To circumcise or not to circumcise? What did you choose to do?

All surgical procedures are harmful and justified only where the benefits outweigh the harm. Most national medical associations including that of UK, do not recommend routine circumcision. There are no health or hygiene benefits where adequate washing facilities are available. Any unjustified harmful procedure carried out on an individual that is not able to give informed consent is abuse. Routine infant circumcision is, therefore, abuse. The majority of men in the world are uncircumcised. Some individuals have experienced trauma on circumcision. Pleasure in love making for the male is reduced and some women report for them too. all the best urban

yes i think every boy should get circumcised when they are babies cause when they get older it might be to painful

Do not remember the pain???? When I was circumcised as a baby I could not WALK until I was at least 12 months old!!!! But seriously; the decision was made NOT to circumcise my son because there was deemed to be no real reason to do so. In terms of him wondering why he looks different to me? I guess I will deal with that when it needs to be dealt with! I certainly have no recollections of any procedures; it was just the common thing to do when I was born. Nowadays it is not. I guess one way to look at it is using your appendix as an example..... Everyone has an appendix; it is only if there are problems with the appendix that they end up being removed. Otherwise we leave things as they are.....

I have two little boys and another boy due in July. I had both of my boys circumcised and will do the same with this one also. I know that it is painful and hard for any mother to watch. I think that it is a good thing for a male to have done not only for hygiene reasons but also for appearence. The truth is that most boys are circumcised and it may be somewhat embarressing to the boy in childhood and in adult life.

I was in the room when my twin sons were done. One cried only when a cold instrument was placed on his skin, the other one did not cry at all. They were given a local anesthetic and also were given sugar water (I am pretty sure that's what it was) that made them a little drowsy. They gave no signs of discomfort afterwards. I did it for aesthetic and health reasons. Quite a personal decision...!! I think melissaruth1 gave a very good response and said exactly what I had in mind to respond with.

Better to circumcise! Well, there are other countrys that not used with it. But it's for hygiene purpose.

I'm all for circumcision on infant boys. I have one son and we chose to have it done. Although I did try to back out of it a few times, but mainly because of fear of just putting my son in pain, but I finally decided on doing it after talking with the doctor about all the pros and cons. I feel it's better to have it done. And they do things different now. I know my son didn't even cry. They numbed him and gave him a sucker that had tylonal on it. The only thing he hated was being laid down and having his legs strapped down, but he stopped fussing and when they actually did the main cut, he didn't even make a peep and I was amazed. I also know others that have had their boys done and pain isn't the issue anymore. But its a parents choice. I'm all for whatever choice that may be. I'm sure most parents have a hard time with their choice, because afterall, it is a big decision.

We chose to circumcise all 6 of our boys. We never second guessed our choice.

I know alot of people have different opinions about this but my boys were circumcised I kind of left it up to my ex. I was circumcised and I am pretty happy with it...lol. But I would have to say if I hadnt have had it done I sure woudlnt do it now, the thought of having it done now is a bit too scary.

I have had 4 sons, and none of them were circumcised. My husband and I had discussed circumcision regarding our oldest son back when I was pregnant. We both agreed to it, and decided that it was best so that if we had a son, he could look like his dad when it came to toilet training and just standard questions kids ask about body parts on their parents. When I went into labour with my oldest son, it was 1 month before his due date. It was such a shock and surprise, and when we were in the hospital, not once did anyone ask if we wanted the circumcision done. Back when we were born (in the early 70's) it was pretty much common practice to have all of the boys circumcised, and it would only not happen if the request was made. However, things are opposite nowadays. It wasn't until after we had our son home for a few days that we realized we hadn't gotten the procedure done, and started looking into it. Because he had already been discharged from the hospital, there was a different procedure we would have to go through, and it would be through a urologist, and it couldn't be done until he was at least 6 months old. I don't remember all of the details at this point... it's been over 11 years since it all took place. When our 2nd son was born 2 1/2 years later, we decided against circumcision, because his older brother hadn't been done, and we wanted them to be the same. Then the twins were born less than 2 yrs after that... and for the same reason, I chose to not get them cut. I don't have any regrets about not getting any of my boys circumcised. From talking to other parents and grandparents of their peers, I am finding out that not all of their friends were done either. It's a fairly even split amongst the kids nowadays; 1/2 are cut, the other 1/2 not.

i don't have kids but i would circumcise. I remember i had a friend in the 5th grade who wasn't circumcised and i remember him complaining one day about something and us being little kids we were just very open and free about stuff so he just pulled it out and showed me it and pulled back his extra skin and it looked like he had an infection or something. I also think its better to get something like that done when they are little because i think most guys WANT to be circumcised and its just easier when they little so they don't have to deal with it when they are older..

Well you see I dont have boys, but I have two grandsons, the last one was circumcised but when he was about 1 week old, it can be a bit painful, but if you are going to do it, get it done very early. It is worth it for the hygenic reasons; even though some said it is not necessary as long as the boys clean beneath the foreskin properly.

I chose not to circumsize my first boy at birth. Later when he was about 5 years old he began having a problem where the skin would not pull back. We had problems trying to keep the area clean due to that, which you know you can get an infection if it is not cleaned properly. Also, if the problem did not correct itself, he could end up tearing the skin during puberty when those male hormones kick in. So, at 5 years old we had to circumsize him for his own health and well being. It was a lot more difficult on him at that age. He had to be put under for the procedure. It needed stitches, and took a good week to heal. He was very active already at that age, and would not calm down to allow himself to heal. (He was 5, he didn't understand he needed to heal, he continued to run and jump and act like a 5 year old). Well he ended up popping some stitches which led to further bleeding. I have had 3 boys since him, and each of them was circumsized at birth. It was so much easier for them. They did not need stitches. Their pain was gone within hours, and they were completely healed within days.

Well I don't have any kids yet but my personal opinion would be to circumcise. It's so much better if you think hygiene and it's way more esthetic if you pardon my saying:) The key factor is to do it at young age when the kids will forget it soon. Yes,it hurts but they might thank you later. I bet many men would say that they'd prefer to make that choice themselves,so I don't really know what to make of it. I think it's a similar situation when parents have to decide whether to pierce their little girl's ears,even though it's not as painful

my husband and I decided that we were not going to have our son's circumcised.... but teach them good hygiene instead. My family was really awful about it and so were a few doctors.

There are a lot of health benefits to circumcision. If you are interested in reading up about it, here is a good website: www.cafemom.com/group/13109

I would also like to add that I am only circumcised because of complications with my foreskin being stuck and I think it was hard to urinate. I can tell you that it hurt like hell when I woke up from the procedure!

Since I dont actually have any children I could not tell you. However, I can tell you that my parents chose not to circumcise me and the same for my brother. My dad is not circumcised and I am pretty sure that his dad is not as well because he is from England. Most if not all of the men in Europe are not circumcised. Actually, most men around the world are not circumcised. It is countries like the United States, Canada, some African nations, as well as in the middle east that circumcisions are being done.

I decided not to... why? well it's my son's body and not mine. and well i didn't want to have to go through it and all. If he wants it done he can have it done when he's older. It isn't my choice to make. that and i don't see a totally proper reason, most of the "deseases" and cancers are only like 1percent or lower.

When I had my son almost 6 yrs ago I did not have it done. 1. it is not necessary and 2. They pay not remember the pain but you remember the screams for the rest of your life. I could not intentionally put my son through that. I am not saying that anyone that does have it done is WANTING to hurt their child I am just saying I couldn't listen to it. I know now tho they freeze it before it's done so I guess it wouldn't be as bad but just the thought of it is unsettling to me and if I ever have another boy I will not have it done.