondComing · 08/01/2012 14:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

nailak · 08/01/2012 14:57

But obviously those who believe a foetus is a baby, don't believe a mother has the right to choose to end its life don't believe this,

Just as those who do choose to circumcise do believe parents have the right.

And legally both are acceptable.

Seriously if there was a thread about a woman saying she wanted abortion and loads of prolifers came on and by the end of it she was saying "you have convinced me" what would you think?

migratingsouth · 08/01/2012 15:05

Debster7808 the reason that non-religious male circumcision is popular in the US is simply because you have a health system based on profit, and that the companies involved make money out of selling you this procedure.

They have managed to convince so many people that they are doing this in the interests of their child, when in fact you are doing it in the interest of their profits.

I'm very sorry you have been conned in this way.

The NHS website says:

"Routine circumcision may offer a number of potential benefits, such as reducing the risk of some types of infections. However, the majority of healthcare professionals now agree that the risks associated with routine circumcision, such as infection and excessive bleeding, far outweigh any potential benefits." (my emphasis)

Please remember this is coming from doctors who are not profiting from treating you! That should be a clue as to who to trust, no matter how compelling the marketing from the profiteers seems to be!