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Q&A: Should we circumcise the baby?

I've heard so many different things about circumcision- should we do it? Will it hurt him?

Re: I've heard so many different things about circumcision- should we do it? Will it hurt him?

The Bump Expert

Sorry, no should or shouldn’t here. The opinions are endless (google circumcision-you’ll see), but according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it’s your call. Some things to consider:

•Circumcised penises are easier to keep clean.

•A circumcised boy has a 1 in 1,000 chance of getting a UTI. Left uncircumcised, his risk is 1 in 100.

•STDs like syphilis, HPV and HIV are more common in uncircumcised men. But, teach your son about condoms and hygiene, and his risk goes way down (with or without foreskin).

•Penile cancer, though extremely rare, is more common in uncircumcised men.

•Heard the one about circumcision decreasing sexual pleasure? No hard facts supporting it.

•Foreskin can get inflamed or become too tight. But, it also protects the penis from irritation.

•Circumcision is surgery. About 1 in 500 newborns have minor bleeding, pain, irritation or infection.

•Yes, it hurts. If you circumcise, insist on a local anesthetic -- an injection or topical cream -- to keep baby comfy. A pacifier dipped in sugar water will also calm him down.

•Today, about 60% of newborn boys are circumcised. No matter what you decide, baby will be just fine in the locker room.

Paula Kashtan | May 07 , 2009 12:04 PM

re: Q: Should We Circumcise?

Wow, lots of good points. Here's some links that you might also find useful: Here is a video link of a circumcision if it would help: www.circumcisionvancouver.com I have done a lot of research on circumcision and thought this would help; http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/index.php?feed=Science&article=UPI-1-20070307-12451700-bc-us-circumcise.xml http://www.physorg.com/news86339340.htmlhttp://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1141513 http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/fishman/2006/circumcision.html http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15593753/http://www.circinfo.com/parents_guide/gfp.htmleven the World health Organization is recommending it now:http://www.who.int/hiv/mediacentre/news68/en/index.htmlhttp://www.who.int/entity/hiv/mediacentre/MCrecommendations_en.pdf Hope it was okay to pass that on to you, Sara

sarr115 | June 25 , 2007 2:41 AM

re: Q: Should We Circumcise?

While it may be true that 60% of American men are circumcised, most men around the world aren't. I watched a video of a child being circumcised from a medical website, and that did it for me. If I have a son, he will be left intact. I didn't realize that until boys are several years old the foreskin is attached to the glands. This gradually loosens, and no one but the boy himself should pull this back the first time. When they circumcise a baby or young boy, they stick a metal instrument in the foreskin and use it to rip the connecting tissue, then they cut down the length of the foreskin and flay it open. In the video I saw, the baby had screamed so much, by the time they actually cut off the foreskin it was quiet. It is a long, nasty procedure. And sugar water is all many of these babies get. I would not consider it any more than I'd consider having my infant daughter's genitals cut. Urinary tract infections are easily treated, the cancer is extremely rare, and no one should use STDs as an excuse, use protection! No medical community will tell you this should be done for medical reasons, it is just a common cultural feature here.

paulo_n_courtnina | November 23 , 2007 4:00 PM

re: Q: Should We Circumcise?

"Sorry, no should or shouldn’t here."Looks to me like most of the facts provided here lean toward circumcision.

AmandaHearn | February 03 , 2008 8:02 AM

re: Q: Should we circumcise?

We circ'd our son. Twice. He had a medical need. I have posted this before only to have someone tell me that there was no medical need for a child to be circ'd. The skin was growing over the head of my son's penis. It made it next to impossible for him to urinate. This was a problem that had to be solved twice. If our next child has the same medical issues, then yes, we will be circ'ing him as well.

babygirl809 | October 01 , 2008 2:36 PM

re: Q: Should we circumcise?

I feel like I am stuck here. Personally I don't believe or care for circumcision. My first sone who is almost 4 was not circumscised (neither was his father) and has no issues. I am now engaged to someone else and we are trying to concieve. He HATES the idea of having his son not be circumscised. I don't feel like this is an issue that I can back down on though.

jpowell3 | October 24 , 2008 10:23 AM

re: Q: Should we circumcise?

