https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 20:54:19 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/3#post-1647265 Tue, 20 May 2014 13:59:19 +0000 Sparkler 1647265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It seems to me that most men who are circumcised themselves, choose to circumcise their sons, and that is the end of their "research" (unless you frequent sites like this!). Over half of Americans choose to do and a bit less than half of Americans do not. I don't have a strong opinion either way, but I don't think people should be judged either way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/3#post-1647230 Tue, 20 May 2014 13:52:15 +0000 Raindrop 1647230@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had it done... no regrets.</p> <p>I do want to make some notes that the doctor that circumcised our son told us.</p> <p>1. Circumcision is a lot riskier as an adult and takes longer to heal and in general more of a hassle.</p> <p>As a baby their weewee heals in about 4-7 days and it's basically a bad blister you just need to put Vaseline constantly on till it goes away.</p> <p>2. If you choose to circumcise one boy you should commit to do it to all your boys.</p> <p>This doctor had a case where the parents did it to their first born but then decided not to do it to their second born. Their second born took that as they didn't love him as much as! He was in such emotional stress over finding out that his brother was circumcised and he wasn't that in his early 20s he decided to get circumcised... and again a lot riskier as an adult.</p> <p>This is definitely a personal choice I just wanted to tell you what our doctor told us. Good luck! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/3#post-1647022 Tue, 20 May 2014 13:10:21 +0000 Jenn23 1647022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pui: Agree with everything you said.</p> <p>My husband isn't and his culture doesn't circumcise, but I was against it for my own reasons before I even met my husband. So for us, it was an easy decision.</p> <p>I don't think I have the right to change any body parts on another human, baby or not, without their permission. Further, I don't see any benefits. I feel that our bodies were made the way they were for a reason. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/3#post-1646945 Tue, 20 May 2014 12:43:16 +0000 travelgirl1 1646945@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think DH and I have the right to make permanent changes to our child's body (that in my opinion are purely for aesthetical reasons, not to improve their health), but then it's not done in the UK aside from religious reasons anyway so it's not even an issue we'd discuss. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/3#post-1646889 Tue, 20 May 2014 12:18:15 +0000 ShootingStar 1646889@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a very tough time deciding what to do in regards to circumcision. DH felt strongly that we should do it. He is and it's all he knows. He also felt that he would have no idea how to help our son maintain hygiene or anything else regarding it since he has no experience with being uncirc'd. He also worried that if there were issues with the foreskin later in later in life it would be much more difficult and painful to take care of. </p> <p>I come from a religious background where it's unheard of not to, and I live in an area where I think most men are. But it was really hard for me to think about cutting off a piece of our perfect baby boy.</p> <p>In the end I went along with what DH wanted. The procedure was fast and it healed quickly. I don't regret having it done, now that it's all over. But if I hadn't gotten it done, i probably wouldn't regret that either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/2#post-1646870 Tue, 20 May 2014 12:12:42 +0000 shinymama 1646870@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both my sons were circumsized; no religious reason, no regrets, no complications. DH and I were 100% on the same page. Truth be told, it was more difficult for me to watch, then it was for them {both stopped crying less than a minute after it was performed}.</p> <p>@mamimami: @Anagram: I think that it's a generational shift among Mexican/Mexican Americans. Those in my parents' parents' generation {my great grandparents} were not big proponents of circumcision, but in turn their children {my parents} did go on to circumsize their own children {my generation}. We opted to circumsize, and I would venture to say that 95% of my friends and family - the portion that are also of Latino descent - did the same. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/2#post-1646810 Tue, 20 May 2014 11:51:47 +0000 lady grey 1646810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pui: Well put. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/2#post-1646749 Tue, 20 May 2014 11:32:44 +0000 indi 1646749@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My brothers had quite the variety, too. One was snipped REALLY close, the other has a bit much left. That was another reason I'm not big on circ - so much variety and chances to "get it wrong." