Circumcised vs. Uncircumcised: New Studies Add to the Debate
What began as a religious procedure has become a highly debated topic among parents and medical professionals. For more than 20 years, the number of circumcisions per year has declined drastically. Today, 55 percent of the 2 million baby boys born each year undergo the procedure, compared to 79 percent in the 1980s.
The reason for the decline can be connected to several issues. For one, Medicaid no longer covers circumcision. In 18 states, this makes it very difficult for families to afford the procedure. Also, according to an article from The Baltimore Sun many parents believe it’s “a painful, unnatural procedure” that can cause sexual and psychological issues. Recent research, however, suggests parents should consider for health and financial reasons.
A new statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics, which will be published in September, found that babies who do not undergo circumcision have a higher risk of developing various health problems. The study suggests those who opt out of the procedure are more likely to develop multiple STDs (including HIV and HPV), penile cancer, and urinary tract infections.
Another study from Johns Hopkins supports the AAP’s research. The study tracked male circumcision related procedures and infections in a group of men throughout their life time. Using this data, researchers were able to predict how a continuous decrease in circumcision would affect male health in the future. The results showed that a man’s risk of developing HIV and HPV increases by 12.2 percent and 29.1 percent, respectively, and the risk of developing infant urinary tract infections increases by 211.8 percent if they are uncircumcised. Yikes! And the risk factors don’t stop with men. The study also tracked women who have sexual contact with uncircumcised men, and their risk rates also increased. For these women, the risk of developing HPV increased by 31.2 percent.
In addition to the medical aspect, the study also examined the financial aspect of forgoing circumcision. The research suggests that if male circumcision rate drops to 10 percent, the lifetime healthcare costs for individuals would increase by $407 for men and $43 for women. In comparison to the cost of a circumcision ($254), that’s a big chunk of change. The Johns Hopkins study adds that, in the past 20 years, the decline in male circumcision has cost the United States $2 billion in medical costs.
Despite the findings, the AAP still says the choice to circumcise is ultimately up to the parents. They do suggest, however, that expecting parents should speak with their child’s doctor about the benefits and risks of the procedure, and discuss who will perform the circumcision.
Will you / did you have your son circumcised? What swayed your decision?
Plus more from The Bump:
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The Nest Blog
This article is lying! Of course they would say that so that parents will pay doctors and hospitals more money!!! Do your research people! Male circumcision is male genital mutilation!!! I have a son and was going to get him circumcised until I researched on my own and decided that it was completely unnecessary, unnatural and very harmful! Go to coloradonocirc.org.
let’s see, uncircumcised. common sense can tell anyone that with the extra skin that’s there that, yes, it would be easier to contract std’s, and yes, it would be easier to give them. besides, i’ve been with someone who wasn’t circumcised, that was nasty. it is so much better if someone has the surgery
I’ve been with someone with breast like yours, it was nasty. get surgery. – just trying to put a point across. we are ALL perfect the way we are born.
Thank you, Donna, for helping the “uneducated” see it from a different point of view.
Maybe a man would think it’s disgusting that you’re not circumcised. Perception is everything my dear. Once it’s aroused, you can’t even tell… or perhaps you’re not doing your job correctly.
That’s not common sense, that’s ‘Murikan brainwashing! It’s not extra skin, it has 16 functions at least, and in a new born it is fused to the glans, like your fingernail to your finger. How many infections do you get under your nails? And if you get an infection do they treat it by peeling the fingernail off? I’ve lost an entire toenail once, it was horribly painful. But, hey, keep on being ignorant.
WOW! Shallow much Tammy! Why don’t you cut your own folds of skin considering it harbors way more nastiness that a penis ever could :/
My son was circumcised your argument that it is painful is wrong i mean unless the doctor has no clue what he is doing it is painless my son slept through his and never even cringed he never expressed any pain in follow up cleanings nothing if you had done your research you would know it is a common procedure that helps prevent infections and is far from genital mutilation
You obviously have never watched the procedure. It is absolutely genital mutilation as they are cutting and ripping the skin away. Seriously?
I’m having a son in January 2013, and my husband and I have opted not to circumcise. This may be a little TMI, but neither he nor his 3 brothers have been, and they’ve never had any sort of issues, nor has other men that we’ve spoken to. As far as hygiene, my husband will be teaching our son how to clean himself, etc. We just don’t think it’s necessary. There are always new studies popping up, telling you that something is horrible for you one minute and then it’s great the next. No circumcision for our little guy.
My husband is uncircumcised and he was adamant about having our son circumcised. Of course I didn’t follow blindly… I can see both sides of the argument. My husband wanted our son to avoid the problems he had. So while I didn’t want to cause my son any harm or discomfort, I could see the benefits circumcision has in the long run. I’m sure not all uncircumcised men have the issues my husband did; all I can do is go off of his experience which seems to coincide with this article.
Why is it that only American men have so many problems with their foreskin when most of the rest of the world does not? Was he force retracted early? Doctors don’t know much about foreskin in the US, and many have either told parents they have to retract their kids foreskin and clean under it, or they do it themselves at the doctor appointment. Either way, its Not Proper Intact Care! It tears perfectly normal adhesions causing infections and scarring, and it can cause the wounded glans and foreskin to heal wrong, fusing together. Learn the facts, intact care is not rocket science. Wash what you see, wipe like a finger. It’s easy.
My Boys are both done.. I’m all set with the embarrassment that would have costed them.. it was over in a minute and it didn’t bother them after..