I am a nurse in a NICU/SCN and have assisted in several circ procedures. I assure you it is fine and your baby will not hold it against you. Yes, some of them cry but the same ones also cry when you change their diaper, so go figure. It is done in a very controlled environment and is extremely quick. Usually a dose of Tylenol is given pre-procedure and a local aesthetic is given along with some sucrose water. In some cases Tylenol may be prescribed after by the doctor every 8 hours x 3 doses. They get over very quickly, I promise. There is no medical indication for it except that it can save your little boy some “potential” prob. in the future and on very rare occasion yes, you can have some more bleeding than normal. I have also worked in an OR where 20 year boys (yes more than one) as well as a 70 year old man have come in to have it done for medical reasons (i.e. restricted foreskin). I am neither for it nor against it and it is a personal decision for everyone to make on their own. As for me, even after seeing, assisting and post care I would still do it. Please know as for the videos that are against circumcisions they are obviously going to show worst case scenario. I promise it is not that big of a deal if you do choose to do it.

rika1976@msn.com | January 11 , 2009 3:01 PM

re: Q: Should we circumcise?

doctorsopposingcircumcision.orgmothersagainstcirc.orgjewsagainstcircumcision.orgcatholicsagainstcircumcision.orgarclaw.orgnoharmm.orgstudentsforgenitalintegrity.orgicgi.orgmgmbill.organd a great video in two parts by Dr. Dean Eddellhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHVvB1oHAgghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAo1PCDtgBY&feature=related

carolinew6462 | March 21 , 2009 9:58 PM

re: Q: Should we circumcise?

I am married to a man who is Spanish. My husband nor either one of his brothers are circumcised because I guess it's just something that they don't do. I have a three year old who I made the decision to circumcise. I am due any day with my second son and he will be circumcised as well. To me an uncircumcised penis is not normal.

kml7905 | May 08 , 2009 9:45 PM

Q&A: Should we circumcise the baby?

I think everyone has a right to their opinion. I want my LO cercumcised, and some may have different opinions, but no decision on this one is a wrong one.

tohave2hold | September 10 , 2009 7:46 PM

Q&A: Should we circumcise the baby?

I'm going to circumcise my son.

supastarrplay | September 16 , 2009 2:47 PM

Q&A: Should we circumcise the baby?

I left the decision up to my husband since he is the one with the same equipment. He is circumsised and wants our son to be circumcised as well. It is a personal decision though and I have no issues with people who choose not to.

amandabrideoct2008 | September 18 , 2009 11:56 AM

Q&A: Should we circumcise the baby?

Personal choice. Yes it will hurt. My personal choice is not to circumcise my son.

shallenges | October 16 , 2009 9:09 PM

Q&A: Should we circumcise the baby?

My two boys are circumcised and my third one (30 weeks pregnant now!) will be circumcised, too. Neither of my sons had any problems or complications from the procedure or with their penises. It took a few minutes to do, they didn't cry, and they healed nicely. My issue was hygiene. It's one thing when you bathe your infant/toddler/preschooler and you KNOW things are clean, but when they get older and start washing themselves, who knows if they pull the tiny bit of remaining foreskin back and wash under it or not. The thought of a penis that's coated with smegma because it wasn't washed properly is pretty disgusting. Sorry if this offends anyone, but I think uncircumcised penises are just plain ugly and unhygenic.

ewells1014 | October 22 , 2009 7:29 AM

Q&A: Should we circumcise the baby?

Bump, this is very obviously pro-circumcision. Circumcised penises are not easier to clean than uncircumcised. Additionally you have to clean a wound which the baby urinates on daily. Imagine that. Circumcision does hurt, watch a video. The best prevention for STDs is condoms. Circumcision does decrease sexual pleasure for both the man and the woman, I know. In the 1800s this was done for the purpose of preventing masterbation. The medical industry makes 4 billion dollars a year off circumcisions. The foreskin is a natural and functional part of the penis. I suppose those Dr. getting the 4 billion must know better than GOD or nature?

adyer0507 | October 26 , 2009 10:00 AM

Q&A: Should we circumcise the baby?

