Should we circumcise?
My wife and I are trying to have a baby. One of the biggest concerns we have if it is a boy is circumcision. I am circumcised and my first reaction is to say "Well I wouldn't go back so it is the right choice". But unfortunately there is more to it than that. Circumcision started, in my mind, to remove sexual pleasure from the male because sex was the road to sin and only for reproduction and should not be enjoyed. Many nerves are removed from circumcision and I have heard sex is more pleasurable for males not circumcised, but unfortunately that is hard to know for sure.
Then there is the idea that it is a part of our culture now and completely acceptable. But what is it really other than male genital mutilation? They say that is is healthier, but I have also heard that the data for that claim is inconclusive.
Female circumcision disgust me and yet many cultures practice it. To them it is normal. I am sure that uncircumcised females in those cultures have "ugly" vaginas to them just as a lot of women have told me that an uncircumcised penis is "ugly".
I have seen a circumcision and it is horrifying. I dont know if I should do this to my future son. There is the part of me that thinks it is normal and I should. Then there is the part of me that sees it as another brutal religious act setup by an ancient brutal god to remove our sexuality that we, for some reason, still practice like idiots. Then we go through all this trouble to "prove" it is healthy to mutilate sex organs to justify the insane act.
What are some of your thoughts on this?
Tags: circumcision, mutilation
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Unseen on -
Cancer of the cervix is due to the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). It grows under and on the foreskin from where it can be transmitted during vaginal sex. An article in the British Medical Journal (April, 2002) indicated that 20%+ of cancer of the cervix could be avoided if women only had sex with circumcised men.
That would be me, ladies. I'm in that ever decreasing fraction of men who are prepared to not transmit HPV. ;)
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Permalink Reply by Cameron on -
why not just get the vaccine? A pin prick would be better than making someone cleave off a body part any day.
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Permalink Reply by Unseen on
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Indeed, why don't they? Well, the fact is a lot won't. So, you see, you are a proponent of a "pie in the sky" solution.
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Permalink Reply by archaeopteryx on -
As you are a proponent of the "chop it off and learn to live with it" solution.
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Permalink Reply by Unseen on
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You must think I'm in some sort of penile hell. Nothing like it. I bet most of the other "cut" guys will say the same. No learning curve at all.
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Permalink Reply by archaeopteryx on
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I was more inclined to believe a mental institution, but I suppose "penile hell" could be a reasonable second choice.
But penile envy seems a more likely option --
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Permalink Reply by Cara Coleen on -
I was under the impression that only females not older than 26 could be vaccinated for HPV. Has this changed?
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Permalink Reply by Cristynfaye on -
Girls as young as 9 can get the vaccine. It's recommended to get it before you become sexually active. This is something parents need to be informed of, so that they can protect their children. It's a matter of debate though in some communities because some parents believe that by giving their daughters the vaccine, it will make them become sexually active earlier, however, as far as I know, there is no evidence of that being a causation for early sexual activity. My own opinion is that it's best to get your child vaccinated early, even years before she is likely to become sexually active, so that she doesn't need to worry about it in the future when she does decide to have sex.
http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv-vaccine-young-women.htm
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Permalink Reply by Cara Coleen on
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I totally agree. When a kid decides they're ready, they're ready... and they're not holding back because they aren't vaccinated. I'd rather they get frisky early than get HPV... at all! Hell, I think it makes sense to put a menstruating girl on birth control, specifically an IUD. They've been shown to be 20% better than regular birth control... which is already at 99%. Protection is key!
But yeah, I did know young girls can be vaccinated... but, last I heard, you could not get the vaccine if you were over 26 or male.
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Permalink Reply by Rikke Petersen on -
Butting in a little late here, but this has me a little puzzled in general, what is wrong with condoms? I have a 15 year old daughter, and I 'make' her carry one in her bag just incase. to get a vaccine or a IUD only prevents some stuff & pregnancy, what about stuff like HIV or Clamydia? You are not protected against that, or clamydia or.. or...
It's not that i disagree at all Protection IS the key, and my daughter got her HVP vaccine a year ago.. but as i watched this discussion unfold I was just thinking... What are we talking about, everyone uses a condom! What germs? What babies? - lol... I know there are some people who won't use them, but it doesn't make it right. (I realise some are allergic and if you have the same partner you aren't bothered and all that.. But as a general rule, you really should use a condom)
I might add that doctors here in the DK sent out some statement that boys should get this vaccine too.. don't remember why.
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Permalink Reply by kOrsan on -
The worst sexually transmitted disease: babies.
Use condoms people, or at least make sure she takes the pill.
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