Right. Total embarrassment. I guess everyone missed the Sex and the City episode when Charlotte was calling the guy a Sharpei for having all that extra foreskin! It’s unsightly and just unclean. I’m sorry ladies. I’m for circumcision all the way and my sons will be getting it!
quite possibly the most arrogant, and ignorant, over-assumption I have ever heard. It didn’t “bother” them after? “after” means the entire rest of their lives, are you sure your son wouldn’t rather have had an intact body, been able to feel the sensations that 20,000 nerve ending would have provided him? are you certain he won’t have painful erections, or suffer from erectile dysfunction as a result of his glans being exposed his entire life. All to avoid some presumed “embarrasment” that exists no where but your mind. Do you have daughters? have you considered that maybe they would like larger breasts so that they fit in better in that oh so important to life institution known as highschool? we all make mistakes, and many people find out too late, but don’t prattle on about the experience like it was nothing when you aren’t the one who is affected one way or the other, the only one who knows if it “bothered him after” is your son, and if he is as ignorant as you he sadly probably does not even realize what you allowed to be taken from him.
Wow, isn’t this great. The AAP nitpicked it’s research to show it to costs more to be intact.
How about facts? Circumcised men are more likely to develop complications from, well, being circumcised. Each additional surgery to correct adhesions, meatal stenosis and other common circumcision side effects cost HUNDREDS, if not thousands of dollars. The side effect of DEATH will cost a family $1000 for burial, $400 for cremation. The side effect of complete penile amputation is worth a lifetime of pain and suffering.
Leaving a child intact costs nothing if properly cared for. Antibiotics for urinary tract infections cost the same for little boys as it does for little girls. If not forcibly retracted, the penis is protected for the first several years of life from infections(it doesn’t naturally release from being fused until, at minimum, potty training age).
The amount of money a women saves on KY jelly because the natural action of the foreskin prevents friction and vaginal dryness can be up in the $300 range, depending on how sexually active they are.
The HPV risk is only enhanced because the inside of the foreskin and the natural state of the glans(read:head) of the penis is actually similar to the inside of the vagina, a moist, mucal membrane, highly sensitive and yes, easier to infect with a virus than a kerotinized(read: hardened, callused and destroyed) glans(head) of the penis. THIS can be fixed by simply teaching sexual education and giving teens condoms and free testing.
The FACT is, foreskins are sold for $599 per 1ml of neonatal foreskin cells. Doctor’s charge $400 for the procedure that takes 10 minutes, then go and sell the flesh for $599 per 1ml, and at least 2ml are harvest-able.
AAP is catering to doctor’s wallets, not children’s welfare.
Well said. I like you
I’m sorry but you’re erroneously assuming every woman uses lube, many of us do not, as if aroused properly the vagina tends to lube itself.
Oh, and my son is intact, the way the nature, God, and evolution made him. He was born perfect, and I decided he did not need to be altered in any way.
I hear all these things that could happen by not getting your child circumcised but never explain how the giving and receiving all these STDs happens. You are going to have to do more than just tell me some gobbledygook, I want a scientific explanation in the article as well.
Finally someone said what I was thinking!! You have to sleep with someone with an STD to contract one!! I am all for freedom of choice, but when people are ignorant and only pull out what they want, doesn’t it seem like they’re trying to sway us one way or another?
@ Natalie, my point exactly! And thanks for that information about doctors selling the skin, makes sense to me. The thing is that medicaid will no longer pay for circumcision in MOST states because it is NOT medically necessary AT ALL! All of those things about how uncircumcised men are unclean is a MYTH. They have dispelled all of those MYTHS. If you are a man and do not wash your penis daily and engage in risky sexual behavior, like not wearing a condom with someone who has an STD, then yes you will probably catch that STD, it has nothing to do with the man being uncircumcised.
Many times uncircumcised men have issues wearing a condom because it tends to be more restricting than on circumcised men, possibly a link to an increase in STD findings.
Exactly. This is all crap. Only people who make money off of this surgery promote it.
Non of this crap is caused by foreskin – correlation, not causation.
Hygiene & proper sex education are what is needed, not surgery.
This is absolutely ridiculous, and f’ed up.
YOU CAN STILL GET STD’S AND HPV WITHOUT A FORESKIN. TELLING PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO GET STD’S BECAUSE OF A CIRCUMCISION IS IRRESPONSIBLE, AND I THINK CAN REALLY HURT LIVES.
There is NO substitute for safe sex!
There is no substitute for hygiene!
The problem here is unprotected sex, and not washing properly.
No male in my family is cut – and they are all 100% healthy.
No other country but the USA does this. If these studies were true, then all of Europe would be in trouble. Guess what- they aren’t. British males don’t have higher STD’s then US males.
Do you know why? They have universal health care & education. They take care of themselves properly. How upsetting that this crap is promoted by the AAP. One step forward for breastfeeding, one step back for circumcision.
The foreskin has benefits-it is there for a reason or 100 reasons. Of course they want you to circumcise your sons-lots of money for your babies valuable foreskin. There is a pediatric urologist at JHU and repairs over 250 botched circ’s a year. He will tell you NOT to cut your sons but to keep them whole and intact. You clean what is seen and you NEVER retract. Girls were protected in 1997-when will baby boys get the same protection??
The choice to circumcise should be made by the owner of the penis, not the parents. The AAP is not a patient advocacy group, they are playing to its members who will benefit monetarily from more infant circumcisions. Parents need to do their research. An intact penis is not a birth defect and has a purpose. Infant circumcision is the only surgery done to prevent a possible illness. More men get breast cancer than penile cancer, so why not recommend removing the breast buds? Or why not one testicle? That would reduce testicular cancer. It doesn’t make sense does it? Our boys deserve the same protection as our girls. They deserve whole bodies, and the choice to cut it off, or clean it.
Most other countries don’t circumcise and it’s seen as unnecessary at best, and cruel at worst. I urge people to consider why they want to have this done. The so called benefits of circumcision don’t appear until the infant is a grown and sexually active man. Even then, I think the research and justifications are flimsy.
