Did you get your son circumcised?

[Anonymous]

Two boys, NW DC, top schools and income area.

No, we did not.

But many of our friends did.

[Anonymous]

I'm not advocating that people should circumcize. Obviously this is a very personal decision that should always be left up to the parents.

But there is medical evidence supporting the benefits of circumcision. People can disagree as to whether they think that medical evidence justifies the procedure - clearly lots of people do not.

But the point is that you can't compare something like declawing a cat to circumcizing your child. Because, unlike the former, there are at least questionable medical benefits (and real cultural reasons).

[Anonymous]

Who dies from circumcision? That's a new one to me.

We did but our friends with two boys did not. OP, I wouldn't let this concern sway you--lots of boys aren't circumcised these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WHO and NIH are pretty good sources. And, by the way, DC has relatively high rates of HIV - especially among nonwhite populations. Maybe you're white and figure your son would never have sex with an HIV positive black man or woman.

No one is saying circumcision is mandatory. Just that it is fine and has benefits.

Everyone agrees that being circ'd decreases the rate of HIV transmission. But the WHO is not intending to advise US parents. So they are not a good resource. The WHO is weighing risks and benefits worldwide, not those in the US. I don't have to think my son will never have unprotected sex to understand that the risk/benefit ration calculated by WHO does not apply to him.

[Anonymous]

Yes.

[Anonymous]

I let my husband decide. We did. Kids do compare, and per my OB the vast majority of her patients do it. Insurance does not cover it though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I let my husband decide. We did. Kids do compare, and per my OB the vast majority of her patients do it. Insurance does not cover it though.

Some do, some don't. I was actually surprised, though, that my insurance did cover it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I let my husband decide. We did. Kids do compare, and per my OB the vast majority of her patients do it. Insurance does not cover it though.

Some do, some don't. I was actually surprised, though, that my insurance did cover it.

Medicaid doesn't cover it in a lot of states.

[Anonymous]

I don't have to think my son will never have unprotected sex to understand that the risk/benefit ration calculated by WHO does not apply to him.

Fine. At least you acknowledge that there is a medical benefit to circumcision. Whether your child ends up living up to your plans for him is your own affair.

[Anonymous]

There are no deaths today from medical circumcisions in developed countries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Evidence doesn't support it, whether you "believe" there are medical benefits or not. But, there are important cultural issues at play that have different weight for different families. No such pressure in our family, so no go.

Ever heard of the WHO? http://www.who.int/hiv/topics/malecircumcision/en/index.html

How about the NIH? http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/circumcision.html

You can disagree with them, but I have no reason to believe some ignorant anonymous poster over what the World Health Organization or National Institutes of Health states. Oh...but they don't count, right?

Yes, however just so there's a full discussion of the medical opinion on this countless medical associations all over the world that do not support routine circumcision. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_analysis_of_circumcision. Moreover, just because something increases a risk of something doesn't mean we cut it off. STDs are preventable another way, by teaching your son about safe sex practices and his behaving accordingly (which is a good idea if circumcised too). Also, UTIs can be prevented with proper cleaning and treated with antibiotics. As for penile cancer, it's very rare. According to the American cancer society, 1250 new cases a year with 310 deaths. For vulvular cancer there are 3000 new cases a year and 920 deaths, why not recommend routine female circumcision?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't have to think my son will never have unprotected sex to understand that the risk/benefit ration calculated by WHO does not apply to him.

Fine. At least you acknowledge that there is a medical benefit to circumcision. Whether your child ends up living up to your plans for him is your own affair.

I think you are misreading the people who say there isn't a medical reason to do it. Perhaps they and I have been sloppy in our language.

There are medical benefits and medical risks. If the risks outweigh the benefits, as it is plausible to believe in the U.S., then there is not a medical reason to do the procedure. That's what people are saying. If any of the PPs are actually saying there are not benefits, well, they are wrong and you are right. But I doubt anyone means to be saying that.

My ped recommended against it. I have no religious reason to do it. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend it as a routine measure. Case closed for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are no deaths today from medical circumcisions in developed countries.

Can you tell us why you say that so that we don't have to just say "yes, no, yes, no,"? There are multiple studies you can find online of deaths in the United States. My doctors admitted this.

[Anonymous]

By any chance are you two slappy mom and anti-slappy mom?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:By any chance are you two slappy mom and anti-slappy mom?

I'm Miss Anti-Circ and I'm not. Are they from the very long "slap in public" thread? I found that boring and didn't read.