Circumcision?
 

My wife and I are expected our first in a couple weeks, and we're grappling with the decision to circumcize or not, if it's a boy (we don't know yet).

We've both read several articles on the subject, pro and con, and some which are neutral, or at least claim to be. Most of the arguments are contradictory, and those that aren't seem to be really minor points, so we're so far unable to decide. If it makes any difference, (and I'm sure you all REALLY want to know :) ) I'm circumsized.

So I thought I'd toss the question out to the masses of PPOT. What does everyone here think? Yay or nay?

Chris

I'm not surprised that there are no takers on this one.

I'm not going to vote because I've only had my penis one way, so I can't compare. I've heard that if hygiene isn't good with the uncut that infections can be a problem. But of course, as long as you have good hygiene, it's not a problem.

Seems like we came with it, so it probably aught to be there. I'm assuming there are probably some nerves in it which could only be good.

I think it pretty much comes down to personal preference.

Repost it! :D

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/232326-help-you-your-son-s-circumcised.html

there's some damn funny stuff in that thread.

Masraum's got it, I think. But you've also got to consider the personal preference of the women who will one day encounter it. In the US, most young women rarely (if ever) see an uncirumsized johnson up close. The tide is changing since more parents are not having their sons circumsized. But in 17-20 years, who knows? It's likely going to be more commonplace. However, I doubt it'll ever be the majority in the US.

Snip it. It is one of those "follow the heard" things. Went through the same thing when we were expecting. We did not want to know the sex so we had to be prepared. Decided to snip it if it was a boy because of what the "norm" is in the US. Really has nothing to do with hygine anymore as most of us have running water and soap. Had a girl so didn't have to go through with it but if she was a boy I had already decided I could not watch.
Oh yea, if you do snip it, and you raise a liberal, sue the world brat, be prepared for the law suit. No kidding, saw it in a publication that a kid was suing his parents because he was circumcised.
Ben

Read that old thread!!

Your boy (if turns out to be a boy) was designed with the foreskin. Don't follow the herd and leave it on! He'll thank you later.

That is ridiculous. :rolleyes:

He was also designed to run around naked, poop in the woods, kill and eat his prey, have a long scraggly beard and not shower or bathe....

Apparently the tide really is turning. In the US, something like 60% of kids are cicumcized, and in Canada it's more like 25%. Compare that to a generation ago, when the numbers would have been more like 80 or 90%.

It's cold in Canada, you guys wear more turtlenecks than we do...

Had it both ways (read the other thread) and had the operation at age 21 or so. Not fun at that age, so if you are going to do it, do it when he is young...

there are also variations. foreskin can range from very long, covering the entire head and extending beyond, to being hardly noticeable..and disappearing completely with an erection. your doctor will be able to tell you which your son has. it might influence your decision. often if the foreskin itself is not large, they will recommend not cutting.
ryan

This thread reminds me of a song:

My one skin hangs down to my two skin
My two skin hangs down to my threee!
My threeskin hangs down to my foreskin
My foreskin hangs down to my kneeee!

So roll back, roll back, roll back my foreskin for me, for me!
So roll back, roll back, roll back my foreskin for meee!

lol..david. :D

It could be as much as a post card sized piece of sensitive skin that you are removing.
On the other hand, can you imagine the crazy stuff that you would do if it felt any better down there?

Post card sized?!? Damn.

None of the girls in college seemed to mind. ;)

snip it. my son was born the 19th of May and within 24 hours he was snipped.

Phimosis. It affects 1% of uncircumcised males. It requires circumcision. I've had to do circumcisions on teenage boys and grown men. NOT fun.

I won't post pictures here, but search Google Images for Phimosis.

Maybe not a great reason, but my son was circumcised at birth because I couldn't bear the thought of him going through that as a teen.

It seems to me that if you support "Intelligent Design" you can't really overrule your Maker.

Leave it...if he ever has a zipper incident, he will thank you for the extra layer of protection.

Funny stuff!! More likely to have a zipper incident though....

The word on the street is that circumsized guys get more BJs than non guys do. It sure works for me......(can't say the same about working the P-car) Seriously, you should do whatever you feel comfortable with but I recommend have the hospital do it within the first week.

I voted leave it. And that's exactly what we did 4 years ago with my son. I also read all the articles, pro and con. None of the con articles impressed me. If he wants it done in the future I'll pay for the operation but it will be his choice. For some reason I believe that all the really freaky girls like it unsnipped so he'll thank me later.

Here, let me show you.........

The old ant eater vs. soldier debate. My guess is that most soldiers have their sons cut, and most ant eaters don't.

If you ask me its a load of religious crap. Leave it and let the grown man decide for himself. Here in Sweden circumcision for non-medical reasons is all but unheard of. I would think the same goes for the rest of Scandinavia and northern western Europe.

Just a durn for'ner´s humble opinion..;)

Might want to check this study out. Seems very likely that there is a pattern of raised sensitivity to HIV for an uncircumcised man. I also recall seeing a special about this on Discovery channel.

Christien

We have a 3 month old and been through it recently.

We were told a parent must be present when the operation is done and neither of us wanted to be present when the little guy was put under the knife (and my wife is a nurse!)

More importantly, as probably stated in earlier posts recent studies have shown no real advantage to health in removing it. Other studies have shown an advantage to having it sexually in terms of sensation etc.

Either way if half of Canadian parents do and half do not, your boy will not be a minority.

Reg

I am going through this NOW with my wife.. I say leave it and she says snip it so he won't be made fun of...... WE STILL have NOT come to an agreement..:(

My father didn't want me cut (he was an MD and uncirc.) , but for some reason I had to be, I forget why. I think it'd feel better without it so I voted for, but I can't imagine it feeling any better.

I had this discusion the other day with a friend. His comment was he thought you'd have a better chance of getting it into a girls mouth with it cut so he was going to have his son's cut if ever had one. He wanted to give him every chance he could to get some.

BTW, we had our son snipped, I guess so he wouldn't be made fun of. That was twelve years ago and I don't think I put as much thought into it as I should have. I think it's going to take some urging by doctors to change what seems to have become routine.

There really isn't much of a medical argument to do a circumcision. Sure there are cases of phimosis, but that is pretty rare. Circumcision these days is simply a religious or aesthetic choice.

if the wife is wavering at all, leave it. comparable to the clitoris. my one year old loves his wanker, just wish he had more. i tried, but my argument was dismissed.

Leave it. There's no reason to subject your kid to that. When we have a boy he's staying natural. Wife's already on-board with that decision.

you don't do this?

hmm...that might explain some of the looks I've been getting lately...

Was in the same boat but had a girl. I'm a firm believer in "let them make the decision when they're old enough". Problem is getting a circumcision when you're 16 is alot tougher than when you're an infant.

lol..yeah..how many 16 year old's are gonna come to their parents and say 'i want this cut off..' lol.
ryan

I'm Jewish, circumcision is required. I have been to many snippings where the whole family gets to watch. It really is not a big deal. Just make sure to get it done while he is an infant I also have heard that it hurts more the older you get - glad I don't have to find out.

Well, there's similar good and bad arguments both pro and con and here, and the poll is pretty much 50/50. You guys are a big help. :)

If we do decide, it will be done right away, rather than later, no question about that.

Actually, circumcision is winning by a head.


















Pun intended :p