Circumcision Decision

Why do Americans practice it anyway? It's not done in Europe. From where the tradition?
 
Why do Americans practice it anyway? It's not done in Europe. From where the tradition?

I have no idea. There are many different cultures in America and some of them practice circumcision perhaps it's just a tradition that was copied.
 
There is no need to circumcise a male child unless it is medically necessary.

There is also no need to 'clean' an uncircumcised penis of a child to avoid infection. It does not need any special treatment. On the contrary, pulling back the foreskin to 'clean' it could end up damaging the penis. I have two son's and I still remember the midwife's words echoing in my head about how I should "never ever pull back the foreskin" as doing so could damage it. And she was right:

If your baby is not circumcised, remember that you should never forcibly retract the foreskin at any time. Leave it alone until it gradually loosens by itself. This may take anywhere from several months to four or more years. Once the foreskin is retractable, the area underneath it should be washed regularly.

http://www.the-health-pages.com/topics/education/circumcision.html

People who circumcise newborn baby boys have to face the prospect of doing so without any anaesthetics. It is not merely a "snip snip". It is a surgical procedure, and often done without any pain relieving medication. In Australia, at least, doctors will not perform the procedure unless there is a medical reason to do so (eg the foreskin may be too tight across the head of the penis, restricting the child's ability to pee).

Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin - the fold of skin that covers the tip of the penis. The best time for circumcision is when the child is newly born. In the newborn, circumcision is a minor operation that takes little time. There may be a small amount of bleeding. There is also some risk of infection, and the remote possibility of damage to the penis.

Circumcision causes some pain, unless it is performed with an anesthetic. Despite this fact, some doctors are reluctant to use anesthetic because of the risks associated with its use.

If circumcision is postponed until later childhood, a general anesthetic will be necessary, and the risks are greater than if the procedure had been done on the newborn child.

I have never heard of anyone circumcising their son's penis so that it looks like their own. Sorry madant, but unless you and your son's are going to be standing there and comparing your penises when they are grown up, I really do not see the reason behind it. Why anyone would want to hack off a piece of their son's penis is beyond me frankly, especially when it is done for cosmetic purposes. It would seem the US is a bit behind in that they still allow doctors to perform this procedure, even when it is not medically necessary.
 
Bells, Millions of Australian boys were circumcised for no other reason than daddy had it done.

Me, intact!. Call myself an entire to borrow an equine reference.

Yeah Cosmic, I love my bald glans too. Also like to put it back in the hangar after a hard day at the office.

Leave the little chap's forey on! It is THE way nature invented to facilitate entry in difficult circumstances (tight and/or dry).

I read the stats once about the number of nerve endings in the foreskin, can't remember the number but it is astronomical.

I grew up having the odd one out but there's no way you'd take it from me now.

One more thing, being unusual in my era ( having a foreskin), the girls did love to play with it...hours of fun!
 
I have never heard of anyone circumcising their son's penis so that it looks like their own. Sorry madant, but unless you and your son's are going to be standing there and comparing your penises when they are grown up, I really do not see the reason behind it. Why anyone would want to hack off a piece of their son's penis is beyond me frankly, especially when it is done for cosmetic purposes. It would seem the US is a bit behind in that they still allow doctors to perform this procedure, even when it is not medically necessary.
In all my years in locker rooms etc I've only ever seen one guy who wasn't circumcised, and he was an exchange student from Norway. It looked bizarre and animalistic to American eyes. Not circumcising a boy would make him look like a freak, to me.

I remember the first time I saw that guy from Norway in the shower (we ran cross country together), I honestly thought he was deformed or had suffered some horrible accident.

Add to that,
When does circumcision become necessary?
There are a few situations where it is clearcut. If there is only a small opening in the foreskin so that passing urine is difficult, or when the foreskin is painful to pull back during an erection or won't return forward again. The latter is an emergency situation needing urgent surgery to avoid really serious consequences.

