Circumcision

[wabrams]

tee_eff_em:

When our son was circumcized years ago, the one objective thing that seemed to be in favor of it was to reduce the risk of HPV infection (Human Pampilla Virus(sp?)). I don’t know if HPV is merely a matter of hygiene, nor whether there is any ill-effect for a gentleman wrt penile cancer, but it **is **correlated with cervical cancer in women. The research we had access to at that time indicated that women with circumcized partners had a lower occurence of cervical cancer.

tee

HPV is the clinical name for genital warts. It’s an STD that has multiple strains with multiple symptoms. It can only be diagnosed visually, and there is no cure. Last statistic I heard from friends in the medical field was something like 65-80% of all sexually active males between 18-30 have some form of it, whether they’re carriers or have/had a full blown outbreak.

 

[vluvski]

additionally, HPV is a significant risk factor in cervical cancer.

In any case, HPV is definitely an STD, so one cannot make a case for circumcision based on HPV any more than making a case for using a condom to prevent contracting HPV.

 

[DJgang]

I have three boys…all circumcised.

Are you aware of a procedure that doesn’t involve just cutting away the skin at once and then having to worry about dressing it everyday until well?

All of my sons had what I believe you call a “plasty bell”. What it is…the doctor makes a few cuts down the foreskin, slides the bell on and basically the foreskin dies, the “bell” falls off…and there you go, a perfect little circumcision. NONE of my sons cried afterward! I’m sure that they cried when the local was given, but all three came back to me 30 minutes afterward asleep. They never cried when they urinated like some babies do with the other procedure.

As for taking care of the circumcision…I did nothing! The bell feel off in 7 days and the doctor says that if it doesn’t fall off in 10 to bring him in. There was just a little redness and places where the local was given.

The sad thing is that not all doctors know how to do this procedure. If you would like more information, I will try to ask my doctor…a good thing, I go to church with him

 

[Christus_Rex]

carol marie:

I can’t imagine what it would be like to be the only uncircumcised kid in the class ??

So you’re saying practically all American boys are circumcised?!
In the UK it’s the other way round! No one is circumcised unless they’re a Jew!

Why (from what you say) are so many non-Jewish boys circumcised? It seems a bit pointless!

Michael :whacky:

 

[carol_marie]

Christus Rex:

So you’re saying practically all American boys are circumcised?!
In the UK it’s the other way round! No one is circumcised unless they’re a Jew!

Why (from what you say) are so many non-Jewish boys circumcised? It seems a bit pointless!

Michael :whacky:

Yes… the vast majority of boys in the US are circumcised. It seems that there is a growing minority that are choosing not to do the surgery - but according to the statistics given, 80% of all boys in the Midwest (where I live) are cicumcised. Being Jewish or not has nothing to do with it… it’s a cultural thing I suppose.

Whether it’s pointless or not is up for debate.

As many posters said… it’s a personal decision left up to the parents. I would respect & support their decision for their son and would hope they’d respect mine.

CM

 

[LynnieLew]

I did not want to have my little boy to have this done, but it was important to my husband.

I said to him:
If you want to do this to our son then you MUST be present when it happens. I want you to hold that our son’s hand while the doctor is performing the procedure.

He agreed and was there for it. I figured he wouldn’t do it if he, himself, was too sensitive to watch it being done. I guess it really was important to him.

 

[YinYangMom]

Since circumcision was obligatory for the Jewish people as part of the old covenant, does anyone know why, after the resurrection as the early church was developing, the apostles didn’t stop the practice?

I vaguely recall one section of the New Testament where I believe Paul clarified that Christians were not obliged to be circumcised in order to be Christian (I’ll have to look that one up)…

but it’s interesting that they didn’t go further to make not circumcising our males a sign of the New Covenant, like circumcising them was a sign of the Old.

Do you think it’s because Christ would have been circumcised and therefore, in trying to model ourselves after Him we continued the practice???

 

[vluvski]

Early Jewish Christians still thought of themselves as Jews. Eventually they parted ways, but culturally, they maintained many Jewish traditions for some time. There was a bit of a debate between (I think) Paul and Peter on this issue, where Paul scolded Peter for abandoning his Jewish background and hanging out too much with Gentile Christian converts. Peter submits and agrees with Paul eventually. I can’t remember the passage, but it’s in there somewhere!

Judaism is also not the only religion/culture the requires circumcision.

 

[Prometheum_x]

YinYangMom:

Since circumcision was obligatory for the Jewish people as part of the old covenant, does anyone know why, after the resurrection as the early church was developing, the apostles didn’t stop the practice?

I vaguely recall one section of the New Testament where I believe Paul clarified that Christians were not obliged to be circumcised in order to be Christian (I’ll have to look that one up)…

but it’s interesting that they didn’t go further to make not circumcising our males a sign of the New Covenant, like circumcising them was a sign of the Old.

Do you think it’s because Christ would have been circumcised and therefore, in trying to model ourselves after Him we continued the practice???

It’s because Paul clarified that it didn’t matter whether you were or were not circumcised. I don’t understand how not circumcising would be anymore a sign of the covenant than circumcising would be.

 

[Christus_Rex]

carol marie:

Yes… the vast majority of boys in the US are circumcised. It seems that there is a growing minority that are choosing not to do the surgery - but according to the statistics given, 80% of all boys in the Midwest (where I live) are cicumcised. Being Jewish or not has nothing to do with it… it’s a cultural thing I suppose.
I am surprised! I really am genuinely surprised!

Whether it’s pointless or not is up for debate.
Please don’t think I am insulting you, I am merely pointing out that it is unneccessary so I am surprised you have it done.

