It’s a personal decision, read up on it and speak with your pediatrician. Belief used to be that circumcision avoided phimosis (where foreskin gets adhered to tip of penis and may require surgery to circumcise later in life), lowered rate of HIV and STD transmission (as virus/bacteria don’t get trapped in foreskin folds) and was more hygienic (as boys don’t clean themselves so well sometimes). But the pendulum has swung away from that, towards thinking that there is no reason to removal a natural part of the body and hygiene can be taught. Also used to think that boys should look like their fathers, so if dad was circumcised was more likely to have son done as well. Are pro’s and con’s to either side, so would just learn about it and make your own decision.

DH is, but felt very strongly we should not so we didn't.

Yes, studies with little relevance to a western lifestyle show slight - negligible even - pros.

Yes, circumsized boys could make fun of your kid. Or, vice versa.

Yes, one way could become much more prevalent and women could recoil at the less fashionable option: unlikely given the rates are close to 50/50...today's boys' dating partners will see both types of penises.

All of the above points to not circumsizing for us. Religion aside, that is the most sensible, relevant, humane, and REVERSIBLE option where the kid can do it later in life if it's that important. You'll see parents vehemently defend this outdated, unucessary, and brutal procedure because they know they've done something irreversible to their child's body in a very personal way; defending it rabidly prevents them from feeling the guilt that I think they deserve to feel.

Anonymous wrote:Upper middle class white people do per my OB.

Had my son 2016 we are NOT UMC White People.

Anonymous wrote:I have never dated a man who wished he was circumcised, but have dated men who wished that they weren't.

Opposite experience for me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Whatever works for you is great."

I lament that this is the attitude when we're talking about inflicting pain upon infants for dubious reasons.

You’re not going to change anyone’s mind by telling them that. Better to just guide people towards the indisputable statistics that fewer and fewer people are choosing to circumcise.

I’m with you for the record, but your approach is just the shittiest one imaginable.

I know. I don't say this in the real world

Anonymous wrote:"Whatever works for you is great."

I lament that this is the attitude when we're talking about inflicting pain upon infants for dubious reasons.

You’re not going to change anyone’s mind by telling them that. Better to just guide people towards the indisputable statistics that fewer and fewer people are choosing to circumcise.

I’m with you for the record, but your approach is just the shittiest one imaginable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both the CDC and the WHO recommend circumcision to help reduce the spread of STDs. I know everyone thinks their children will be virgins forever, but they won't, and neither will their partners.

(As a side note, these studies only apply to male/female vaginal intercourse.)

http://www.who.int/hiv/topics/malecircumcision/en/

These studies also were done in a place where condoms are culturally discouraged.

NP: so? Do you think everyone always practices safe sex? I’m with the first PP.

No, but they practice it WAY more in developed countries than where the study was done. That wildly affects the % benefit.

Your son will never have sex if you follow him around on every date with a pack of condoms.

And European countries generally have low rates of STDs and low circumcision rates. Not sure why people weigh the African STD rates higher than European when they are picking random countries to support their decisions.

+1

"Whatever works for you is great."

I lament that this is the attitude when we're talking about inflicting pain upon infants for dubious reasons.

I have never dated a man who wished he was circumcised, but have dated men who wished that they weren't.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both the CDC and the WHO recommend circumcision to help reduce the spread of STDs. I know everyone thinks their children will be virgins forever, but they won't, and neither will their partners.

(As a side note, these studies only apply to male/female vaginal intercourse.)

http://www.who.int/hiv/topics/malecircumcision/en/

These studies also were done in a place where condoms are culturally discouraged.

NP: so? Do you think everyone always practices safe sex? I’m with the first PP.

No, but they practice it WAY more in developed countries than where the study was done. That wildly affects the % benefit.

Your son will never have sex if you follow him around on every date with a pack of condoms.

And European countries generally have low rates of STDs and low circumcision rates. Not sure why people weigh the African STD rates higher than European when they are picking random countries to support their decisions.

Honestly, just read the Wikipedia article on the prevalence of circumcision and follow the citations to their original source material. That’s the best way you’ll get an answer to the “is everyone still automatically doing this?” question.

TL;DR - no, not everyone. A narrow majority of people do indeed circumcise, with rates much lower in urban and Hispanic communities.


Whatever works for you is great...but I’d really encourage you to not read into the completely random anecdotes you’ll find here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's no way it doesn't reduce pleasure, but unfortunately there's no way to study it.

-a man

I've heard theories that it actually increases pleasure, but I wouldn't know because I don't have a penis.

Man here. If not circumcised the glans (head) stays covered except when erect. This means it remains more sensitive, compared to if it's exposed and rubbing around in pants all day.

Also, one can easily masturbate if not circumcised -- using the foreskin. No lotion needed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both the CDC and the WHO recommend circumcision to help reduce the spread of STDs. I know everyone thinks their children will be virgins forever, but they won't, and neither will their partners.

(As a side note, these studies only apply to male/female vaginal intercourse.)

http://www.who.int/hiv/topics/malecircumcision/en/

These studies also were done in a place where condoms are culturally discouraged.

NP: so? Do you think everyone always practices safe sex? I’m with the first PP.

No, but they practice it WAY more in developed countries than where the study was done. That wildly affects the % benefit.

Your son will never have sex if you follow him around on every date with a pack of condoms.

We did not circumcise our 5 year old son. My husband is circumcised but didn't think we should do it to our son.

We did not circumcise our sons. Their dad isn't circumcised either. No health issues.