Did you circumcise your son?
Two interesting stories about circumcision have caught my eye in the last few days. I wanted to share them with you because they give parents a lot to think about before choosing whether to circumcise or not to circumcise their brand-new son.
The Associated Press reports that “Circumcised males reduced their risk of infection with HPV, or human papillomavirus, by 35 percent and herpes by 28 percent. However, researchers found circumcision had no effect on the transmission of syphilis.”
“Landmark studies from three African countries including Uganda previously found circumcision lowered men’s chance of catching the AIDS virus by up to 60 percent. The new study stems from the Uganda research and looked at protection against three other STDs. The findings are reported in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine.”
“Evidence now strongly suggests that circumcision offers an important prevention opportunity and should be widely available,” Drs. Matthew Golden and Judith Wasserheit of the University of Washington wrote in an accompanying editorial.”
“Worldwide, only about 30 percent of men are circumcised. The figure is higher in the United States, where about 79 percent of men are circumcised, according to surveys by the National Center for Health Statistics.”
In past years the American of Pediatrics said there was not enough evidence to recommend routine circumcision of infants. The doctor’s group is reviewing its position based on recent studies.
According the Atlanta Journal-Constitution story: “The case involves a child, identified only as D.P. Jr., who was born at South Fulton Medical Center in 2004. In a suit filed two years later, his mother contended that the doctor who circumcised him removed too much tissue and that his pediatrician failed to respond when a nurse complained of excessive bleeding.”
“The tip of the penis was placed in a biohazard bag and might have been reattached if a urologist had attended to the boy within eight hours, one of the mother’s lawyers, David J. Llewellyn of Atlanta, said.”
“The jury found that both the pediatrician, Dr. Cheryl Kendall, and the physician who performed the circumcision, Dr. Haiba Sonyika, were negligent. South Fulton Medical Center was absolved of liability.”
“ ‘This case does point out one of the dangers of circumcision that every parent must seriously consider when having the procedure done,’ Llewellyn said. He contended that parents are not told of the risks of the procedure.”
So having a circumcision may help protect your child from contracting a terrible disease, but a doctor could totally screw up and damage his penis. It’s a lot for new parents to think about!
Did you circumcise your son? What did you take into account making the decision? Would you change your decision if you didn’t circumcise based on these new studies? Does the story about the little boy’s penis being damaged affect your opinion?
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144 comments Add your comment
C
April 1st, 2009
9:30 pm
I’m about as far from a granola crunching liberal as you can get, and as a man, I would strongly consider not circumcizing my son, for the simple fact that it is not medically necessary. I’m getting a kick out of all the women on here who put so much importance on looking like their dads or the other boys in the locker room. NEWS FLASH! As a guy, I have never made a habit of checking out the packages of my dad nor those of the other boys in locker rooms.
If you read the data that some have posted, this generation of boys is approaching 50/50 on either side. In fact, if you exclude the Jewish folks, who are surely still 100% in favor of circumcision out of strong religious tradition, the rest of the population of newborn boys may already be 50/50. It seems unlikely that either configuration would be considered strange for this generation.
Joe
April 1st, 2009
10:15 pm
C I have to agree with you on that. In fact, I have a habit of taking off my glasses before I enter the locker room and not putting them back on until I leave. One good reason to enjoy about 20/100 vision. ;)
Joe
April 1st, 2009
10:41 pm
C I agree with that locker room thought. I have a habit of making sure my glasses are off soon after I walk in and don’t put them back on until I am ready to leave. 20/100 vision has its advantages. And you’re right it’s getting to the point where everyone will be aware of both configurations and I suspect the rates will continue to fall, most younger people I’ve spoken to about this situation know it’s a lemon and don’t see the point.
Nurse&mother
April 2nd, 2009
12:43 am
I’m curious, JOE and ROBERT, what’s your stance on abortion?
Angela
April 2nd, 2009
2:52 am
I’m pregnant now with a boy and while I could go either way on the issue, I’m more inclined to follow the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” school of thought. My insurance covers circumcision but I just don’t think I want to put the baby through a procedure that isn’t really necessary. If anything went wrong I couldn’t forgive myself.