As many posters said… it’s a personal decision left up to the parents. I would respect & support their decision for their son and would hope they’d respect mine.
Of course!

btw yes i know that Muslims also require circumcision I am genuinely surprised that so many are circumcised. It is a real rarity to have anyone circumcised unless they are a Jew or Muslim here in the UK.

Michael

 

[YinYangMom]

Prometheum_x:

It’s because Paul clarified that it didn’t matter whether you were or were not circumcised. I don’t understand how not circumcising would be anymore a sign of the covenant than circumcising would be.

Come to think of it the easy answer is because God told the Israelites to adopt the practice and he didn’t tell us to stop it, otherwise, certainly Jesus would have mentioned it along with all the other stipulations He shared about coming into the Family.

 

[carol_marie]

Christus Rex:

btw yes i know that Muslims also require circumcision I am genuinely surprised that so many are circumcised. It is a real rarity to have anyone circumcised unless they are a Jew or Muslim here in the UK.

Michael

Hi Michael,
True story: So I had just given birth to my son and I’m introducing him to his “grandpa” …my Father, who was born in Wales and lived in the UK until he came to the States when he was 35. Someone mentions that the baby was circumcised and my Father… with a complete look of shock turns to me and says, “YOU NEVER TOLD ME YOU BECAME JEWISH !!!”

I tried to explain that it had nothing to be with being Jewish… that everyone I knew was circumcised… my husband… my little step brother… EVERY guy I ever dated. Opps. To much information! You could’ve heard a pin drop in that room!

 

[vluvski]

carol marie:

Hi Michael,
True story: So I had just given birth to my son and I’m introducing him to his “grandpa” …my Father, who was born in Wales and lived in the UK until he came to the States when he was 35. Someone mentions that the baby was circumcised and my Father… with a complete look of shock turns to me and says, “YOU NEVER TOLD ME YOU BECAME JEWISH !!!”

I tried to explain that it had nothing to be with being Jewish… that everyone I knew was circumcised… my husband… my little step brother… EVERY guy I ever dated. Opps. To much information! You could’ve heard a pin drop in that room!

You should repost this in the family stories thread. ha!

 

[cheddarsox]

I have two sons, 16 and 18. Neither one is circumcised. No complaints from either for this decision.

My rule of thumb is, if it ain’t broke, don’t mess with it.

They never seemed to mind that they don’t look like dad.

If it really becomes an issue for them. They can choose to have circumcision done as adults.

cheddar

 

[bogeyjlg]

cheddarsox:

I have two sons, 16 and 18. Neither one is circumcised. No complaints from either for this decision.

My rule of thumb is, if it ain’t broke, don’t mess with it.

They never seemed to mind that they don’t look like dad.

If it really becomes an issue for them. They can choose to have circumcision done as adults.

cheddar

Yeah but you won’t remember the pain if you get it done as an infant.

 

[Benedictus]

Christus Rex:

So you’re saying practically all American boys are circumcised?!
In the UK it’s the other way round! No one is circumcised unless they’re a Jew!

Why (from what you say) are so many non-Jewish boys circumcised? It seems a bit pointless!

The rumor is that circumcision became popular in the U.S. because people thought that circumcised boys would be less likely to masturbate. Ironically, studies have shown that circumcised men are more likely to masturbate (although I question the validity of the studies).

There really is no reason that circumcision is so popular in the U.S., aside from tradition and maybe aesthetics.

I don’t really see the point in circumcision. I’m not against it necessarily, but I don’t intend to circumcise any male children I may have.

Interestingly, the Coucil of Florence condemned circumcision, regardless of the motive.

 

[proudnifi]

No kids yet; my husband and I are not going to have any future sons circumcized. I’ve done research on it, too. The process bothers me greatly because it’s a permanent body modification not chosen by that person, potentially painful and an unnecessary surgery with unnecessary risks; my husband agrees. I am not ready to pass laws against it, but I would probably try to convince a brother or sister to not circumcize their children if they were exploring that option. I’m not too thrilled about little girls and pierced ears either. Good luck with your decision and congratulations on your son!

 

[spacecadet]

i regret not doing the research before. i’m actually hoping the next one is a girl so i don’t have to deal with this, (sigh) i would not want to circ another son, but don’t know if DH would feel that way.

I also wanted to urge anyone expecting to look at all your options even if you do circ. you don’t have to have it done in the hospital. vit K is highest in the body on the 8th day so that there is less chance of bleeding to much. our son had trouble BF at first so we waited until he was 3 1/2 weeks old and our ped did it in his office.

also not all hospitals will give pain med, etc. so you need to ask.

and how much foreskin is cut off varies. you can have very little taken off.

as the UK resident posted this is really an American thing.

 

[spacecadet]

one more thing…a local birth center has a family come from saudia arabia so that their girls aren’t circd.

 

[Jennifer_J]

bogeyjlg:

Yeah but you won’t remember the pain if you get it done as an infant.

So it’s okay to do something painful to a baby, because they won’t remember it??? There goes the prolife argument that they feel pain so it abortion must be bad!!! Please, even with pain meds the site will be painful even for a baby! The baby comes back to you asleep because they withdrew from the pain (those without pain meds).

While I support any parent’s decision to circ, I don’t think it’s necessary either morally or physically. I would try to talk any parent out of it. I saw it done once and swore I would never do that to my son–and I didn’t.

I had an older lady chastize me because my ds wasn’t circ’d but then went on to tell me they botched her sons and they had to do it AGAIN. Thanks for the advice

Jennifer