Hellobee Boards

This comment has been deleted by the original poster.

@Arden: Yep! My ped had a son she didn't circumcise who later had it done (around age 8) because he wanted it done. No way to know for sure. I think "go with your gut" is a good answer in this conversation.

I left the decision to my husband, and he chose not to. Even though I know the statistics and trend is to not circumcise, it seems like everyone around me has done it to their sons. I find myself having to explain our decision not to circumcise to everyone! it's a little annoying, but whatever. It was our choice and we don't regret it.
I just hope that in the future LO doesn't wish we did circumcise him, though.....

@Arden: yes totally agree!

As for the issue of kids being teased about not being circ'd--that really irks me. So if your kid was a redhead, would you dye their hair pre-emptively because you're worried about kids making fun? Or if they have to wear glasses, would you force them to wear glasses, or undergo eye surgery so they won't be made fun of? These examples might be extreme, but my point is just that kids will ALWAYS find something that is "different" about other kids, and why is changing a child's body an acceptable reaction to a fear of teasing?

FWIW, my DH is not circ'd, and grew up in an area where most people were, and he NEVER was bullied or teased about it (except in the way that he and his friends teased each other about EVERYTHING and that was just one thing on the list).

We didn't circ despite the fact that DH is circumcised. Absolutely no regrets 16 months later!

I actually don't think a circumcised penis "looks better". My husband isn't circumcised and I prefer it that way. He was never once teased as a kid or adult. Is it really that common for boys to be completely naked checking each out other out anyways?

@winniebee: At one time, it was common for boys in the locker rooms to be naked together. However, I think that is quite uncommon now, (At least where I live) until much later when they should be old enough for that not to be tease-worthy...

@looch: @winniebee: DH tells me no, he never saw an uncircumcised kid get picked on in the US growing up. He said the only place he saw that happen was a Balkan country where circ had cultural/religious significance.

i don't have kids yet so take this with a grain of salt... just a lil food for thought.

dh wasn't circumcised as a baby. as a preteen (around 11 or 12), he got an infection and had to have it done. it didn't traumatize him and didn't give him a strong opinion about it one way or another. if we have a boy i will leave the decision up to him... as of now he feels he needs to do more research but leans towards whatever medical professionals suggest. from what i've read, i assume that means not circumcising.

@loki: from what I've read and heard it's kind of a six to one half a dozen to another.

We did for both. The health benefits were a reason for me. I have some significant urological problems and I wanted to reduce their chances of UTIs. Even if it's unlikely they will inherit them being male. DH likes being circumcised even though he doesn't know any different.

I didn't vote, cause one son is and one isn't.

@SerenaSF: D is older and is not. After spending 15 days in the NICU, I thought he had enough at that point. His dad didn't have an opinion on it. M is circumsized, because his dad (not D's dad...second marriage) felt strongly about it. I didn't feel strongly about it either way, so I went with it. Either way it's no big deal to me.

Baking babe now, so I didn't vote as it may not even be a boy. DH is not circumcised but if it's a boy wants his son circumcised as he was teased by his friends about it in school. Never like to the point of being depressed, but he said he was the only one in the locker room that looked different. He has consider getting the procedure done now at 28. I told him it's not that serious! To me, being teased isn't enough of a reason to have major surgery on your genitals. But, we also do have religious reasons so I'm not sure. Wishing you hadn't had it done when he becomes an adult can go the other way, and they wish they had it done!

@oliviaoblivia: @Purpledaisy: I wasn't going to say anything because the OP didn't want to start a debate, but now I feel like I have to. I'm sure you are aware it can be very personally offensive to people when you directly compare male and female circumcision.

To begin with, the reasons behind male circumcision are much more layered and complex than "it looks better." Really. There are religious reasons, it used to be that there were evidentiary health reasons, etc.

Female circumcision, which, in many cultures involves cutting off the inner and outer lips, removing the clitoral hood, and sewing the vagina partially shut, has the purpose of completely eliminating sexual pleasure, or even intentionally inflicting pain during sexual intercourse. They are also often performed on older children, by people who aren't medically trained or certified, in unsterile conditions, with no pain relief or means of providing medical aftercare. Female circumcision can also cause major health problems, particularly kidney infections and failure.

Male circumcision, while there is some argument that it can decrease sexual pleasure, can hardly be said to have the same risks.

It makes me really sad when people make this comparison.

Also, it added absolutely nothing to this thread, which was clearly the OP asking about boys being circumcised.

Our son will be born in December, and we have decided not to circumcise.

@IRunForFun: I was just coming here to post about this as well. The two are firstly not comparable and secondly the OP was talking about male circs, not female.

It is also offensive to people who have made the choice for their sons, as it implies we have done them harm. Which, I guess some of you may believe. I can guarantee you, each mother here who has made the choice to circ (regardless of their comfort or regret), had zero intention of harming their babies.

We live in Australia (Sydney) and did not circumsise - I don't know any non-Jewish people who did.
In my family back in Canada, all the men in my father's generation were circumsised, then there were no male children in the next genereation, and all the boys in the grandkids generation have not been circusised. Funny how there was a complete 180 in just 2 generations!!

I have thus far only had a girl, but if we had had a boy, we would have not circumcised.

It is a needless and permanent body modification and an infant cannot consent to it. I would never have any surgery done to my child that isn't necessary, least of all have skin removed from my baby for a purely cosmetic "benefit".