Interesting info…I have a neighbor who is a nurse and she did circumcise her boys. My brother in law (sister’s husband) is a pediatrician and says no way in he!! would he circumcise his son (they are pregnant but don’t know the gender yet). He says there isn’t any health reason to do it and most of the boys where he practices (Oregon) aren’t circumcised anymore. I think it’s unusual that medical professionals are spit with what they do or don’t do, much like the general public.
Joe
April 2nd, 2009
7:55 am
Nurse&Mother no need to capitalize I can read just fine. I do love it when people take this issue and try and do a got ya on a separate issue but I’ll play along just in this one reply.The problem is that it’s not such a black and white issue. Different people who oppose circumcision will have different opinions on when abortion is appropriate. For example, the ‘plan b’ medication is technically an abortion but I am not sure where I stand on that. It’s primarily a question on when does life actually start which might be as much science as theology. In any case, to give you a broad idea I am generally opposed to an abortion increasingly with the stage of the pregnancy. I don’t think it should necessarily be available in most cases after a certain point with obvious exceptions to the health of the mother or some other extenuating circumstances. I won’t answer any further questions on the issue so as not to derail the fine discussion going on here.
Back to our regularly scheduled discussion, I think circumcision is a violation of a child [boy's] rights. It is medically unethical for a doctor or other person to perform a circumcision on a boy as it is not medically therapeutic. I can fully explain that if people care but suffice it to say that most claims regarding the benefits of circumcision are either exaggerations, don’t really exist, or are trivial matters that can easily be realized in less invasive ways. The claims are made mostly by US researchers in a continuing pursuit at justification, something they’ve been trying to do for more than 70 years or so. No one else in the world circumcises their boys for secular reasons, they all know it’ s a lemon. It’s time we jumped on the wagon. Indecently, I appose the religious variety too but I realize that will be more difficult to extinguish.
Angela, you are right as far as I know the West coast has far lower rates than many other parts of the country. I am not surprised with your description of the ’split’. Though I’ll tell you that this is mostly only a US artifact. In most other countries their medical communities oppose circumcision but tolerate the religious use of it.
Joe
April 2nd, 2009
7:56 am
Enter your comments here
Paulette
April 2nd, 2009
8:08 am
No, I didn’t. I didn’t want to risk one of the many complications, nor the loss in sexual sensation, just for a slightly lower chance in contracting an STD. I will teach my children about safe sex. Yes, people don’t always do what they’re taught, but a slight lower chance (only according to SOME studies) is really nothing in the scheme of things. I would be mortified if my parents had assumed I would be irresponsible and/or promiscuous and removed any part of my body for similar reasons. I have never contracted an STD and it’s reasonable to assume my sons will have similar common sense. Besides, if they want to take the cut as a preventative measure, they can decide that for themselves.
Nurse&mother
April 2nd, 2009
8:27 am
Sorry Joe didn’t mean to insinuate that you couldn’t read, I just wanted make sure you guys saw my post as it was late and sometimes people do not look back.
I certainly can see the cons on circ, but I still stand by my opinion that UNTIL it is illegal it is none of anyone else’s business. So for those of you who have such a strong negative opinion on circs then lobby your congressmen/women to make it illegal (if you feel so led).
BTW, I asked my husband last night what his thoughts were. He immediately said he would circ our son again. I told him some of the nay sayers arguments and he was very surprised. Also, he claims that he has PLENTY of sensations “down there” and doesn’t have a problem, if you know what I mean.
Nurse&mother
April 2nd, 2009
8:28 am
my last post should have read, my husband would circ our son again if he had it to do over again.
Nurse&mother
April 2nd, 2009
8:29 am
JD still didn’t answer my question.
Robert
April 2nd, 2009
9:48 am
“Robert, I regret to inform you that until congress passes a law to make circumcision illegal, it is NOT your business. Just as it is not my business if someone wants to get an abortion. I may not agree with abortion, but the reality is that it is NOT my business.”
I love how people hide a lack of ethics and morals behind the “legal” argument–reminds me of slave-holders from times past. Luckily some DID make it their business to try to stop it…it made us a more moral country..
Robert
April 2nd, 2009
9:51 am
“BTW, I asked my husband last night what his thoughts were. He immediately said he would circ our son again. ”
I am curious what rational and logical reasons did he have for this position?
