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?
Pope OoO (Out of Order)
Wow, 35 pages was quite a read. Felt like a 2 season marathon.
Heather I thought I remembered you saying you're not a sciency person, but you did pretty well here.
I'm cut, wish I wasn't, but it's not a big deal. I would have chosen No for a boy if I had one, i.e. his choice, later in life. I liked seeing both sides of the story here. My only criticism (as in many forum discussions) is how some people feel so strongly about their side, that they generalize their opinion to a one-size-fits-all "everyone should... blah blah". I personally think the default should be to leave the choice open to the kid, unless the unlikely infections become likely and do cause a problem.
And vaccinate.
This thread should be relevant for several more years, at least in the U.S.
Feb 22
archaeopteryx
I realize this is an old topic, but I misplaced the URL to a site that responds thoroughly and definitively to this issue, which I've now recovered, and would be remiss if I did not share it with any who might have an interest.
Sagacious Hawk, not trying to play matchmaker here, but the blog in question is written by a "Sagacious Mama" (I'm just sayin' --), and can be found here:
http://sagaciousmama.wordpress.com/2010/04/20/20-reasons-i-did-not-...
Apr 17
Jorita
At age two my son had to be circumcised because of medical problems, it was a horrible op he had 9 stitches "dissolving stitches" 5 years after the op we were still taking stitches out that did not dissolve. After this I would not do it again unless there is a medical problem.
Apr 17