1 Where the foreskin cannot comfortably be pulled back over the glans (knob) of the penis. Now, up until the age of five or six, many boys cannot retract their foreskins - mums and dads beware - if you try too early you may do some damage. Above the age of six or seven, it is important that boys be taught how to clean under the foreskin, making sure the skin is pulled right back. If your son cannot do that he may need circumcising. Boys frequently forget or deliberately avoid this routine and run into difficulties.

2 If the foreskin cannot easily be moved when the penis becomes hard, or if that causes pain - this is not only a childhood problem. At puberty, as the penis grows and masturbation begins, problems may emerge. Some men have pain on intercourse, which they then try to avoid for that reason. If so, you (and your partner) will benefit from your circumcision just as many boys do. Some men are afraid to admit to this problem, but it is curable by circumcision.

3 Where you and your partner keep getting 'thrush' infections.Some call this 'sexual ping-pong'. One keeps passing it back to the other. Of course, you may first try creams or tablets from your doctor or chemist, but if it keeps coming back, circumcision will cure it. It did for me. The foreskin is a warm and moist incubator under which infections can easily develop.

1 Many older men, who have bladder or prostate gland problems, also develop difficulties with their foreskins due to their surgeon's handling, cleaning, and using instruments. Some of these patients will need circumcising. Afterwards it is often astonishing to find some who have never ever seen their glans (knob) exposed before!

2 Some older men develop cancer of the penis :eek:- about 1 in 1000 - fairly rare, but tragic if you or your son are in that small statistic. Infant circumcision gives almost 100% protection, and young adult circumcision also gives a large degree of protection.

3 Cancer of the cervix in women is due to the Human Papilloma Virus. It thrives under and on the foreskin from where it can be transmitted during intercourse. An article in the British Medical Journal in April 2002 suggested that at least 20% of cancer of the cervix would be avoided if all men were circumcised. Surely that alone makes it worth doing?

4 Protection against HIV and AIDS
. Another British Medical Journal article in May 2000 suggested that circumcised men are 8 times less likely to contract the HIV virus. (It is very important here to say that the risk is still far too high and that condoms and safe sex must be used - this applies also to preventing cancer of the cervix in women who have several partners.)

A BBC television programme in November 2000 showed two Ugandan tribes across the valley from one another. One practised circumcision and had very little AIDS, whereas, it was common in the other tribe, who then also started circumcising. This programme showed how the infection thrived in the lining of the foreskin, making it much easier to pass on.

5 As with HIV, so some protection exists against other sexually transmitted infections. Accordingly, if a condom splits or comes off, there is some protection for the couple. However, the only safe sex is to stick to one partner or abstain.

6 Lots of men, and their partners, prefer the appearance of their penis after circumcision, It is odour-free, it feels cleaner, and they enjoy better sex. Awareness of a good body image is a very important factor in building self confidence.

7 Balanitis is an unpleasant, often recurring, inflammation of the glans. It is quite common and can be prevented by circumcision.

8 Urinary tract infections sometimes occur in babies and can be quite serious. Circumcision in infancy makes it 10 times less likely.
Seems to me there are lots of potential benefits. Just removing the risk of CANCER OF THE PENIS:eek: is a pretty good one. Decreased risk of STD's, decreased risk of infection of the penis :eek:, no concern with the foreskin being too tight or having a small opening, or your son cleaning it, and last, but not least, not looking like a freak.
 
It doesn't remove the risk of penile cancer which is a rare cancer to begin with. Men who are circumcised can still get penile cancer just like they can still get aids. That Gardisil shot they have for girls might help reduce the risk of penile cancer even more then a surgical operation. Since its supposed related to HPV and is similar to cervical cancer.
 
I told my friend that her parents are crazy and that its her baby she has to provide for so she has decided not to do it because she couldn't think of a viable reason to do it. I like to say I influneced her decision, but I think it was a woman she met a work who said that her son moved or something on the operation table and they cut off more they they ment to and then her son had to undergo reconstructive surgery. He turned out ok, but I guess it scared my friend.
 
