a little survey - circumcision?

Without being biased or judgmental or anything else one reading this might assume... I was hoping to get an informal survey of people to post whether or not they circumcised their sons (without giving reasons for or against doing so). I am just curious! And, to be the first, I did not.

UPDATE - I was hoping for just some yes or no answers... I just checked this discussion after not reading it for a while. Seems to have gotten a little heated and/or weird. So, I am closing it. Thanks for the responses!

Tags: circumcision

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by ms. stiles on January 12, 2009 at 2:53pm: my little boy is uncut!

Permalink Reply by Leah in Minnesota on January 12, 2009 at 3:02pm: Actually, I am in sexual health field and there is more and more evidence that circumcision helps protect against HIV and other serious sexually transmitted infections. I think that the jusry is still out on this. I know that people are going to have a variety of reactions to this, but check out the Kaiser Foundation or Guttmacher Institute and read some of the recent studies. It will add another aspect to the conversation. Incidentally I am mom of one boy and another on the way and both are or will be circumsized. My son never cried during his circumcision. I am not sure that when they are that young, they feel the pain and trauma that we think they do. Just my thoughts.

Permalink Reply by Abby on January 12, 2009 at 3:29pm: This is such a hot topic! We didn't and we wouldn't - mostly because my husband isn't.

Our pediatrician didn't circumcise her sons either, so it was pretty easy to feel confident about our choice.

Permalink Reply by Rebecca on January 12, 2009 at 4:38pm: We have two boys, neither are circumcised. The biggest issue for me is informed consent. I have a huge problem with performing medically unecessary and irreversible surgery on someone who can't express an opinion. I have read that circumcision can help prevent the transmission of stds, and that's certainly wothwhile information that my boys will be given as they grow older. Ultimately, it's something that will be up to them to decide.

Permalink Reply by heather d on January 17, 2009 at 11:40pm: We did have our son circucised after some discussion. On a weird note they asked us if we wanted to keep the ring when it fell off!!! That would be fun for the baby book!!

Permalink Reply by Michelle on January 18, 2009 at 8:48am: We did not. My husband isn't and the pediatrician also said it wasn't nessaccary, so we went with that. It was a surgery avoided.

Permalink Reply by E. Caruso Parnell on January 18, 2009 at 10:22am: We circumcised our son. Our mohel (also a physician) used a nerve block in a addition to topical anaesthetic and we got great training and information about avoiding adhesions. We looked really carefully at mohelim before he was born.

Permalink Reply by miranda on January 26, 2009 at 3:57pm: we did

Permalink Reply by pacman on January 27, 2009 at 3:42pm: I am a 15 year old guy named Matt. i am circumcised and i would just like to say that i am glad i am circumcised. First off, all the guys at our school know and see who is circumcised and who isn't, i can most of us are, about 85%, i would say. I think that it is embarrassing for the guys who aren't circumcised because nearly everyone else is. Also, the subject has come up in conversation with some of my female friends and everyone they all say that they would want heir boyfriends to be circumcised. Also, I have never been able to remember any pain from the procedure or the recovery, because i was only an infant. If any parents are debating circumcision, I will just say that your son will thank you later for making this decision.

Permalink Reply by Mrs. maturo on January 30, 2009 at 7:19am: We are not circumcising our son. We have actually had backlash from my side of the family over this. My husband is not and I have read alot regarding this issue and I do not feel there is any need to do so. Many, many of the articles I have read stated that other than religous reasons, there are none to have the child cut. Up until some years ago, it was believed that it would prevent infections and so forth. The only medical reason out there that is still up for debate is that you are less likely to contract HIV by being circumcised. If you opt not to, many pediatricians do not know the best way to handle uncut children. Just make sure NO ONE and absolutely NO ONE pulls the foreskin back. This will happen naturally usually around 5 years of age and if done by force, it creates all the problems that you "hear" about. We are actually having our ped. sign a waiver stating that they understand they are not to pull back. I personally don't believe there is a right or wrong on this issue, more personal preference than anything.

Permalink Reply by jacci09 on February 2, 2009 at 2:15pm: We did have our son circumcised. My husband and I are both health care professionals and believe that the benefits of circumcision outweigh the cons. I do feel badly that he had no say in the issue, but I also know that once he received the numbing medication (applied locally- to his skin only) he felt none of the actual procedure. Did he cry- yes. A group of strangers took him away from his mom, unswaddled him, and poked and prodded him. He cried because he was cold and frightened no doubt. And for that I felt terrible. But as soon as they turned him back into a little burrito and gave him back to me to nurse him, all was fine and forgotten. In the coming weeks he responded to all of his baths and diaper changes in much the same manner. I'm not comparing baths to circumcision, just stating a fact for Alex. But I firmly believe this is one of those subjects that is best left to parents to decide what is most comfortable for them and their family. I believe there is no right or wrong way when a parent makes a decision out of love and concern for their child.