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/2#post-1646731 Tue, 20 May 2014 11:28:27 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 1646731@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never considered not doing it until after I had already done it for our son. I'm not 100% sure I would make the same decision again since his circumcision was less than perfect (although doctors say he will "grow into it"). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/2#post-1646687 Tue, 20 May 2014 11:12:24 +0000 pui 1646687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Seattlemom: If someone decides to get any plastic surgery of any kind, it's usually costly and requires recovery time. Lots of people opt to do unnecessary surgery on their bodies (and genitals) later in life regardless. I don't see why this particular procedure should be decided at birth for the child just because it may be less expensive and a newborn doesn't hold a job. We wouldn't feel the same if the parents wanted to give their newborn a nose job, or a tattoo. I feel it's kind of odd that we do this surgery to people who can't consent to it... It just doesn't make sense to me. It's just so engrained in our culture that this is normal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/2#post-1646674 Tue, 20 May 2014 11:07:34 +0000 lady grey 1646674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pui: I am totally not an advocate for circumcision, but I will throw out there that it is much more expensive to have the surgery as an adult then to get it as a newborn. Plus you'd have to take time off work as an adult for recovery, thus more costly. Just another thought! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/2#post-1646659 Tue, 20 May 2014 11:03:51 +0000 lady grey 1646659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Espion: yes! however the pediatric urologist said there isn't a compelling reason *not* to do it either (as far as risks, etc) So I think its really just personal preference. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/2#post-1646644 Tue, 20 May 2014 11:00:07 +0000 pui 1646644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@loveisstrange: I'd rather give my child the ability to make the choice himself than just go ahead with an irreversible surgical procedure that is pretty much only cosmetic. Plastic surgery often is painful and awful procedures people choose to endure, and that is their choice. I don't think many uncut men decide to become cut later in life anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/2#post-1646633 Tue, 20 May 2014 10:57:35 +0000 Arden 1646633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I won't get into the nitty gritty of the debate because I'm too passionate about the subject. </p> <p>For us, the answer is a resounding no. There are a variety of reasons, but the main one is that I absolutely will not make permanent irreversible body modifications to a child that cannot consent. We believe in bodily integrity. </p> <p>The "medical study" carried out in Africa that showed that circumcision could reduce the spread of HIV was disproven years ago and shown to be incredibly inaccurate. It was not a legitimate study. Afterwards, other studies demonstrated the exact opposite. So even if bodily integrity were not an issue for us, there is no compelling medical evidence to suggest that circumcision is better.</p> <p>There is some good info on the myths surrounding circumcision here: <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/moral-landscapes/201109/more-circumcision-myths-you-may-believe-hygiene-and-stds" rel="nofollow">http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/moral-landscapes/201109/more-circumcision-myths-you-may-believe-hygiene-and-stds</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/2#post-1646632 Tue, 20 May 2014 10:56:47 +0000 MoonMoon 1646632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't read through all the answers, but I just want to mention you don't have to make the decision at the hospital! Often, it's your OB who would perform the surgery on your baby, and ours said to wait until he was 7/8 days old and was nursing regularly, etc.</p> <p>My husband and I were leaning toward circumcision, but decided not to. There's no real reason, and I was so emotional about inflicting that on my little perfect baby. Hormones, y'all! Lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/2#post-1646523 Tue, 20 May 2014 10:35:42 +0000 loveisstrange 1646523@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We will do it if we have a boy for 2 reasons. 1, because DH feels strongly about doing it and I don't (I feel like it's more his decision than mine, he has a penis) and 2, it's not as easy to get done in adulthood as people think. It's a much more painful, awful procedure on an adult male. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/2#post-1646467 Tue, 20 May 2014 10:25:11 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 1646467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If I have a son I don't think I want to circumcise. I don't see any medical reason to do it. </p> <p>I grew up in the south (Georgia), and my first boyfriend wasn't circumcised. It didn't bother me any. He actually apologized to me for it and I told him he didn't have anything to worry about. