we want to get our son circumsized but don't know if we should. any advise?

[juicychops]

the doctor has tried to advise us not to as it is an unnecessary surgical procedure. My partner is circumsized and we both agree it is much cleaner and hygenic but don't know if we should do it or not. has anyone had their young son circumsized? and advise?

I don't understand why is it much cleaner and hygenic, can you explain?

uh oh there have been big punch ups on this before.....

there's a huge previous thread in the archives juicychops although I think a lot is about religious circumcision so may not give the info you need.

there is no skin there for dirt and discharge...etc to get stuck under

jimjams is right - be careful!

with good hygiene i believe that can be avoided

in most places you can't get it done on the nhs anymore (unless medically necessary) - what does that tell you? there is nothing cleaner or more hygenic about it and I don't think matching your dp is much of a reason. my dp is circumsized but there was no way we were going to do it for either of our 2 boys. Who are perfectly hygenic!

v common still in the states apparently, it's kinda assumed you'll just get it done. lots of men in california have been "reclaiming" their foreskins...

2 boys both still in tact - I agree with your doctor.

THis was the source of one of the most 'exciting' discusions ever had on MN (that didn't involve grapes).

My son is intact, as is dh. Both are quite hygenic. neither needed circumcision for religious reasons so they were both left as they arrived.

It would be less painful to teach good personal hygiene habits. Neither my ds or dh have had this procedure and are quite "clean".

DS is intact, no problems although you have to watch health professional very closely to make sure they don't try to retract (lots of uninformed ones still out there).

DH is but DS isn't.... there was no reason to do it. In the US I believe circumcision is declining... hygiene is an old argument but it takes a long time to correct!!

Dh grew up in Zimbabwe and was circumcised. He has absolutely no desire to have our boys done for any reason whatsoever, and I have to say I agree with him. Ds's are perfectly hygenic and have had no problems. I honestly couldn't put either of them through it.

Juicychops, are you mad? Why put a baby through such unnecessary pain???

It isn't cleaner or my hygenic - the skin is there for a reason. Bodily secretions aren't 'dirty' - earwax is there for a reason and so are the secretions on the penis. This is surgery, albeit minor surgery, and I think without a pretty overwhelming reason I wouldn't want to operate on my baby son.

It's like saying, let's surgically remove their fingernails in case they get dirt under them!

Here is what the American Academy of Pediatrics says:

Scientific studies show some medical benefits of circumcision. However, these benefits are not sufficient for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to recommend that all infant boys be circumcised.

can't believe anyone would choose an operation for their child that wasn't medically indicated. we are facing ds having a small op very soon and I am absolutely terrified.

Ahem, previous punch up thread here!

WWW - hey we need some fun tonight WWW

I vote don't do it, too. A boy can choose to have it done when he grows up; it's his body, should be his choice when he's an adult.

I have a son and i wouldn't do it for any other reason than medical and then i'd be terrified too.

The argument I have never understood is 'My dh has had it done, and we want our ds to be like his dad'. My dh has lost a testicle, but I didn't feel the need to get one of ds's removed so that he could 'look like his dad'

If there is no medical need, or religious reason I'd leave well alone

Juicychops - What is your main concern ? I totally agree that it is more hygenic. If your concern is pain and discomfort, you can rest assured that if done properly by a qualified medical professional who has good experience in the procedure, it will be absolutely fine.

We had our DS circumcised at 18 days old. This may sound very young, but a surgeon friend (and all health practitioners who know anything about it) advised that you do it in the first 40 days of a boy's life. This is because it heals extremely quickly and the pain will only last a short time. It is much more painful and complicated the older the child becomes.

However, the baby needs to have been full-term and in good health (he should have regained any weight lost after birth). A good doctor will check these details with you before proceeding.

My DS was circumcised by a Jewish GP here in London at his surgery. First he gave baby a local anesthetic. The procedure started 30 minutes later after the anesthetic had begun to work. I was asked (and was pleased !) to leave the room. DH stayed with baby. The procedure is extremely fast. DS was screaming when I was asked to come back into the room, but was quite easily soothed within 5 - 10 mins. I breastfed him which soothed him and he was fine.

I rememebr we took home and he was all calm. Probably a bit dopey from the anesthetic. He slept through most of the afternoon, no temp, nothing ! He did have some pain as he was crying hard the second night, but quickly relieved with Calpol. It was all over within 48 hours. We went back to the surgery for a bandage change.

If done properly, there should be very little bleeding and no infection. We were very pleased with the doctor who did ours. My DH had his circumcision done when he was about 7, and of course he still remembers it ! As I say, it is more painful the longer you leave it.

If you live in London, I am happy to recommend the doctor if you CAT me.