So instead of teaching kids about condoms and safe sex, amputate a functioning organ. Makes sense! My son is due in a week and he will remain intact, just as nature intended. Why would boys be born with foreskin if it wasn’t necessary? I have had numerous UTIs in the past, should I have been circumcised? It’s not like they were deadly, just uncomfortable. Female circumcision was legal in the US until the 90′s… but that is wrong, isn’t it? You wouldn’t even think of cutting your baby girl, so why cut your baby boy? It is wrong. Our children are not our property. We do not own their bodies. Let him make the decision when he is old enough. Please, watch a video of the procedure. If you can’t stomach it, respect your son and leave his penis alone! I don’t know how anyone can see it be done and still go for it. The videos are absolutely barbaric and heartbreaking.
The only thing that prevents transmission of STDs is not having sex or using a condom!! That’s it! Fire skin is not a secret compartment for things to “hideout” in its a organ that people cut off unnecessarily!! If my daughter ever gets a UTI she will get antibiotics, they are not a big deal! Circumsision is again a religious debacle that our cultures have adopted and insurance and doctors are profiting from! Circumsions bring in billions of dollars a year to doctors, hospitals! In most European and Scandinavian countries it is not the norm and their penisis are just fine!!! If ur born with it leave it!!
Wow why so much anger, This is something that is a very personal choice. There are risk and benefits to both sides and I think if parents know the facts then they are more than able to make the best choice for their child. Depending on culture, religion and comfort on which risks/ benefit a parent feels more ok with. It’s life, and kids ‘s are no sure answers or a one size fits all, some children will have it done and need medical attention as a result ad some won’t and require it down the road…there are no 100% in making this decision. However I think it’s important to respect each other decision, just as some will have their baby girls ear’s done, or use shampoo with parabean etc.. Good luck to all the moms and dad faced with having a boy.
This is a biased article that is lying to new parents! The AAP is For THE FINANCIAL GAIN OF ITS FELLOWS (MDs) NOT the WELFARE or health of children! It’s all about money…our sons foreskins are not only putting money in the docs pockets for the surgery but then they line their pockets from the selling of them for use in beauty products. Our sons are being mutilated and tortured for capital gain! They are born perfect with no need for alteration! Either evolution or God made them that way (you pick) … how silly to imagine that nature or God made a mistake here! ALL mammals, male and female, have foreskins…they are purposeful and functional! Research and check out ‘the whole network’ ‘Doctors opposing circumcision’ ‘Dr. Mama’ and many more … learn the truth and save our sons! AAP is Unethical wrong and I say ‘SHAME ON YOU!’
Ok, I know that babies are wonderful and every mom thinks her child is perfect but if all babies are indeed perfect the way they are we should fire ever pediatric surgeon that’s ever performed heart surgery on a baby with a heart defect and I hope that none of you mothers have ever gotten anything pierced, shaved, waxed or otherwise changed your bodies in any way. And as far as the argument that babies are minors and cannot consent, they can’t consent to any other procedure either. Have you ever watched a heart surgery? It’s pretty awful too. Just because you disagree with an argument doesn’t mean you should scream “liar, liar, pants on fire.” There is legitimate research that there are benefits to circumcision, it’s a decision for parents to make and this militant anger toward other families decisions needs to stop.
I’m personally not for it, but I don’t condemn families for making the decision to have their sons circumcised. I see both sides of the argument. I will however say that comparing the need to have it done to HEART SURGERY is the most ignorant thing I have read in a very long time.
Clearly not having your son’s foreskin removed is just as life threatening as being born with a defective heart…dumb ass!
there are no “legitimate” benefits to circumcision, every argument is cherry picked b.s. girls get way more uti’s than boys, we give them antibiotics, we do not cut off a part of their body pre-emptively. Comparing circumcision to hear surgery makes about as much sense as comparing a boob job to brain surgery. one is elective and cosmetic, and a decision parents make for their children, the other is only performed as a life saving measure. Many people have died from heart failure, do you know anyone who died from foreskin? p.s. girls have foreskin too, its called the clitoral hood, would you like your parents to decide for you whether or not you are entitled to that piece of your anatomy? or do you think that is a basic human right that you get to keep all your body parts?
Actually women DO get more utis than men statistically speaking. That IS medical fact and has to do with the differences in reproductive organs. It’s fine to disagree with circ but you discredit yourself by denying a medical and statistical fact.
I am SOOOOOOOOOOO for circumcision. I respect people’s decision not to have the procedure done, but if I have a son, he will most definitely be getting circumsized. I have a friend who encountered so much clout from his girlfriends/exes through the years, that he got circumsized at 32. Another person I know had it done at 28. I can’t speak for others, but I can’t stand being with an uncircumsized man. I think it’s disgusting. If everyone would teach their sons how to pull that extra skin back and wash “up in there” thoroughly, it would be great. But, unfortunately many moms don’t. So as an adult, it’s left up to me to tell a grown man, “Umm, you have extra fluids, lint, bacteria and other yucky things trapped behind that skin. Please pull that back and wash behind the skin.” It is definitely easier to contract an STD from an uncircumsized man. Been there! All kinds of bacteria and fluids live under that skin and get trapped there until the skin is pulled back. If they aren’t pulling it back to clean it, the only other time it’ll be pulled back is when it inserts your vagina. So those things will end up inside your vagina during intercourse OR even worse, in your mouth during oral. Trust me! So again, I’m for circumcision!
There are not words for this level of ignorance. First off, why are you concerned with your son’s future sex life exactly? and what decisions did your parents make for you as an infant based on what your future sex partners might like? secondly, do you know that women have foreskin too? that hood over your clitoris, its foreskin. It harbors those same germs, and smegma (yup, we have that too) so unless you are volunteering to cut yours off, i don’t think you should be making a decision to remove anyone elses. and the shallowness of this comment, leaves me dumbfounded. Its like saying “your face is ugly, have plastic surgery” we don’t amputate body parts to please some potential future mate who may or may not be a shallow bitch.