I will be circumcising my new baby boy.. I use to work in a hospital as a PCA and I thought that uncircumcised penis looked discussing, I didn't want my son's penis to look like that. My husband is circumcised and he said he agreed because he didn't want him to get made fun of if someone saw it later on it life and didn't approve.

tigercub2010 | November 12 , 2009 10:10 AM

Q&A: Should we circumcise the baby?

im having a girl, so i dont have to deal with this issue but my husband is from ireland and he is not circumcised, and if we were having a boy, we would not be circumcising him either. for people to say that uncircumcised penises are 'ugly and disgusting' is plain ignorant and rude. i understand if you have it done due to medical issues, but for purely asthetic reasons? i dont think thats right. why would you chose to put your baby through anything that could possibly hurt them :( if your baby was born with small lips, would you give them lip injections cuz you dont like the way thin lips look? really, i dont see whats wrong with uncircumcised penises. granted i had never seen one before my DH so i was a little unsure about what to do with it (hehe) but now i think its way more fun!!! anyway, to each his own, but i will never subject my baby to unnecessary pain.

lynsey851 | November 15 , 2009 2:59 AM

Q&A: Should we circumcise the baby?

Sounds like it is the American way! This was not a discussion at all between DH and I. Of course we will do it.

Pasaseattle | November 24 , 2009 1:57 PM

Q&A: Should we circumcise the baby?

We are probably not goiing to circumcise our new son. My fiance isn't circumcised so it only makes sense our son look like his daddy. To those people who think uncircumcised penises are "not normal" or "ugly and disgusting" you are nothing but ignorant. Every man is born uncircumcised, how is that not normal????? It's how the body is made!! Cutting off part of your body is what isn't normal, unless it's for some medical reason. If you really research this topic, there is no medical reason to do it. the benefits are so minimal. If you teach your son to be a clean person there should be no problems at all.

danini720 | November 29 , 2009 3:09 PM

Q&A: Should we circumcise the baby?

Bump, your response is very biased and uninformed. Uncut penises are *easier* to clean, not harder. You wash it like a finger. No big deal at all; you don't need to retract it or put ointment on it, or clean blood off it. Just wipe and go. UTI's are simple to cure, easy to avoid, and not a good reason to amputate part of a boy's penis. STDs are caused by unsafe sex, not foreskins. In Europe, rates of STDs among circumcised and uncut men are identical - and 90% of men are uncut. STD rates in Europe are similar to US rates. Penile cancer is INCREDIBLY rare. There would be more logic in removing a baby girl's breasts to prevent breast cancer....and nobody would ever consider it. Circumcision *does* decrease sexual pleasure. Check out www.sexasnatureintendedit.com and also research the history of circumcision in the USA - it was implemented to curb masturbation. There's plenty of research to support this. Circumcision is surgery. 100% of babies have some pain, bleeding and irritation. Watch a video, explore what the surgery is. This is not a fingernail trimming; it is similar to removing the hood of a clitoris. Adult circumcision would never be done without massive amounts of anesthetic, both during and after the procedure. Newborns feel pain. Circumcision is a choice - YOUR SON'S. Circumcision can be done when he's an adult, if he chooses. It cannot be un-done. If you're on the fence about this topic, let the decision stay where it should be.... in his hands. After all, it's his body.

erinkate23 | November 30 , 2009 2:57 PM

Q&A: Should we circumcise the baby?

Erinkate23: Thank you for your post! I thought Bump's response was very biased and I'm uncomfortable with with people posting that an uncircumcised penis is "not normal" or "discussing" sic- I assume she means disgusting. I don't know if I'm having a boy or girl yet but I'm am against the idea of circumcision. Many people do it automatically here in the US without even thinking about it but if you go almost anywhere else in the world, uncircumcised is the norm. When I brought it up with my husband, he seemed a bit flustered since he never really considered it before, but we are going to do our research and I will let the final decision rest with him. This is what I recommend to others on this site... research the facts and let that guide your decision.

pepperkelly | December 06 , 2009 1:00 PM

Q&A: Should we circumcise the baby?

Circumcised penises look unnatural and gross to me. No other country does this much because it is painful and inhumane. (except Jewish) Uncirc is best IMO its how God intended

ozzychikk | December 10 , 2009 11:27 PM

Q&A: Should we circumcise the baby?

I'm leaving this decision up to my husband. He's circ. like most Americans (it's true that we're pretty much the only ones that do it) and wants his son to look like him. We're military living in Germany and our son will be born in a German hospital. The Germans don't circ but with the overwhelming amount of Americans here, there are a few Dr's that do it. If it wasn't up to my husband I might consider not circ, at least till I get back to the states because it's uncommon out here, but like I said, I'm leaving it up to my husband and he wants it done.

RheannonB | December 20 , 2009 5:06 AM

Q&A: Should we circumcise the baby?

