circumcision

[Janie]

Thanks for that info Michael I do have a friend whose DH was circ'd at about 6 and he remembers it as being the most horrible pain. They were in a quandry as to whether they should circ their DS, because he didn't want his son to go through the same thing and remember it. But they decided against it in the end. As you said Michael, pain is pain, however old you are.

[chepie]

Morning all,

Firstly a big thank you for all of your replies, it was very informative. DH and I spoke at great lengths last night about it and have decided not to. The main reason we considered it was that we had heard so many stories (from friends) of boys having UTI's and then going on to have the procedure performed as adults and that many were mentally scared from this. We didn't want Aiden to suffer anything like that. But who is to say that will happen to him?

After talking to the anaesthetist, about the procedure of general anthesthesia and a spinal anaesthesia - we thought NO. I couldn't inflict that on my boy for my only reason being "just in case".... I am too worried that something could go wrong no only with that but with the surgery also.... If it was for medical reasons then yes we would not have a choice. If he later on in life choses that he wants to then that is his descision

So in all thanks very much for sharing your thoughts on such a personnal matter and I hope that I didn't offend anyone

[aussienic]

I am neither for nor against circumsision.. Each to thier own I think.

none of my boys are done.. Didn't even really discuss it

I am curious though about the following statement. I have heard many people say this. Regardless whether dad is circ'd or not.. They don't want thier sons to look different.. (not starting anything here either just curuous) but how many fathers and sons do you know compare penis's???

so once again jjust saying this is not a circ arguement as I have heard it come from people with dads who are not curc and they say the same thing.. just curious why others think this..

(mainly because DH is done and I wouldnt want him to be "different")

[megsgr]

I was interested in the same thing aussienic. I asked my hubby if he knew if his dad was circumcised or not and he had no idea. I then asked my brother if he knew if dad was circumcised and he also didn't know.
I haven't got a little boy do they really notice these things?

Interesting discussion.

[sconeonamission]

we had our ds done at 7wks. There were a few factors when it was decided. One was dh can't teach what he doesn't know. Another was dh's brother isn't circumcised and had constant problems. Dh's fathers friend had to be circumcised in his 40's (medical reasons) and didn't want our boy to have to have it done later in life (if those kind of problems arose). My dad had to have it done a little later (before he was 10 tho).

I was very hesitant as there was nothing wrong with him at birth, so why would I do that? Having said that and having had ds done, if I have another boy, there'd be nothing to think about... Have it done again.

megsgr - I asked my dh the same thing... he came back with just how many ppl he knew who were and who weren't (how he knew some of them I have no idea!) but we asked lots of ppl about the topic and found out that way. (there was even a drunken [one-sided]arguement on the subject in our house one night)

[megsgr]

sconeonamission I guess other men are more observant, sometimes I tell my hubby that I could shave my head and he wouldn't notice the difference(he he). My brother is a bit the same way.

[paradise lost]

dh can't teach what he doesn't know

There is nothing TO know - foreskins look after themselves, just like vulvas. In the (very rare) event of a problem your DH would only need to know the GP's number, not any sort of care regime or anything, again, just like vulvas. Sorry, i'm not being snarky, i just want people to know there is nothing to know about caring for a foreskin, it cares for itself - you wash the penis like you wash any other part of the body (i.e. swish it about in the bath, maybe use mild wash on the outside skin). It doesn't have to be rolled back or cleaned under until the boy is approaching puberty (just like little girls don't need pantyliners when they're not pubescent) and believe me, by then boys know EXACTLY how to handle their bits

Bx

[~clover~]

I know that my dad is done, but that my brother is not. I never discussed it with them. I know dad would've been done for religious reasons. My grandparents were strict Catholics. But I think Mum & Dad had the same opinion as me.
I Just remember from when I was younger. I dunno if DB noticed the difference, but I did. I never thought about it though til I found out DS was a boy. Then I sorta compared the people who I knew were or weren't, to decide.
I knew I wasn't gonna do it, but DH hated that he wasn't done & always said he wanted his son done so he didn't feel the odd one out. But I've noticed more & more people are not doing it.
I got DH to agree with me & he has since said that it would feel wierd if DS was done coz he would be different.


Just so you know - when I say compare I didn't go around looking!
Just how many people I knew were & weren't done.
We don't think it is an embarrassing issue. I talk about it quite openly. DH does with his mates, but I dunno how he'd feel knowing I was telling the world!

[frazaled1971]

its funny my DH is done but neither of my DS's are ,my DH said he had no say in it so it wasnt something he wanted done not that he is upset that is was ,back then just a done thing ,he also thought they would be the odd ones out if they were but left the decision to me .
and as to the looking after them its called sope and water just like we teach our daugters to wash properly we teach our sons we were told by our doctor not to pull there forskins back and i never have and neither of them have ever had a problem ok my yongest is only 13 weeks old but my other son is 17 while i know 3 boys who were done and got major infections so who knows.

[aussienic]

I never do anything special when it comes to cleaning. I just show the boys how to swish the water around it and keep it clean..