Women, just like men, are allowed to have preferences and that doesn’t necessarily make them entirely shallow. Secondly, different anatomy…there’s no proof female circumcision leads to less utis or stds. Thirdly, maybe she’s concerned with her child’s future sex life because she realizes sex is an important part of an adult male’s life. Don’t be so myopic.
Perhaps you should use protection or know that your sexual partner has an STD before hopping into bed with him. I think this speaks more about your character than his and kind of takes away your credibility. Germs do not cause STD’s – unprotected sex with some one who has an STD causes STD’s. I slept with a boyfriend for 7 years who was uncircumcised and never contracted a thing from him – because we were faithful and DIDN’T HAVE STD’S TO PASS ON!!!!
Another ill informed statement- STIs are not the same as STDs and can be contracted by bacteria within a monogamous relationship. Perhaps instead of calling another woman out on her sex life you should busy yourself with opening a medical book every now and then or at the very least it’s called webmd.
Sometimes I feel like those who are against circumcision like to go on rants just to get their points across. How hard is it to live and let live anymore. Having my son circumcised was MY decision because I believe that it is best for him. Just being a couple days old, the foreskin is not yet a functioning organ. A lot of those websites that are against circumcision like to play on people’s emotions. I will not have my son made fun of because he looks different. If I would have chosen not to circumcise him, I might have paid more in psychologist bills to help combat being bullied. If you chose to circumcise your son, that is your choice, not anyone else’s.
Thank you for stating this. Couldn’t have said it better myself. It frustrates me that people refuse to believe science and would rather be “naturalistic” than consider their child’s health. They would rather let their emotions guide them and yell at anyone who says otherwise.
I cannot believe how some people are so ignorant that they would rather say that because I did not get my son circumcised that I am angry at parents who do! Let me make this clear, I could care less what people do with their sons! I was simply stating the facts. I’m sorry that offends you that I am educated! So according to Mei I let nature tell me what to do and not science. Mmmkay… so if science tells me to cut of some of my vagina skin then I should do it! WOW! LOL! How ridiculous! Ignorant people keep paying the doctors and hospitals more money, thanks you guys for making my hospital in my town richer!
i work in a Pediatric office and it brakes my heart every time i look at the schedule and see a circumcision scheduled. It is horrible the way they strap them down like animals, and the whole procedure is horrendous! just imagine someone pulling off a piece of your skin
I cannot imagine the pain those poor baby’s go through. The worst part is when the parents break down and start crying, I wish I could tell them “why are u crying??!! u brought them here to have this done!!”" my husband and two boys are not circumcised and They have never had any problem, neither have my father or brother or any men in our family that we’ve asked. But nonetheless the decision is up to the parents.
The most ignorant comments I have heard about circumcision is that boys will be embarrassed that their penis’s look different from some random man or boy as if they are in school and the teacher will say “pull down your pants boys lets make sure that all of your penis’s look the same!” My point exactly!
Quit throwing around words like ignorant and uneducated. People who choose to have their sons circumcised are neither. They want what is best for their children and who the hell are any of you obnoxious women to have anything to say about it? People like you with your stupid and judgemental attitudes can kiss my ass and anyone else’s. Go about your ridiculous hippie lifestyle breastfeeding until your kids are riding bikes and leaving the rest of society alone.
To Stephanie Smith, I do not think that it’s ignorant to say that my son would possibly get made fun of for looking different. At least in Indiana, there is showering after gym class starting in middle school. That’s when a bunch of different hormones are flying through their bodies. So yes, it’s possible.
Well my husband and I are pro circumcise. The thing about the emotional damage b.s. is how many grown men have you talked to that are emotionally scarred for life because of something that happened when they were less than 24 hours old? Most humans don’t have memories of being an infant much less memories of what something felt like, if you want to go the whole “its taking part of their god given body away” then you should think about when they cut the umbelical cord too because that’s pretty attached to us when we’re born. All I’m saying is don’t throw stones because someone wants a their sons penis to have a little less skin and you want your sons to be in a little sleeping bag for the rest of his life, there’s equal chance.of STD and disease either way so let people choose their own fate for their sons genitals please, it has no impact on you at all and if you wanna be all high and mighty about it and raise your little boy to think less of someone because of their mothers decision that’s your own fault. Just know its a sad sad day when you tell little Johnny he can’t play with the other boys because their penises don’t have foreskin.
The umbilical cord will detach NATURALLY when it is not cut off. It is designed to do just that. Foreskins have a purpose and do NOT detatch on their own. Your comparison is totally invalid.
Ok so what about wisdom teeth. They are natural but many times we preemptively yank them out.
Its actually kinda disturbing that someone else is so concerned with my future son’s genitals. For heavens sake I made the baby not you! And if you want to go off your hippie dippy 6years olds can breastfeed and we only feed our baby organic baby food, fine but just know that is your decision and not everyone else has to follow it nor do we want to hear you ranting on and on about how you’re a better mother because you’re precious little boy still has foreskin and how I’m a terrible mom for putting my boy through it, I raise my boys to be tough and strong so one day they can grow up without my help and I’m pretty sure a flap of skin isn’t going to change how they turn out cause if I raise em right they wont give a damn what they’re manhood looks like and they won’t tease other boys about it either. So cutting that skin off is my choice and its what’s normal in our family so deal with it.
