Yet Another Post About Circumcision

Fire Stick · 06-04-2012

There are always several posts on this site about male circumcision. It's easy to understand why, of course, as the subject directly relates to penises -- of any size -- and evokes passionate debate on both sides of the issue. The topic is on my mind, so here is my own circumcision post.

This past weekend, I went to see my new 2-day-old great nephew, the son of my sister's daughter. I had not even thought about whether he would be circumcised or not, but it was mentioned during the course of conversation, and so I took the opportunity to discuss the issue. My niece and her husband did not even hesitate to have their new son circumcised. There was no debate or even much of an awareness that the practice is becoming increasingly controversial in the U.S., where it has been the by-far-and-away norm since the 1940s. While I was not surprised they had their son circumcised, I was sursprised that it was not even as issue, no more than cutting the umbilical cord. I had the impression from most of what I read that parents in America nowadays are at least thinking about the procedure before automatically having it done as a taken-for-granted part of having a baby boy. The nurse at the hospital where he was born told my sister that the vast majority of baby boys are circumsized and not having it done continues to be extremely rare. I wonder whether present-day circumcision rates in the U.S. vary significantly across certain groups or parts of the country. My niece and her husband are both white, college educated professionals, Protestant, and live in a major metropolitan area in the South. They are not politically conservative. Does anyone have any insights into this?

For the record, I am not necessarily anti-circumcision. I am circumcised, as are almost all of the males born in my place and time. I am not dissatisfied with my penis, and if presented with the purely academic proposition of reversing my circumcision, I don't know what my answer would be. I would really have to think about it, just as I would have to really have to think about circumcising any son I might have. On one hand, I have been conditioned to prefer the look of a circucised penis, because it looks normal to me, although I rationally know it is unnatural & unnecessary. Futhermore, since I am not Jewish, I am aware that it is not even consistent with my own ethnic/religious background, in a historical world-wide sense. I am accustom to European men who are usually uncircumsized, and I like their penises just fine. However, if I had a son, I suspect I would want his dick to look like mine.

Here are a couple of stray questions for someone. Are Canadian men usually circumcised like American men? I am also curious whether modern day Jews outside the U.S. (such as in European countries) still circumcise their sons, if they are not particularly religious.

Daisy · 06-04-2012

I'm continuously frustrated that there is a lack of discussion about that. There should at least be a conversation, some careful weighing of the consequences. Sadly it usually boils down the either "match daddy's penis" or "it's more hygienic". I wish that more parents would at least think it over carefully.

I don't know where you live but in California it's anything but rare. In fact the cut vs the uncut is almost equal now. I'm happy about that.

Incidentally my ex and I are both white, suburban educated people and when my son was born there was no discussion. We didnt' think about it at all. It was simply "leave him alone" and that was that. I never considered it and for how conservative (and cut) my ex was he didn't either. We just never considered circumcision and I was really happy that we could agree on that.

srdude007 · 06-05-2012

I am a public health nurse and can tell you that circumcision is no longer recommended as a routine procedure in the US. I am surprised that the maternity nurse would say this information, however true it may be in his/her hospital, it is certainly not "the vast majority" who are circumcised in the US anymore. It isn't rare to be uncut now, I do not know statistics, this is not my area of expertise, but I do know that many L&D departments all across the country have information on the subject and both doctors and nurses are supposed to recommend that boys NOT be cut, although some public health nurses will argue the data is clear about increased incidence of infections and disease transmission to women is higher in uncut men.

buzzrider7 · 06-05-2012

I definitely think that although the national average may be changing, it is still very different from region to region with the south probably being an area where it is still just as much of a given as cutting the umb cord as was stated above. I am guessing that things are probably similar in the midwest. I'm also in California and find that it is definitely a topic that comes up to at least be discussed in many cases. I also see a lot more uncut younger guys (college age) here than I've ever seen elsewhere in the US.

darkbond007 · 06-05-2012

I just had a kid late last year. Well my wife. He was born in the US (wife is American). We discussed it as husband and wife and we had our son circumcised as an informed decision. The only contact i had with the nurse or doctor is when they asked me if we were opting for the procedure.

SirConcis · 06-09-2012

I think that circumcision popularity would depend on hospital and on the neighbouhood/city. If a hospital is neutral and just asks if it shoudl be done or not, then parents may just get it done as "standard".

If hospital has a policy to inform parents it is optional and not necessary, the parents will think aout it and more may leave son with foreskin.

Could also be the OBGYN who consults with mother on the issue. And obvously depends on what baby books they read.

In Québec, during the height of circumcision, my guess is that a lot of the decision dependent on what books parents read. books from france wouldn't recomment circumcision while books such as Dr Spock (tranlated to french) would recommend it.

Anglophones in quebec had much higher circ rate because anglophones didn'T read books from France.

rollerboy · 06-10-2012

For some good information on circumcision, check out the site www.circlist..com.

I am circumcised and wouldn't have it any other way !!