Circumcising boys - has anyone got experience of this?

[Marty8542]

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?

SamG76 - The OP's husband did not have a choice when he had it done.

"OP is lacking the requisite equipment" - Women can be circumsised too. It is also a widely held tradition in some parts of the world.

Im serious - why not just let them decide when they are old enough.

"because OP didn't ask for discussions on the subject" - surely this isnt a good enough reason to advocate child cruelty? If the OP had asked for ways to find a prostitute or commit suicide, Im sure people would question the OP on their motives and try and talk them out.

In the event that a grown adult wants to get rid of his foreskin in order to get the STI protection (which isn't 100% obviously) then they can go ahead. As an adult they can have total body autonomy and choice.

My husband had his foreskin removed as a child for medical reasons. He hasn't demanded that our boys have the same so they have matching genitals. What a bizarre idea! Get them matching tshirts or haircuts...

He hasn't demanded that our boys have the same so they have matching genitals. What a bizarre idea!

I find that argument I want my son to have a circumcision because I want him to have the same (matching) genitals as me argument really bizarre as well - and a bit old-fashioned.

And to hear women supporting this barbarity is deeply depressing.

Can you imagine how your demands would be met if circumcision hadn't ever happened before in the history of mankind, but you decided that your son's foreskin should be removed? Just because it has been done for hugely questionable reasons up to now (excluding medical necessity), doesn't make it right.

Leave your child's foreskin alone ffs.

OP, do you even know what the procedure involves?: "Surgical removal of the foreskin involves immobilizing the baby by strapping him face-up onto a molded plastic board. In one common method, the doctor then inserts a metal instrument under the foreskin to forcibly separate it from the glans, slits the foreskin, and inserts a circumcision device. The foreskin is crushed and then cut off. The amount of skin removed in a typical infant circumcision is the equivalent of 15 square inches in an adult male."

Newborn circumcision is a cosmetic procedure. Unless there is a medical reason, it is unnecessary. It is an irreversible procedure performed on newborn babies, fresh from the womb, without aesthetic, and without their consent. You can say that it is in no way similar to FGM all you like, but they are essentially the same: a cosmetic procedure for traditions' sake.

I do not care if you want to cut off your own foreskin, in the same way that I do not care if you want a tattoo or body piercings. They are all cosmetic decisions that you are free to make FOR YOURSELF.

But I refuse to not feel strongly when you say you want to cut off your son's foreskin without consulting him, in the same way that I would be vocally against you tattooing, or piercing your son without consulting him.

You are an adult, and as such you are free to make your own decisions regarding your own body. You should not be free to make the same decisions regarding a defenceless infant, who depends upon you for love and support.

I'm sorry if you think this makes me "not cosmopolitan". I will take that label and own it, if it makes just one person rethink their decision to take a knife to one of the most sensitive areas of a less-than-month-old baby's body, removing the foreskin from his penis, which will then be contained in the same nappy as his excrement.

^^ this

I don't understand why it can't be left to the individual to make a decision about their own foreskin? Why does it have to be done when they are babies. I understand that it's an easier procedure when they are little but there is nothing stopping someone, once they are old enough to make their own decision having it done.

Why do the parents have to make the choice for them?

Parents have to make lots of decisions for their children because there are lots of things that can't wait such as schooling but circumcision should be the individuals decision.

The comparison with FGM is really interesting. Why is it different? Clearly FGM is not done at birth but the premise seems to be similar (if you take the line of the video about the Kelloggs wanting to stop men masturbating). It's evidently not about hygiene - so is it about sexual pleasure? The denying of? I posted upthread about the availability of male circumcision on the NHS in Birmingham - no-one picked up on it but it is there, largely because of the large Muslim population and the fear that Muslims will seek "back street" circumcisions if it is not provided free. So is this a feminist issue, or a cultural clash, or what??

obligatory well said.

Personally I would like to see the practice completely banned for cultural and religious reasons. And I don't care who that offends.

I'm curious are there any cases out there of men suing their parents and/or the person who performed the circumcision that was forced on them as a baby?

Do you people know anything about FGM???? Male circumcision may or may not reduce sensitivity (let's agree that it does). FGM causes daily pain for millions of women around the world, who are often in pain when they go to the toilet or have sex.it makes childbirth dangerous and some the women have to be I cut open having been sewn up previously. Many women die in horrible pain either during the procedure or following it from infections.

It is not necessary to accept that male circumcision is as bad as FGM to state that it is bad. It's just offensive to women to do so.

Obligatory - do YOU even know what the procedure involves?? It would be performed under local anaesthetic in theOPs case and googling scare stories ain't clever

Comparisons to FGM and horror stories about screaming baby boys are counter productive.

The important thing here is that circumcision is surgery which makes a permanent physical change not medically required to the body of someone unable to consent. And is therefore wrong. And would not be legal if someone tried to introduce it now.

I completely agree with Hakluyts post. In the vast majority of cases I doubt they are any issues with the procedure. What I object to is doing it before the child is able to give consent. What possible reason is there not to wait until the child is a teen and can make their own decision.

It's not reversible!

rf, AFAIK no-one on this thread has said the outcomes of FGM are the same as for circumcision.

What people are saying both procedures have in common is the reasons given for doing it (tradition, culture, cleanliness) and the fact that the person having the procedure does not give their consent.

Surely you can see those similarities?

Suburban Rhonda MANY posts have accused OP of being pro FGM given her attitude to male circumcision, so actually I think that people arranging it's the same.

Are saying NOT arranging!

And yes I can see the similarities of course,BUT the differences IMO Far outweigh these. Male circumcision is not performed to increase sexual satisfaction of women, nor is it done to curb male desire. Male circumcision is a safe procedure whereas female genital mutilation is not. Male circumcision doesn't cause daily pain during urinatiom, sex etc. Male circumcision doesn't carry the common risk of infection and death. Male circumcision doesn't require a man to be cut open during childbirth.

I'm sorry but I can accept why people may be against male circumcision, but I cannot stand the comparisons. Many in my family have had FGM performed and all men are circumcised- it's simply not right to lump them together.

Of course male and female circumcision is 'different' but ultimately the sooner people stop accepting male circumcision as culturally acceptable, the sooner they will for FGM. Neither is acceptable.

Male circumcision doesn't carry the common risk of infection and death... I quoted earlier the estimate is male circumcision is responsible for approximately 120 neonatal deaths per year in the USA. I know as a % this is relatively small, but it is still not a risk is be willing to take. Infection risk is higher than death obviously and is also a significant risk.

I am pretty cosmopolitan (ie:foreign) and all the men in my family are circumcised. I still didn't choose this for my son, which caused a huge argument with my father. I couldn't get my head around unnecessary surgery, pain and infection risk for a baby.

Unless its for medical reasons circumcision is male genital mutilation. If you had daughters the chances are you wouldn't dream of circumcising them.

FGM and MMG need to be stopped.

Rf241 I'm not sure you can really say that male circumcision is not done to curb sexual desire. Why is it done? We've established that it's not for hygiene purposes. So what's it for?

MArty you can get it done in the uk all Orthodox Jews get their boys circumcised straight after birth usually within 3 days. Muslims also orthodox or not all boys get circumcised. There's a huge African community Muslim and Jewish community in London. I know Muslims could help you if you go to a large mosque over there I'm sure you could get recommendations.

I'm sure the Jewish community will be of help also.

Or you can get it done at a hospital privately either way you will pay up to £200.

It is not available on the nhs but it was for decades.

There is no age as such but the younger the better since they don't feel it as much, and it heals up quicker.

Do your research and I hope it goes well!