I am so sick of hearing the “flap of skin” comment. It is the exact anatomical equivalent of the hood of the clitoris. So, tell me, is the hood of the clitoris “just a flap of skin” and even though we don’t have a bunch of studies telling us that its beneficial to keep it, would you like to have yours? or do you think it would have been ok for your parents to have had it removed? The only reason we don’t have these kinds of studies on the female genitalia is because as a society we agree it is wrong to study those sorts of thing, we simply don’t do it. The same should apply to boys. There is no reason TO remove it, therefore we don’t. Not so hard, really.
Hey Maria. It is just a flap of skin. Get over it. Not that hard, really.
so you’re volunteering to have the hood of your clitoris removed then? because unless you are, I don’t think its fair to sign someone else up for surgery…If you would like people to refrain from calling you ignorant and uneducated, than don’t make comments that prove you are ignorant and uneducated. Here is but one of many pieces of information available to inform you: http://www.nocirc.org/symposia/second/denniston2.html
If it was proven to be medically beneficial and have little to no risk then yes;however, due to anatomical differences, that is not the case.
Why do people keep calling it just a flap of skin! Watch a video it is awful, considering you vow to always protect your kids.. This is not protecting them! You are truly only doing it because society says its the norm, how can you emotionally feel good about yourself as you know your son is screaming bloody murder! Girls change in the same room also, all chest size is different are you going to let her have a breast job so she to can look like everyone else? People can have many views about this, but don’t act like you are doing what’s best for them it’s just more convient for you!!
The U.S. is the only country that has ever in the course of history routinely circumcised. I married a Englishman, and in Europe, it is basically unheard of. My son is 13 and uncircumcised. He has NEVER had one problem. On the other hand, my nephew had multiple problems after not being circumcised, and my sister decided to circumcise him when he was two. I’m still not convinced that that was the proper solution, but she is adamant because he hasn’t had any problems since. The only thing this has taught me is this: REFRAIN. If he develops problems that are presumed to be solved by circumcision, do it when and IF they arise. That way you don’t have to worry about anesthesia and discomfort the moment your baby is born – breathing is new – sounds are new, eating is new…why add horrible discomfort to it all?? Plus, later, you can be assured that the anesthesia will work, be a safe dose, and will not cause complications. STD’s are not a good enough reason for me. EVERYONE needs to be responsible and is prone to STD’s, and if precautions are used, that should not even be an issue! I am 16 weeks pregnant, and will not circumcise if this baby is a boy.
P.S. The “embarrassment” of not circumcising for cosmetic reasons absolutely disgusts me. If a male I love is with someone who is repulsed by him not being circumcised, I say fantastic! What a great way to weed out the type of people I want out of his life!
Women have preferences just as me do. It’s not that big of a deal and certainly not indicative of overall character.
i think every choice is your own come on ladies really we are going to judge men on if the have extra skin or not and for those who have said it was nasty then honey the man was nasty himself
Maria you have to be the dumbest person on here. People circumcise women for the purpose of decreasing sexual pleasure and that is completely different than circumcision for boys. Your research is completely full of biased crap. Probably from the load of garbage like Dr. Momma.org that also encourages people not to vax their kids. Go ahead and continue your ignorant ways. It doesn’t affect me at all or any of my perfectly healthy circumcised boys. No matter what you moronic inactivists do there will always be circumcision in this country. Continue to cry about it. Thank you AAP!
First off lesly, it is not “my research” i cited a study so that you might inform yourself before you go running your mouth about a topic that you are clearly very opinionated as well as uninformed about. See I do not pick and choose which things I read, I read both sides of the discussion, this is what allows me to weed out the reasonable from the unreasonable. When you only read one side of an issue you become an ignorant person because you are ignoring information. I don’t think I ever mentioned a reason for fgm, I wasn’t even talking about fgm, all i said was that if you think you are qualified to assign elective genital surgery to people maybe you should experience it so you can test your theories. If you actually took some time to research all sides of an issue, you would find out information, it would tell you that the strongest supporters of fgm are the women who have been mutilated. They make the same kinds of arguments that you are making right now. Thankfully I don’t get my self esteem from internet blogs so I really don’t care what you think of me, I find it interesting though that you can so easily discount the research I provided when you have provided… nothing, and when you are removing body parts from a child, you should at least have a flawed study to back you up.
You provided a bunch of crap. One doctor who is obviously against circumcision isn’t researching but of course you think you know better. I rely on professionals and their information. Read what their reasons are behind why the recommend the procedure and educate yourself or don’t. I don’t care what you do.
you assume because I only provided one link that I have only read one study? And your information is where exactly? And here’s a hint, Every member of the AAP task force on circumcision, and the “researcher” on the Johns Hopkins studies, all Pro- circ. I don’t believe your personal position on a subject automatically determines whether your research is useful or not, but if you feel that bias automatically rules someone out then I’m not sure where you find any information in support of the practice at all that you can rely on. You do also realize, I hope, that while the AAP has shifted their seat on the fence a bit, they still aren’t actually recommending circumcision. They are saying “Hey we’re a bunch of people who think insurance should pay for a surgery that may or may not have benefits, we’re doctors and we don’t know but you parents figure it out, and definitely someone should pay” so if that isn’t biased, by all means, fill their pockets with your money taken out of your children’s bodies. My son will get to decide for himself when he is old enough.
You go girl!
I have spoken quite extensively with several family members in the healthcare field who all say the same thing, we cant come out and recommend something that should ultimately be the parents choice but the benefits greatly outweigh the risks. Do I need to have all of them email you personally to show you that I have taken a great interest in finding out what is best for my children? So here’s a hint, you don’t know everything. People don’t need to prove themselves to you and only because I am such an anti-inactivist did I waste my time with you.
Yet the statement explicitly states that they do not actually *know* the risks, so how can an unproven benefit that may or may not assist *your* child definitely outweigh the risks that can’t even be listed? Did you know that over 100 babies a year die in the u.s from circumcision complications? for elective surgery… tell those parents the benefits outweigh the risks.