Robert
April 2nd, 2009
9:52 am
” Also, he claims that he has PLENTY of sensations “down there” and doesn’t have a problem, if you know what I mean.”
How is this possible when he has lost the majority of his penile nerves?
J.D.
April 2nd, 2009
12:25 pm
Nurse, I have better things to do than stare at a blog. And I was mutilated as a baby. If I got my hands on the doctor who did it, I might circumcise his throat.
Nurse&mother
April 2nd, 2009
1:07 pm
I suspect that several folks have had a similar experience, JD. I think that might explain the strong opinions some have.Sorry to hear about this.
Robert, you are welcome to try to change the law. Until then, don’t tell others what they can and can’t do. Certainly it is within your rights to talk about why you disagree so strongly. BUT, until the law changes, it is not your business whether I circumcise my son or not. Period. To do so otherwise, would be considered harrassment. Take it up with your legislators.
Joe
April 2nd, 2009
1:11 pm
Nurse&Mother you are of course right on your first point it is unfortunately legal but as I pointed out earlier there are people looking at that situation in a few other countries. As for myself, I do lobby for that to change but I am focusing on Medicaid funding at this moment. In fact, I got a reply just yesterday from my state director who agrees in principle but doesn’t think it can be done politically yet. Though he did point out that there were fewer and fewer procedures performed. Hopefully, this is something I can work with.
I also wouldn’t deny an adult the right to seek out that procedure any more than I would try and prevent someone from getting a tattoo but except for some clear medical reason it is unethical to circumcise a child in the same way nobody would allow a parent to tattoo their child.
As to your husband, I have little doubt he feels that way. I can’t argue with his subjective evaluation. However, I see no compelling reason why each individual can’t be permitted to make that decision on their own. There is no rush to circumcise it is in no way critical to a child’s health or well being. It is difficult to imagine that there is no loss of sensation or feeling as the foreskin is the most sensitive part of the penis but that doesn’t mean men who knew no different won’t like what they are left with. Think of it like listening to a good classical piece of music performed by a great orchestra. I could remove the string section and it would probably still be a good performance and if I had never heard the piece before I might really enjoy it but that doesn’t mean I got everything out of it that it could be.
Tamara
April 2nd, 2009
6:05 pm
I did not choose to have my son circumcised. I did not feel that that was my decision to make for my child. When he is older, if he chooses to have it done, then that will be his choice. I do think of it as a type of mutilation, and I could never do that to my child.
Robert
April 2nd, 2009
6:44 pm
“BUT, until the law changes, it is not your business whether I circumcise my son or not. Period. To do so otherwise, would be considered harrassment.”
Oh, to feel so protected from the concept of HUMAN Rights, by hiding behind what is allowed, but perhaps NOT legal after all..think 14th Amendment and FGM law.
TinaTeach
April 2nd, 2009
9:01 pm
My answer is simple. I am pregnant, I am Jewish, and if I have a boy I will be calling a mohel to circumcise my son. If I do not I am denying my son his right as a Jew to enter into the Covenant with G-d.
My Question: Robert, if your law were to pass would it allow for religious exemptions or would I be required to take my son out of the country in order to fulfill both my and his responsibility to G-d?
Nurse&mother
April 2nd, 2009
9:09 pm
Sorry that you don’t agree with me Robert. I might be persuaded to your argument, but you are too damn abrasive. You actually make me want to defend my stance. And I really can see both sides. People like yourself irritate folks like me riding the fence. I think annoying folks actually kill their cause. That’s a shame. JD actually is better at persuading. You need to let HIM take up your cause.
