The answer of whether to circumcise a male child used to be fairly cut and dry here in the United States. Mother’s didn’t question the ‘why’ of circumcision and if so, most doctors simply closed any argument by counseling it was just best. Over the years, parents began to demand to share in the decision of whether to have their male infant’s foreskin removed or not.
Surprisingly enough, many parents discovered there really were valid reasons on each side of the debate and, for the first time in modern medical history, they began to decide against the practice.
Circumcision Surgery: What to Expect
During a circumcision, the foreskin is freed from the head of the penis, and the excess skin is clipped off. The procedure begins with medical staff cleaning then numbing the penis, either with a small shot of medicine or a numbing cream.
A clamp or ring is placed before the doctor removes the foreskin. A topical antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly will then be put on the area and it’s wrapped with gauze. Older boys and men may be given stronger medicine to sleep during the procedure. Of course, circumcision also has some downsides. Here are some common reasons parents give for choosing not to circumcise their sons.
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Objections & Drawbacks
Infant Pain During the Procedure
Prior to the incision, all infants are given anesthesia either as a topical cream or an injection. Still, doctors say newborns do feel pain. Many families who choose to forgo circumcision say they simply can't imagine putting their child through such a painful procedure when he can live a healthy life without it. A mom of 3 boys voiced her objections this way: “I don’t see the reasoning for augmenting/mutilating their tiny bodies. It’s putting a child through a totally unnecessary surgery.”
Side Effects
As with any surgery, circumcision comes with some side effects and potential complications. If the circumcision is performed by an experienced physician in a sterile environment, the risk of complications is usually very low. Only 1 to 3 percent of circumcisions will result in minor complications such as extra bleeding or infection, which topical antibiotics can easily clear up.
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Other risks include appearance (the penis doesn’t look right following the procedure) and penile adhesions. Also, the tip of the circumcised penis may become irritated, which can restrict the size of the urinary opening. This might lead to urinary tract problems—some of which might need later surgical correction.
Botched Circumcision
Serious complications include the removal of too much skin or other damage to the penis. A follow-up circumcision or reconstructive surgery may be needed. To be fair, these complications are estimated to occur in less than 1 percent of circumcisions.
Some Men Claim Uncircumcised Sex is Better
Those who are against circumcision bring up the question of sexual pleasure, pointing out that there are thousands of nerve endings in the foreskin that will be excised. It's impossible, however, to study the difference in sexual sensation for men who were circumcised at birth.
Benefits of Circumcision
There is also evidence that circumcision has many health benefits, including:
- Less risk of urinary tract infections
- A reduced risk of some sexually transmitted diseases in men.
- Protection against penile cancer and a lower risk of cervical cancer in female sex partners.
- Prevention of inflammation of the glans and foreskin.
- Prevention of phimosis (the inability to retract the foreskin) and paraphimosis (the inability to return the foreskin to its original location)
Circumcision also makes it easier to keep the end of the penis clean.
In a survey, when asked about his views on circumcision, a father of 5 sons answered “All of mine are. Gotta think long term with hygiene. If you wait until the kid is 2 then they are in terrible pain. As newborns, it’s much easier on them!” Another mom had this to say: “My daughter is a CNA and many of the older men continuously keep getting infections because they can no longer properly clean themselves.
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By the time we catch it, it’s already too late and infection has set in which is very painful for them. Some parents feel like it’s easier for a son's penis to look more like his father’s, whether he’s circumcised or not. Others lean toward circumcision so their son’s penis will eventually match the others in the school locker room. Consider this, though: If the current circumcision trend continues, at least a few other boys in his class will be also be unsnipped.
It can be tempting to put off making the circumcision decision until later. Some parents argue that circumcision isn't their call to make. Still, the risk for complications is much greater for older boys than for infants, so it's better to do it when your child is a baby. In some cases, though, the choice not to circumcise (or at least to wait) is a medical one. If you have a family history of bleeding disorders, consult your pediatrician before getting your son circumcised.
The bottom line is, if you want a circumcision done or not done, unless there is a medical reason, that is always the parents' choice.