Another quote from Dr. Momma? I can make up statistics and post them on the internet and people will quote me too. I also read that more babies die every year from circumcision than car accidents from a similar inactivist website that an idiot in law gave me. All inaccurate crap. I trust the experts that I know over some extreme ego driven fool who continues to think they know better because they read an article that supports their position.
if the idiots are the ones who read articles, then by all means, call me an idiot. I have family members in the medical field too. You clearly have nothing more than your opinion, which is fine, except you stated that you hate when intactivists start calling everyone uneducated and ignorant. When you ignore information, that is what you are. You clearly do not have information beyond anecdotal,so you choose to yell at people on the internet to make yourself feel better about mutilating your children. I’m sure this won’t meet your expectations for non-existant studies, but here is a link on the deaths: http://www.icgi.org/2010/04/infant-circumcision-causes-100-deaths-each-year-in-us/ and i’m sure in your mind psychology today is biased too, but here’s a 6 part series they did: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/moral-landscapes/201109/myths-about-circumcision-you-likely-believe. Be careful who you call uneducated, you just might look like a moron.
Since you seem to enjoy calling people uneducated who don’t read your stupid blogs and believe every word they say along with insisting on having the last word I will let you. My sons and I have had a good laugh at your expense.
My husband is circumcised. My child will not be. We have chosen a more natural way of life than that of our parents because people are to educate themselves and learn from previous generations mistakes. My mother had bumper pads in my crib where I slept on my tummy and she fed me out of the ‘cutest’ plastic bottles that she warmed in her microwave. Well, we all know times change. If your reason for removing foreskin is health-related and your practitioner (whom you trust) has advised you to do so and you are completely comfortable with this choice – go for it. I on the other-hand believe we are born not to be modified. And as for the ladies who deem it “embarrassing” for the boys to go without this surgery; as someone who works in childcare and sees boys come and go year by year, I can tell you that I’ve seen more uncircumcised than not these days. And do we actually live in a society where looks are put before health and human rights? Remember that in many 3rd world countries they believe uncircumcised women are “disgusting” and “unclean” and “impure” and those women are stoned in the street. Do we condone this? Circumcision is a cultural/religious issue no matter what gender and has nothing to do with health, so let’s stop hiding behind these forged statistics and “traditions”. If you’re going to do it; know what you’re doing and why.
It is always good to learn from past generations mistakes but when does being a helicopter parent go too far? I’m not saying let them play with lead based paint but by careful how much you shelter them from, could end up being detrimental in the long run. Good luck!
Lesly, everyone has their own opinions, please stop with your hateful comments just because you don’t agree with everyone. Thank you.
Psychology Today is a major publication, that does things like fact check their information. It is not a blog. All of the information I provided you, in fact, comes from well cited research. There are facts and there are opinions. Ignoring facts and calling them opinions reflects ignorance. If you would like to “educate” me then why don’t you provide some information? Also what kind of person raises their children in such a way as to have them laugh at people on the internet? I personally think you are an idiot lesly, but I would never involve my son in a laugh at someone else’s expense, no matter how stupid and uneducated they may be. I try to have compassion for people like you, and give you information to help you become educated, I cannot however force you to read or to comprehend the information in front of you, but If your parenting style includes teaching your children to laugh at others and removing healthy body parts, then i’m afraid I have nothing more to say to you.
Wow. I am astonished at how many people on here are so quick to name call and judge others in the name of “saving children.” Who do you think you are helping by telling parents that they are mutilaters? Even if you believe it is true you will have such a hard time getting your point across with that type of stance. I think, although quite vulgar, Lesly made a few good points. Maria, at one point after reading through the comments you claim you were being compassionate with giving information? You told that woman to cut off her clitoral hood. How is that anything but ludicrous? Even if trying to make a point you destroyed any chance of having any positive effect on her. Too bad because you gave a lot of really valid information that will fall on deaf ears because of how you handled yourself. She was just trying to get a rise out of you! Can’t you see that? By calling her stupid, ignorant, moronic, etc…you were just feeding her more ammo. My choice to not circumsise my son was for very similar reasons but to behave the way Maria and a lot of the inactivists on this page and other sites act is just ridiculous.
I have had all three of my boys circumcised and they have never had any extra health problems from having it done. I’m sure it hurt because they came back crying but they were fine by the time I took them home. I am having another boy and plan on having him circumcised too. I guess it’s all in parental preference.
no horse in this race for me currently as far as kids go, but can i just say in reading the comments that this has turned into the “homebirth v. hospital” debate and the “breast v. bottle” debate all over. why can’t we as women support each other in our decisions? some of the comments here are extremely judgmental and RUDE, and in doing so, you aren’t winning anyone over to your “side”. by being rude you are just making yourself, and your position, look bad. there rudeness and name calling is just not necessary, i don’t know why in forums people always feel the need to take it there. the anonymity of the internet i guess. can’t we all agree parents are going to decide what is best for them and their family in ALL of these debates? unless people are cutting it off entirely, putting vodka in the bottle, and sticking heroin in their ivs, i think we can all safely assume parents are making the best decisions they can, so let’s all move on.
now my husband is circumcised and it doesn’t seem to have affected him whatsoever, so the blanket statements of how “awful” it is and how it “ruins” men for life can be stopped please. maybe you’ve encountered someone that had other physical issues if it was “hard and calloused”, but i certainly can’t describe my husband’s using those words, and he doesn’t have any complaints in the bedroom. that is all.
too many women commenting about boys here. im uncirced and its whatever, never had any infections or anything. some girls might not like it but thats their problem. to all of you saying its gross, i bet some guys think the fact that you might have a preteen boys chest is a turn off to them. does that mean you need surgery? no obviously not. And hell to be honest i think your lady parts smell absolutely atrocious, so lets cut a deal..you don’t have to go down on me if i dont have to go down on you
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ps
let the dad decide.
