Circumcision these days?

[sdsurfer]

Thanks!

[desmond]

Here’s a good start- when having a baby start making decisions without asking anybody but your wife, if she does not know what to do, you make the decision. I vote that you are crazy.

[NotCranky]

delete

[sdsurfer]

Thanks blogstar!

[Diego Mamani]

You’re welcome

[earlyretirement]

Funny as I NEVER thought I’d be posting about circumcision on a real estate website!

However, I feel so strongly about the issue after having gone through this with my son.

Here is my background and thoughts on this.

I was from a strong Catholic family (although now I’m non-practicing and don’t even go to church). I think that the Catholic church actually takes a neutral stance on it but back when I was a kid it seemed like everyone was circumcised. I was the eldest son in the family and I was circumcised.

My younger brother was not. I remember my parents telling me that they didn’t want to go through the agony of watching another child go through that.

But I remember watching my brother grow up (this was many years ago when I was younger). There was quite an age difference between me and my young brother.

I remember in school he said he was always teased by the other kids (he went to an all Catholic private school) and I think all the other boys were circumcised.

I remember sometimes he would yell at my parents and ask them why they didn’t circumcise him too like me. He even thought about getting it after the fact when I talked him out of it. (Again this was a LONG time ago some 20 years ago).

Ultimately he decided not to get it done and I’m sure he is happy now with his decision. But growing up he was teased.

So fast forward 2 years ago when I had my son. I really debated on if I should have my son circumcised.

I read all the stuff out there and the supposed health benefits, etc. But part of the reason I think I went ahead of it is because I was circumcised and it was normal to me.

I researched the best surgeon to do this. Got many references and had it done.

I can tell you 100% I totally REGRET my decision to get it done. It was so painful watching. They say the baby doesn’t remember as they are so young but I can tell you as a parent, you won’t forget! Now I understand why my parents didn’t have it done on my brother after me.

To make matters worse, after the surgery his penis got all inflamed. We had to put some special cream on it for several days and it was just horribly painful to watch our son suffer like that.

And even today his head of his penis doesn’t show like a normal circumcised penis. Talking to some physicians they say that is normal and that since he has fatty tissue it will take time but eventually it will look normal.

The surgeon said when he is 2 or 3 it will be normal. But you know what? He is 2.5 years old and it’s still the same. It just looks like the end of his penis was snipped off.

His pediatrician here says it will become normal in time with the head coming out. But I have to tell you I totally regret doing it and have tons of regret for doing it.

The medical results are mixed whether it’s beneficial or not when it comes to Aids or STD’s.

But honestly, I would implore any parent out there NOT to have it done! I wish someone gave me a talk or advice like this before we had it done.

I’m sure that when things go right it’s ok but what if things go wrong? Even though the doctors tell us that our son will be normal and he certainly isn’t in any pain now, I still remember the horrible ordeal going through that.

I would definitely spare your child the knife. I should have taken the clue from my parents that didn’t have it done after seeing me go through the pain having it.

If I have another son I DEFINITELY will NOT have it done again and regret my decision on my first son.

[NotCranky]

I didn’t delete the OP’s post, just mine.
Didn’t have my three boys circumcised, now 9,8&5. Have been wholeheartedly congratulated by each of the two regular pediatricians we have used, one is Jewish.

Had heard it is actually somewhat of a trauma and that the health benefits were debatable(negligible if any). Doubt they will be teased, or if so, that it would bother them. My own situation with regards to topic had no weight whatsoever, nor did any religious concerns.

[sdduuuude]

I have a friend who summed it up best when deciding to put his son under the knife:

“It’s hard enough to get a blow job without being different from everyone else. I’m not going to make it more difficult for him … ”

[NotCranky]

My kid aced the 3rd grade CST and reads Hugo Cabret in Spanish and Lord of the Rings in English. This is also because of our decision on circumcision.

[Fearful]

The medical benefits are modest at best, and are no justification for violating the baby’s right to an intact body.

Reduced STDs? The increased safety is negligible in comparison to the safety provided by condoms. HPV? You can and should get your boys HPV vaccinated. HIV? Do you seriously want to tell your kid that you cut the tip of his dick off to help protect him should he decide to stick it in HIV+ people? Why yes, son, just in case you turned out to be gay.

The real motivations for circumcising boys boil down to conformism and religion. Both of those arguments are equally well made for female genital mutilation, which we happily abhor.

This is male genital mutilation, and it is sickening.

[earlyretirement]

[quote=Blogstar]
Didn’t have my three boys circumcised, now 9,8&5. Have been wholeheartedly congratulated by each of the two regular pediatricians we have used, one is Jewish.

Had heard it is actually somewhat of a trauma and that the health benefits were debatable(negligible if any). Doubt they will be teased, or if so, that it would bother them. My own situation with regards to topic had no weight whatsoever, nor did any religious concerns.[/quote]

And as a parent, I congratulate you as well! I think as a parent, it’s the only thing I would have done differently.

Back when I was younger, it was much more common to be circumcised. I remember as a younger guy and watching pornos…. I mean all the guys were circumcised….it was very strange to see someone that was not.

But I think these days it’s more common and normal not to be circumcised.

I congratulate any parent that decides not to have their kid circumcised.

[quote=Blogstar]My kid aced the 3rd grade CST and reads Hugo Cabret in Spanish and Lord of the Rings in English. This is also because of our decision on circumcision.[/quote]

I’m glad you didn’t get your sons circumcised but I’m not sure you can make the connection they are doing so well because they didn’t have it done. After all, I got circumcised and I did very well. 🙂

[briansd1]

I heard I radio that in Israel there’s a movement against circumcision.

[desmond]

[quote=earlyretirement]

I’m glad you didn’t get your sons circumcised but I’m not sure you can make the connection they are doing so well because they didn’t have it done. After all, I got circumcised and I did very well. :)[/quote]

I guess understanding sarcasm wasn’t one of the things you did “very well”

[DataAgent]

Is there a Republican position on this?

[cvmom]

Earlyretirement, just wanted to say thank you for the well-thought-out, heart-felt post.

[Author]

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