Bump, while you say "no should or shouldn't here" your stats (while more balanced than some, thank you) still lean towards pro-circumcision. I live in Western Canada, and the circ rate here is WELL below 60%. In fact, It's approaching 30%. My husband is intact. I was quite happy to concede that if we have a boy, he'll be intact also. Saying that cutting off a body part is easier and more hygenic than leaving it on is a flawed argument - prophalactic appendectomies or tolnislectomies haven't yet caught on, and I think there's a reason for that. I recently took a friend (who is a single mom) to the doctor, for her to have her son circumcised. She was nervous and asked me to go in with her. I thought the procedure was a simple "tug and snip" - I wasn't expecting 15 minutes of peeling, tearing, slicing and crushing. The doctor gave the baby a local anaesthetic so "he wouldn't feel too much pain" (how much is too much when you are 8 days old?). The baby let out a little squeak when the needle went in, then calmed down again. When the instruments came out and the doctor starting ripping the foreskin off the glans (I didn't know they were fused for the first years of life), he started screaming. The procedure took 15 minutes. At the end, the baby's poor penis looked like a bloody stump, and he continued to scream for the better part of an hour.I was traumatised by the experience - I feel like I was complicit in the torture of an infant. Intact penisis are not ugly - they are natural. What is unnatural is subjecting a tiny, helpless person to needless pain and distress for no truly justifyable reason.

nicolesanddimes | January 08 , 2010 10:49 AM

Q&A: Should we circumcise the baby?

My Husband and I have seen alot of research and have come the the conclusion that our son will be circumcised. Any one who tells you UTI's are easy to treat did not grow up with three or four a month. If there is anything I can do to keep my son from hopefully ever going though as much pain as I experienced as a child I'll do it. If 15 minutes of pain when he won't remember it might prevent years of pain from infections and possible kidney damage that will be worth it for me. And to be completely honest I don't see anything ignorant about saying that some of us think an uncircumcised looks gross it's just an opinion. Just because it occurs in nature doesn't mean we can't not like the way it looks.It's like telling men they have to like the hair on a woman's legs just because it occurs in nature. In both cases it's based on that we just don't like the way it looks.

clark08 | January 11 , 2010 8:46 PM

Q&A: Should we circumcise the baby?

I did not circ my son, and will not circ my new baby if it is a boy. I think that the belief that it is 'healthier' or 'cleaner' has been largely disproven, and that the modern trend is to leave boys intact. In 100 years people will look back on circumcision in such a universal way and think that it was barbaric. I will teach my son hygeine and responsiblity, as I will my daughter.

jja78 | January 12 , 2010 1:31 PM

Q&A: Should we circumcise the baby?

I will not be cutting off part of my son's organ. It's barbaric and completely unnecessary. I'm so glad that I know better than to put a newborn through that. Are we going to cut off fingers if there is a .000014 lesser chance of infection? Sew an ear shut to prevent ear infections? No, those are just as equally barbaric as this.

cheerkri | January 12 , 2010 3:39 PM

Q&A: Should we circumcise the baby?

An intact penis is ugly? Have you seen penises!? They'er all ugly! We left our sons uncut both to avoid the risks associated with the procedure and to allow them to make a permanent decision about their bodies themselves when they are older. Mothering Magazine has published to excellent articles on circumcision which you can search for on their website. The most recent was the findings of a big study that indicated circumcision does not, in fact, offer any protection against HIV. When our sons noticed their dad looked different, we just explained the difference. It wasn't any big trauma.

titania9 | January 15 , 2010 6:54 AM

Q&A: Should we circumcise the baby?

i am due in march with my Son. his father is not circumcised and we have discussed it and have not settled 100% on a final choice. i figure because his dad isnt, that he shouldnt be either. just sot here wont be questions late one about why they dont look the same?? also the cost was also an issue. $300 is alot of money for something thats not going to effect him either way. no had his dad been circumcised, noah would probably be as well. personally i think its totally up to the parents

BabyNoahsMommy | January 17 , 2010 10:02 PM

Q&A: Should we circumcise the baby?

i feel boys were made that way naturally so why change it...i am about to have my second son and I will not get him circum either.

maryfay314 | January 18 , 2010 2:43 PM

Q&A: Should we circumcise the baby?

It is completely up to you. Yes it will hurt. I am having my first son in March and we are going to have him circumcised.

blkbarbie | January 19 , 2010 10:17 PM

Q&A: Should we circumcise the baby?

I will defiantly getting my son circumcised, there is no question on this subject.

barb1099 | January 30 , 2010 6:57 AM

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