Thank you! So glad my country no longer does this (less than 10% and dropping!) because I’d have to kill the doctor that tried to harm my baby after the hell I went through to bring him here, whole & perfect!
My father and his father’s before them never had any issues; I’m certain my boy will be too.
Uncircumsized male here. both sides of the debate have their pros and cons, however neither mean that your son will for sure in anyway have any of all those negative possible problems. Its like trying to say that all women need to remove their breasts in other to reduce breast cancer and the same for men and testicles. It is a mere possibility, an exception, that is not that common, for both sides. now i can tell you that parents should indeed just let the kid decide what he will do. after doing my own research, litterally asking around males in the community, i´ve found that well, every guy is different. some guys got a circumsicion when they were old enough because the gland was just too sensible, they just had to tap out of sex. Me on the other hand, uncircumsized, can tell you that the sex is amazing, my partner agrees, and of course, whether the topic is health, cosmetic or sexual, it really varies from man to man. i am so thankfull my parents did not make the decision to remove my foreskin, for i do not have an oversensitive penis, nor has it ever been infected, or has ever had any actual problems. that however does not speak for the entire male community, for some might have unbearable sex experiences, and the solution could be to either man-up and get used to it or just get the circumsicion, and for some others they might be more bound to getting infections, let it be for the size of the penis (really short penises are more likely to get urinary tract infections, not really common in males as compared to females, due to the very size of the urinary tract, obviously smaller in women) let it be for the actual cleaning habits of the guy. some may even get some tear on the tissue during intercourse due to stretching. WHATEVER. its all about what the boy is going to grow into and about his needs. if you´re deciding pro circumsicion because you want your kid to look like others, thats just plain wrong ladies. to prevent infections? teach them to clean it correctly, thats easier and honestly more fair tan taking away the sensibility of his gland. med school student here saying please, let the boy make the decision when the time comes.
P.S. sexually speaking, selfishly, uncircumsized is way better for the male. the pleasure is multiplied who knows by how much and the woman will have more to work with than a plain meat stick (this really depends on the woman, for porn culture and society in general portrays penises as circumsized, but my partner insists, foreskin gives more to work with) If you´ve had a non-hygenic partner with foreskin, i am sorry, indeed it must have been very gross, that however does not mean you will let your kid not clean up right?)
summed up, let the man decide, he will know what his body needs or what he wants when and if he needs it, dont let possibilities and percentages settle what his member, if not to say all the way to his sex life, will be like.
sorry for the long read, and I hope it helps. (probably a lot of bad grammar here. sorry about that too, too late at night to care :])
OK, what does HIV have to do with foreskin? This article is beyond retarded. The Western world in which we live in is utterly insane. While the rest of the god damned world doesn’t cut their children’s dicks off, the US and Canada decide that it’s a good idea to mess with nature, because evolution wasn’t good enough and we should just cut off a peace of the poor kid’s dick that actually protects the most sensitive part of his body. Good idea guys keep it up
We are at the 10% or less as mentioned in your post and what was said would happen has not!
Yet again debunking the lies of circumcision!!!
instead of bashing the website, or all the ignorant ppl (aka everyone who said the opposite choice is wrong) i just want to state the facts that i know… so that everyone else can make their OWN decision and feel good about it.
first of all i am a woman, not a man, no penis here… but speaking on behalf of what ive been told by a man (not a woman or MD or website) AND NOT JUST WHAT I THINK i would imagine just as piercing a newborns ears, that circ as a newborn is more “convienient” (for lack of a better word) than at a later time in life that would require more recoop time, more money and a greater sense of the pain during the procedure, not to mention the anxiety leading up to the appt.
my husband is uncirc and he has always said he wishes he was circ and that his sons will be… we are having a girl so this decision does not need to be made this go round! but from taking the advice of his father (when we do have a boy) he will be circ’ed!
Comparing your sons penis to a girl piercing her ears is just more proof that circumcision is cosmetic and unecessary. Butchering Gods creation for religious purposes is sad but sadder is people who do it for lesser reasons such as “to fit in” and for “convenience” as you so bluntly put it. Good thing you’re having a girl because your son shouldn’t have to have his body perminantly changed without a choice because it “conveniences” you. At least your husband was given this choice by his parents.
How about you just back off and respect other women’s decisions? Are you a circumcised male that regrets it? No? Then what is your place to tell another parent how to parent on this issue? It’s not plain and simple. Also, I find it interesting that the majority of people against circumcision are women and uncircumcised men- I have yet to hear a huge uproar from circumcised men about this issue at all…
why the hell are all these women on here acting like they know what they are talking about? seriously bc you dont……… well some of you do, the ones who are for circumcision. unless you have a penis your “opinion” is invalid……unless you are for circumcision then its allowed. I am circumcised and i have friends that arent and all of them that arent want to have it done but 1. its costly and 2. it hurts….ALOT!! at least when you are a baby you wont remember any of it. seriously people shut up about “genital mutilation” and get over it.
Are you a father Murphy? Because you sound like a teenager. There is NO WAY you and your guys are talking about your penis’s so please stop making up such conversations as it just sounds juvenile.
Really? Because I’ve had this conversation with several of my male friends, all who happened to be circumcised and didn’t regret having it done in the least. Unless you are present how on earth would you know what men talk about with each other? You wouldn’t and you obviously don’t.