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/2#post-1646444 Tue, 20 May 2014 10:20:34 +0000 oliviaoblivia 1646444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As a lady, I prefer uncut. I was actually shocked by the difference in feeling between cut and uncut guys.<br /> So on behalf of any future girlfriends of any future sons of mine, we will not be circumcising. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/2#post-1646412 Tue, 20 May 2014 10:11:32 +0000 Adira 1646412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: Oh, I agree. They aren't actually recommended it, but they do mention the health benefits and are saying that families should have access to trained professionals to have it done and insurance should cover it. I wasn't trying to say they actually recommend it, since they do not (although they aren't against it either). Thanks for the clarification! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/2#post-1646377 Tue, 20 May 2014 10:02:28 +0000 mrsjyw 1646377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't have a strong opinion one way or another, DH did want it done, so I agreed and no regrets! Everything went smoothly and the healing process was relatively quick for DS. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/2#post-1646370 Tue, 20 May 2014 10:01:12 +0000 mamimami 1646370@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Espion: I suspect it may be. Among the people I know who have been open about it, the only ones who have NOT circumcised have been families who identify strongly with a Spanish heritage (that was the case with the person I mentioned whose son chose to be circumcised as a high school student.) My "sample" is very limited to urban upper-middle/upper class people of my generation.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/2#post-1646262 Tue, 20 May 2014 09:39:34 +0000 hilsy85 1646262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: it was my understanding that the AAP statement was written in that way to ensure that families who DO choose to circumcise will be able to have the procedure covered by insurance...hence the wording "justify access". </p> <p>I don't think their actual stance on circumcision has changed, i.e. they still do not find enough health benefits to routinely recommend it, and would probably only recommend it in certain cases/high risk situations (in those cases I would also agree it would be a good idea--LO does not fall into either of those categories). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/2#post-1646253 Tue, 20 May 2014 09:35:45 +0000 Espion 1646253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mamimami: Thats interesting and good to know! All the Latino families I know are uncircumcised and have told me that, culturally, they do not circumcise. Not to generalize, but do you think this is a class difference? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/2#post-1646250 Tue, 20 May 2014 09:34:14 +0000 Cherrybee 1646250@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: @indi: WOW! The stats on these two sites are really, really interesting! I had no idea circumcision was so common still in the US! I thought 16% in the UK was high (approx 5% of our population is Muslim, around 0.5% are Jewish so I expected perhaps a little over 6%) then I saw the rates in some of the US states! Wow! I just had no idea. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/2#post-1646246 Tue, 20 May 2014 09:32:44 +0000 Espion 1646246@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lemonlong: They aren't doing it for aesthetic reasons, but because it has been suggested by the AAP for the reasons you state. They wouldn't do it otherwise. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/2#post-1646211 Tue, 20 May 2014 09:24:22 +0000 looch 1646211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: I like the history section, fascinating! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/2#post-1646203 Tue, 20 May 2014 09:21:23 +0000 Anagram 1646203@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: It's definitely a pro-circ site, so I have no idea how biased the info might be. But I like the country-by-country stats all the same. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/2#post-1646201 Tue, 20 May 2014 09:19:48 +0000 looch 1646201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: thanks for posting that link, there's some interesting information on that site. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/2#post-1646196 Tue, 20 May 2014 09:18:40 +0000 Mrs.Someone 1646196@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're only doing it for religious reasons. However, if you have it done, I'd suggest looking into using a mohel (we found one who is also a pediatrician), I think they use a different method than the hospitals do, and a more experienced man would be doing it. All the ceremonies I have been to have been minimally painful for the baby, and the procedure is over pretty quickly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-circumcision-decision/page/2#post-1646193 Tue, 20 May 2014 09:17:32 +0000 indi 1646193@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Here's a map that is made to demonstrate hospital circ rates in the US by state, for those that are curious. *note, it's from a clearly anti-circ page.</p> <p><a href="http://mgmbill.org/statistics.htm" rel="nofollow">http://mgmbill.org/statistics.htm</a> </p>