Jen
April 2nd, 2009
9:10 pm
TinaTeach,
http://www.jewsagainstcircucision.org
Jen
April 2nd, 2009
9:17 pm
No, I would never circumcise my son or daughter. For those of you who think that FGM is not like male circumcision, you don’t understand female circ. There are 3 degrees of female circ. 1st degree is the removal of the clitoral hood (not the clitoris) A removal of the actual clitoris would be a botched circ. The clitoral hood is the part that becomes the foreskin on a male. These tissues are exactly the same only in a male they become larger and develop into a penis. 2nd degree is the removal of the clitoral hood and labia. 3rd degree is the removal of the clitoral hood, labia, and the vagina is sewn up. The 3rd degree is obvious the most severe and has the most consequences. The 1st and 2nd degree are more commonly practiced with the 1st degree probably compromising most female circ. (FC). Total removal of the male foreskin is actually more invasive and impacts the male sex organ more than 1st and 2nd degree FC. As for the studies about HIV and STDs… there are equal studies proving otherwise. You won’t see these studies printed in our papers though, hmmm. Our track record in the US should tell parents that this is a pile of crap! In the US we have the highest rate of STD transmission of any country and the circ rate among sexually active men in the US is still at around 86%. Over 500,000 circumcised, American men have died of AIDs. These “studies” about the “benefits” of circ are released every so often to keep Americans in fear of the wicked foreskin so that money from the sales of foreskin can continue. Every child regardless of gender, age, nationality, culture, religion, or race has the right to decide over their own genitalia. This is a human right we must protect.
latinamomof3
April 3rd, 2009
3:29 am
<>
WOW. So if you move to Uganda or places where female circumcision is legal, would you circ your daughters too? We fight for genital integrity of all girls AND boys, so it is OUR business to protect girls AND boys from this atrocity.
I can’t believe people are so disconnected now days :( Seriously… even if you did it and didn’t really thought of it as mutilation, now you know the facts and you still defend it? What world we live in, God help us…
:(
latinamomof3
April 3rd, 2009
3:37 am
My husband was circ’ed as an infant and we thought of this as something everybody does, and were going to do it. The irony was the none of us wanted to participate in the procedure and we were arguing with each other who was going to bring the baby to get him mutilated. Guess what! I was lucky enough to found ‘INTACTIVISTS” and all the info I needed to learn that my boy was going to born perfect and didn’t need cosmetic surgery on his penis. My husband didn’t approve but after not a long discussion, videos, articles, studies, etc. He was convinced that he didn’t want to have his baby boy mutilated. I wish I was there when many of friends got their sons circ. I wish I was there to stop it, but I can only help future sons and you Nurse&Mother, I really hope, in the bottom of my heart, that you educate your sons/daughters for when they become parents themselves to not circumcise their sons (your grandsons).
Peace…
Robert
April 3rd, 2009
7:10 am
“My answer is simple. I am pregnant, I am Jewish, and if I have a boy I will be calling a mohel to circumcise my son. If I do not I am denying my son his right as a Jew to enter into the Covenant with G-d.”
Perhaps you do not know that this “covenant” with your deity was merely an invention of priests circa 550BCE–it was NEVER a mandate from your deity..you have been duped.
http://home.comcast.net/~consult2/index.html
Robert
April 3rd, 2009
7:13 am
“Sorry that you don’t agree with me Robert. I might be persuaded to your argument, but you are too damn abrasive.”
So, the facts would be more palatable if I put some sugar on them?
PLEASE act ethically and morally!
There, Does that make you accept them more readily?
TinaTeach
April 3rd, 2009
12:23 pm
Robert, Thank you! I have seen the light! Seriously Robert, do you believe everything that has been published?! How many times were we told in the 60s that breast milk was horrible for infants but now breast is best? You present one side of the arguement without considering the other and in the process insult my religion! Not to mention the articles you pointed me towards are written in such an abrasive, non-academic manner that you can easily tell that the academic who wrote this had a heavily colored opinion.
You can find anything on the internet. Shall I point you towards articles that prove the exisitance of the Flying Spaghetti Monster?
So you’re version of this law would repress religious freedoms. Go you! I can see the US backtracking 100s of year on religions freedom. If you are against circumcision so much then please go live somewhere where it’s not done. Majority rules my dear.
Betty
April 3rd, 2009
7:54 pm
I absolutely did not circumcise my son! I do not believe that it’s my right to decide to chop off a healthy, functional part of my child’s body just because he happened to be born a boy. Considering that my son is not sexually active as an infant or child, the HIV studies had no bearing at all on my decision. If he decides, as an adult, against all my teachings, that he wishes to lead a sexually promiscuous lifestyle and forgo the use of condoms, he can always choose to be circumcised then. I will not encourage him in the pursuit of that lifestyle by having him circumcised against his will as an infant.