I told my friend that her parents are crazy and that its her baby she has to provide for so she has decided not to do it because she couldn't think of a viable reason to do it. I like to say I influneced her decision, but I think it was a woman she met a work who said that her son moved or something on the operation table and they cut off more they they ment to and then her son had to undergo reconstructive surgery. He turned out ok, but I guess it scared my friend.

Wonderful! I had no say in the matter when I was a baby, and I resent it. Any mother that has this done should think about if she would want her clitorus cut off.
 
Why do Americans practice it anyway? It's not done in Europe. From where the tradition?

Because the operation takes a mere few minutes and the doctor gets paid hundreds of dollars or more for that few minutes.

I know a father who was aware of this, and explictly told the people at the hospital that he did not want a circumsicion, yet a doctor tried to sneak in and do it early in the morning, but the father was there to stop it.

I'm fine with being circumsized myself. This way if I was ever stranded on an island like in Lost and did not have wash facilities I'd be far better off.
 
I am glad to hear that she decided not to do it, mainly for the reason that she has no right to make that choice

Mad if you had a daughter would you cut off her breasts so she couldnt get breast cancer
What about her overies?
What about removing your boys prostates?
or there testicals?

ALL of these have a risk of cancer but that risk is NOWHERE NEAR high enough to give you the right to make that decision for them.
 
In all my years in locker rooms etc I've only ever seen one guy who wasn't circumcised, and he was an exchange student from Norway. It looked bizarre and animalistic to American eyes. Not circumcising a boy would make him look like a freak, to me.

Funny really. You are willing to hack off a piece of your son's penis and you think those who have not been circumcised look "animalistic". Irony.

Seems to me there are lots of potential benefits.
Actually, the only benefit is if it is for social or religious reasons. There are some studies that indicate it may reduce the spread of HIV, but so does a condom.

Just removing the risk of CANCER OF THE PENIS is a pretty good one
You do know that is a myth, don't you?

Decreased risk of STD's
As does a condom.

In fact, circumcised or not, the male should be wearing a condom anyway.

decreased risk of infection of the penis
In actuality, you are probably risking even more infection by performing the surgery on the penis. There is no risk of penile infection if good hygiene is followed, and that is something a person would do regardless of whether he is circumcised or not.

no concern with the foreskin being too tight or having a small opening
That would probably be one of the only reasons Australian doctors would perform a circumcision. See, for medical grounds.

or your son cleaning it, and last,
If you teach your son how to clean himself, it shouldn't be a problem, should it? If you maintain proper hygiene, it really should not be a problem or something you should be concerned about.

and last, but not least, not looking like a freak.
Do you stand around and compare how your penis looks with other men?

Neither of my son's are circumcised. And if someone had approached either of my kids with a sharp instrument to slice off a portion of their penis so that it resembled their own, I'd kill them. If there had been a medical reason for it, then yes. But their penises are perfectly normal and frankly, I really do not see the need to slice off their foreskin because of some urban myths or some warped cosmetic reason.

And finally:

Finally, you should know that the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology do not endorse circumcision, because the doctors who make up these medical societies are not convinced that it is necessary.
http://www.the-health-pages.com/topics/education/circumcision.html
 
It is also banned in ALL Australian public hospitals unless there is a clinical reason for it (SA the last to ban it did so near the end of last year)
 
No No No...Never on me!!!!!

Americans do it because they are stupid. Off course, not all Americans are stupid and do this... Thank you MOM!!!
 
Do you stand around and compare how your penis looks with other men?

I don't, but I understand the feeling. Not that I spent time thinking about this before now, but I wouldn't want to be a member of a small minority of circumsized people, because it would seem unnatural to the woman.

I want to add a last thing that it doesn't really matter. If it is done at birth, the male won't remember. Whichever path is taken, it will play no role in user satisfaction with the penis.
 
the one thing people dont seem to have commented on is why would a woman care?

if your errect the skin pulls back so it looks exactly the same and is 100 times more sensitive, the skin also does interesting things when you have sex that feel really nice:) for her too
 
God damn fuck. If I have a son I will never let anyone do that to him.

It's his penis. Let him wait until he's adult and see if he still wants to be mutilated.
 
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