My boyfriend of 2 and a half years is circumsized, and he just straight-up told me that its the better choice for guys. and trust me, he has absolutely no problems in bed. As of right now, i am only 19, so i do not plan on having kids soon, but when the time arises; of course, i will look into it a bit more, but seriously? All of this arguing is rediculous. Just sayin.
that makes about as much sense as saying my boyfriend is straight and trust me guys just like girls better… one person cannot speak for the whole world, a person who has only had one experience also cannot speak for the experience he hasn’t had. An uncircumcised man will always have the option of choosing to be circumcised later, a circumcised man has no choice. That is the problem.
Thank you Maria for saying it so well… you cannot replace foreskin once you have cut it off. Jade, come back and express an opinion when you’ve given birth to a boy, held him and soothed his cry and tell me that it’s the “better choice” then – when you choose to mutilate him. You are still a baby for God’s sake. How did you even get on this site? It’s for parents (soon-to-be) not children who aren’t even planning a family yet. Grow up. And Murphy, how old are you? What you are saying is totally fabricated. I guarantee you have NEVER spoken to any of your friends about circumcision. You’re probably the douche in the shower making fun of the uncircumcised guys to deal with your own insecurities. Bottom line is that unless it is for RELIGIOUS reasons there is NO OTHER LEGITIMATE reason to have your child circumcised and I am NOT religious enough to CUT a PIECE of my CHILD’S BODY OFF – his body that GOD created so perfectly. Also as someone who has potty-trained well over 100 boys due to my job in childcare I can tell you FACTUALLY that boys are no-longer being circumcised as often and are in FACT the minority in my experience. So take your 19-year-old, little-to-no life experience, make up facts because it suits your cause attitudes and find another outlet to post your condescension on, this site is for real parents.
How did you even get on this website? It is for expectant parents, not people who just like a debate. This is a serious topic and social issue, please don’t pretend to understand how it feels to have to decide these things for your child when you have clearly said that you aren’t expecting and/or a parent.
So men have no say either if they are not fathers? Ignorant and childish. Learn to respect others own parenting decisions if you want yours respected. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion on the matter. Grow up.
I have two sons and chose to circumcision for both. The excess skin is like a pocket that holds sweat and bacteria, considering they may grow to be athletic, I certainly didn’t want them to have constant infections. So I found it to be the more healthy choice in terms of cleanliness. (Mother’s can only be in charge of that for so long! LOL)
Once erect, there’s no real difference in appearance. It’s totally a personal matter for the parents. However, if it’s not done early and decided upon later, I can imagine that pain being far greater for him. Proactive instead of reactive has always been my choice.
No part of that makes any sense, and even if it did what you are essentially saying is that because your sons may one day choose to be athletic, you decided they wouldn’t want all of their penis… if my daughter wants to be a ballerina, will that mean i should remove her labia because it might get sweaty? WTF?
I’m so sorry that is the information you were falsely given about the foreskin. I once thought the lies you believe and cut my first son in ignorance! I was a young mother and regret it everyday now that I know the truth. My subsequent two sons remain intact, the way nature and god intended.
My son’s nose didn’t look like his dad’s nose when he was born, so we had the doctor cut part of it off. It hurt him really bad, but we didn’t mind. NOT!!! Seriously, the “we want him to look like dad, or other kids” reasoning is the worst of all to put your newborn through that pain and risk.
My dad “spanked” us with our pants and underwear down (pants down, nose to the wall, don’t move OR ELSE) using a variety of objects. Leather belt, tree switch, bare hand, etc.
He spanked us so hard sometimes that we would wet ourselves. When I tell people that–whether they are for or against spanking–they often get very angry.
When a child is circumcised the pain they suffer is a million times worse. They often wet themselves, vomit, go into shock, and many times DIE.
Why is it so acceptable to be angry at the abuse I suffered, and so unacceptable to be angry with the abuse those newborns suffer? Yes, circumcision makes me angry…Angry enough to speak harshly sometimes. Believe me, it is not in my nature to upset anyone…but someone needs to get angry for these newborns.
In with you Monica! Neither are acceptable and I’m angered by both atrocities …
The majority of infants do not react in that manner to circumcision and a relatively safe medical procedure is not remotely comparable to child abuse- apples to kiwis.
I’m a 20 year old male and I am circumcised. I’ve heard girls talk about how “scary” uncircumcised penises are and I just laugh. I’m pretty thankful my parents decided to circumcise me because I wouldn’t want that extra skin there. I would be embarrassed to have that skin there while having sex. Every girl I’ve ever been with has complemented me on how it looks
Most of the people I’ve seen who are up-in-arms about the issue of circumcision are women. I think it would be worthwhile to get more input from the guys. My husband’s parents chose the procedure when he was a child, and he is glad they did. He’s never been angry with his parents about it.
@Ann2323 – this is a PARENTING website! Asking that people who just enjoy debating don’t use a website dedicated to new parents learning and sharing information is not inappropriate. Also, I am in no-way a helicopter parent. That statement didn’t even make any sense as it did not relate to my post in any way. If you go to your doctors office, they will tell you to put baby on their back and not use bumper pads – dumbass.
And another thing. I didn’t say don’t do it (although I don’t think you should) I said KNOW WHY YOU ARE AND DON’T LIE TO YOURSELF AND OTHERS ABOUT WHY! Do NOT sit there and say you are doing it for health when it is PROVEN that there is no medical evidence that it must be done to prevent illness. You ARE disgusting if you’re doing it so your child “fits in” and if you’re comparing it to ear piercings. If you are doing it for religious reasons – that’s your choice – BUT JUST SAY THAT!!!! (and that’s not a good enough reason for ME to do it, which is MY OPINION). I never stated untrue medical facts in ANY of my posts and I never said men COULDN’T have an opinion I only said people who are not parents should not be on this website.
Hey ladies, female circ is done for the exact same reason as male circ. So, logic would suggest (if you aren’t sexist) that everyone should be circumcised.
80% of the world’s males are intact btw.
Only here in America are women so gullible to have this done to their precious babies.