My husband is also intact (not circumcised) and has never had any issues. Both he and I are very grateful to my in-laws for leaving this very personal decision up to HIM and not taking it away from him before he could voice his objections. Just because circumcision is legal, doesn’t mean that it’s ethical. Cosmetic (or prophylactic based on specious, potential future medical reasons) surgery on a perfectly normal, healthy part of a non-consenting minor’s body is certainly not ethical, in my opinion nor in my husband’s.
As far as the “matching father” argument goes, my husband doesn’t “match” his circumcised father and is extremely grateful for it! Having changed the diapers of both intact and cut boys, I can say unequivocally that the intact boys were much easier to clean as well.
There’s just no secular or Christian reason to have it done as an infant unless it’s diseased or perhaps abnormal in some other way. I will not speak for religions I am not intimately familiar with.
Nurse&mother
April 3rd, 2009
11:33 pm
Robert, no need to be patronizing. I am just pointing out that when you want to persuade others to your side, it usually doesn’t pay off to act like the crazy angry lunatic. Trust me, I’ve been that type of person during my teen years. It truly doesn’t work. I finally got it during college and young adult life. Have you heard the old saying, you kill more flies with honey, than with vinegar? It’s amazing how much further you can go. Sooo many more people will listen to you. Wink Wink.
When one gets angry and accuses another of (fill in the blank), the other person is automatically placed on the defensive. That person is more likely to come out with their boxing gloves on and ready to defend him/herself. JMHO.
I am officially done with this topic. I think I will have a little fun with my hubby (and his circumcised penis) LOL! Ya’ll play nice now, hear?
Doololly
April 4th, 2009
9:38 am
I allowed my newborn son to have the procedure done with great hesitation after discussing it with my delivering obstetrician.I was very relieved to have him returned to me still sleeping peacefully after 10 minutes.I am certain he was not traumatized by the experience. Grow up you bunch of crybabies.
Jack Schitt
April 4th, 2009
9:41 am
Sounds like most of you don’t know me when it comes to circumcision. It is an unnecessary and risky procedure which began as a religious practice. Parents, please do not put your child through that. Now you can say you do know Jack Schitt about circumcision.
hismommy
April 4th, 2009
9:58 am
My son was circumcised for medical reasons. We had decided not to do it but he had a serious problem urinating because his foreskin was very tight. So we had this done at two weeks instead of three days. It was more tramatic for me that it was for him. :)
nursemom
April 4th, 2009
10:05 am
As a nurse who has seen circumcision I could not and did not subjest my son the such a barbaric act. In later years I found that there is a plastic ring device that works well but is not so barbaric. Had that been available I would have agreed.
K.W
April 4th, 2009
10:08 am
Before my son was born in 2004, my husband and I talked about it before a decision had to be made. After giving birth to a baby you are faced with so many questions, decisions and a baby to raise. It should be discussed before hand so the parent (s) do not feel overwhelmed. We did seek the Lord first before deciding against circumcision. We would make the same decision if our current pregnancy turns out to be a boy.
Alexandra
April 4th, 2009
10:23 am
My brother was not circumcised, because my parents thought it was unnecessary, however, when he was 2.5 years old he HAD to be circumcised because he was having infection issues and the doctors recommended it for his own health. My mom says that it was the worst traumatic experience my brother had to endure, and that if she would have known, she would had done it when he was born. I do not want my son to have to be circumcised when he can remember the procedure, I am pretty sure they are not traumatized when it is performed as newborns.
Highlander
April 4th, 2009
10:43 am
Robert, kudos for trying your best to inform the uninformed or just ignorant among us. Scanning down through these postings, it seems you are the only one who comes to the table with facts and you are totally up front with reference information for those who wish to be educated on the true medical findings.
Unfortunately, it’s also clear that many of the pro-circ posters here are from the “I’ve already made up my mind, don’t confuse me with the facts” mentality.
TheBraidnHustla
April 4th, 2009
10:47 am
We had our son circumcised as an infant and at 23 months, it looks as if he was not circumcised. Of course, I wasn’t in the room for the “surgery” so I can’t verify that the procedure was even done. At my son’s first checkup, I was concerned and upon asking the doctor about his “circumcision not lookinf like it was even donme” I was told that doctors now leave excess skin to allow for growth…I thought nothing of it..At his next appointment, I asked a different doctor, who told me the same thing but she suggested that all I need to do in continuously pull that flap of skin back and eventually it will hold….that was over a year ago…so I now feel like my son was violated, at my request, for no reason…mind you I had to pay for the procedure even though he was insured by Medicaid. I’m seriously doubting circumcising anymore of my children should I have anymore sons.
Bruce
April 4th, 2009
10:53 am
Thanks all you wonderfull parents for not circumcising your boys. All of us in the gay world love uncircumcised men when they become of age. I say no more circumcising ever – it just taste better.
crawdaddy
April 4th, 2009
10:55 am
Is this a newspaper or what? Where is the news? Who cares about circumcision? I want to read about important events in the world, not did I or didn’t I circumcise my child. The AJC is terrible! I have been reading this paper all of my life and it has gone downhill in a hurry. Who cares about Michelle Obama’s wardrobe? Or some celebrity? How about some real news so we can stay informed about the world around us. The AJC is now written for the stupid and uninformed.
Tim-Fayetteville
April 4th, 2009
11:06 am
Fred, we need to stop looking at the medical reasons for circumcision. If you read your bible circumcision is covenant with “GOD”. Genesis 17:10-17.If you are a male and not circumcised you have broken your covenant.
Reality Check
April 4th, 2009
11:10 am
My son and myself are circumcised. We don’t look like freaks.
Reality Check
April 4th, 2009
11:12 am
lol. JD is a liar. He doesn’t remember something that happened to him within a few days of birth. Give me a break.
Dee
April 4th, 2009
11:18 am
I have 2 sons…one is circumcised and the other isn’t. They are both adults now. Neither one of them has had any problems.
Seems like a tempest in a teapot to me.
HaHaHaHahaha
April 4th, 2009
11:19 am
Robert has a funny looking penis. Loser.
Dee
April 4th, 2009
11:22 am
Yes, all of my boys are circumcised & I think it’s probably due to health reasons of making it easier to stay clean. It is in the Bible and I believe in that also being a Christian, but I do caution parents to make sure they check “the work” done, since my youngest has a bubble of skin at the tip that didn’t allow him to aim straight and it’s gotten better now that he’s older, but more than likely he will have to go back to the doctor to fix that. Other than that it hasn’t caused any pain and they are fine.
Ayn Rand was right
April 4th, 2009
11:43 am
To anyone who is asking a grown man who has been circ’d since birth, please explain to me how he knows what sensations he may be missing? My husband chose to have a partial circ as a mid-thirty something to “solve” a UTI issue. The doctor was sure that would take care of the problem. Guess what, it didn’t. And my husband who was well aware of his sensations before definitely felt the difference. This is an elective and barbaric practice that mutilates baby boys.
For those comparing abortion to circ, WTH??? If God predestined the pregnancy, what makes you smarter than him about the the predestined physiology of that child. When parents stop mutilating baby boys in this country due to “medical” reasons, we may have some happier men who don’t miss the sensations God felt necessary to give them.
Mrs. lady
April 4th, 2009
11:47 am
My son is 21 years old. I had him circumcised when he was 10 days old. My OB doctor did the procedure in his office and I was there and witness the whole thing. It was MY decision to have the procedure done because I was concern about HIS health issues as an adult. I have read other people blogs on this subject and everyone is entitle to their opinion. If I had to do it again, I will. It is a tragic what happened to the baby. Because the doctor did not take what happened seriously, has cause this family a tragic and traumatic experience they will never forget let alone have to deal with this for the rest of their life and the child life. I hope in the future that this little boy will be able to have this corrected with an urologist so that he will feel comfortable with his sexuality.
Mike T.
April 4th, 2009
12:03 pm
Thumbs up to Circumcision. It’s not Barbaric. It has health benefits.
Yes it started as a religous practice. It’s like the Jewish dietary laws,most of the items on the list are bad on your health.God was trying to give us help and protect us.
Blessed4ever
April 4th, 2009
12:05 pm
I did allow my son to be circumcised; however, the year that my son was circumcised there was a local hospital here in Atlanta that was under complete scrutiny for mutilating two males while performing a laser circumcision, the two males were so badly mutilated that they had to undergo a sex change operation. So I was extremely cautious, I asked a lot of questions before deciding to allow my son to be circumcised, the deciding factor was that I did not wish for my son to have any future health problems caused by not properly cleaning his genital area.