Circumcision...

[Amie]

. There was alot of other information I came across regarding std's, increased chances of their female partner getting cervical cancer...

Hi Mellz, just wondering what the info said regarding the cervical cancer? Where did you find the info? (FWIW, am not challenging, just asking )

Thanks.

[Phteven]

We got both our boys done. TBH it was such a non-event that I don't really remember it very well.

You might find this article interesting Circumcision: To cut or not to cut? - health - 16 July 2008 - New Scientist

[1MOREPLZ]

Iv'e just been researching , as I wasnt' sure about circumcision at all as far as if it's routine. I have a great book on parenting I stumbled across (Heart to heart parenting, from ABC shop) and it talked about it a bit. It cemented my decision not to.
Basically it said that nowadays it is done only for religious reasons. There is no hospital in NSW that does it routinely. There are percentages in the book but basically it's a very low percent who get it done. It says that as far as cleanliness goes, it is not proven to be any cleaner, and infact infection can be prevented by leaving the skin on. It also says you don't need to clean it when they're young (it says you shouldn't infact) and also it reduces sexual pleasure in the future.
Just some info for you. I would suggest that book, and also any other info you can get. The books great, I sat down with DH and we read it together, he's perfectly happy to leave as is if we have a boy.
Hope that has helped. xo

There is a OB/GYN/paed that works at Westmead private that does it

[Mellz]

Hi SJH,

I read alot of the information in medical reports. There is some brief information on this in a couple of articles on Dr Terry Russell's website..
It talks here about all the different increased risks. If you called the surgery I'm sure they would be happy to post more information to you. It was nearly 3 years ago that I did my research before my son was born, so can't remember exactly where to direct you. I found alot of information on the internet though from valid and reputable medical articles...( ie not unsubstantiated info).. so you should be able to research a bit on the net.

HTH!

Mel x

[Snoopea]

Hi all,
Both of my son's were circumcised before they turned 2 weeks of age!
I left the final decision to my husband after much debate and research while I was pregnant with our first son.

My second son was done about 7 weeks ago and the gyno informed us that research results are now coming in that circumcision can reduce crevical cancer in sexual partners now as well as a list of other things like transfering of std's. This didn't guide our decision but made me fill alot better about having the procedure done.

My first son did let out a scream but came out to the waiting room like nothing had happened, he was normal and the ring fell off about 6 days later.

My second son did the same and returned to the waiting room asleep, so I don't think that it disturbed him in any way, his ring fell off about 8 days later.

I feel that it's a decision that you should make and if your not comfortable with it then don't have it done. I've found alot of people are for and against and will willingly give you advice but don't let it sway your decision, this is something you and your partner must decide together.

Hope this ramble helps and the best of luck with your decsion.

Snoopea

[Lolli]

There is a OB/GYN/paed that works at Westmead private that does it

The one who did my ds is a pead/ surgeon at Sydney Children's.

It's not routinely offered at hospitals anymore because it is no longer considered a 'medical' surgery but a cosmetic one. It is also no longer covered by Medicare (but, as we discussed in another thread a while back, the cost of consultation and anesthesia is covered and that is generally the bulk of the costs.

[MantaRay]

Interestingly, I think it is becoming more popular. The wait to have DS1 done was 1 week, it was 3 weeks for DS2 and a PP has mentioned it's now 6 weeks.

[tenar]

I think that this is something that a man should decide for himself, not have decided for him.

Very contrary to the usual thing done in Spain, where my partner is from, I will not have our baby girl's ears pierced shortly after birth. This will definitely get us funny looks in Spain and they'll mostly assume she's a little boy, I'm sure. But I think it's something that a girl (or a boy, of course) should decide for herself. If my daughter comes to us when she's 15 or whenever, and asks to get her ears pierced, we'll doubtless allow that. She'll understand there will be pain and risk involved, but potential gain as well. It will be her decision, as it was for me when I was that age.

Personally I believe that altering a child's body in any way, except for real medical need, is mutilation. Even the socially acceptable things like ear and body-piercing. I think these are things that a person needs to decide on for him/herself, not have inflicted on her by others.

For something that can have such very important consequences as a decrease in sensitivity in what is, let's face it, a very important body part, I think that circumcision needs to be decided on by a man (or at least a boy old enough to understand the consequences of his decision). The possible reasons or not to do it may or may not be scientifically valid (though I find it hard to believe that evolution has failed us so badly as to produce a body part that would be better off missing some of it). But since they won't matter until the boy is grown up enough to be sexually active anyway, why not leave it for now and let him make his own decision when he is old enough.

At the least that way he'll own his decision and never regret you taking it for him when he was too young to do anything about it. (Like I do with my pierced ears!) It's not like an uncircumcised penis must remain that way throughout his life - why make such an irrevocable decision for your baby, when leaving the options open will allow him to make up his own mind about it later?

[MantaRay]

The possible reasons or not to do it may or may not be scientifically valid (though I find it hard to believe that evolution has failed us so badly as to produce a body part that would be better off missing some of it). But since they won't matter until the boy is grown up enough to be sexually active anyway

This is not quite true in the case of infection or other problems which can occur at any age. Our friend was 8 I think when he had to have it done.

[mrsmac]

A few obs do circs too, mine did and so did my friend's. Also a few paeds.

[tenar]

This is not quite true in the case of infection or other problems which can occur at any age. Our friend was 8 I think when he had to have it done.

True, there can be complications in either situation at an early age.

Wikipedia tells me that "a study of 354,297 births in Washington State from 1987-1996 found that immediate post-birth complications occurred at a rate of 0.2% in the circumcised babies and at a rate of 0.01% in the uncircumcised babies."

My suspicion is that, along with many such statistics, you can look at this and say "OMG circumcised babies have 20 times the risk of immediate post-birth complications than uncircumcised babies" or you can look at it and say "well, both of those risks are pretty low, aren't they, and not worry about it one way or the other.

I suspect that since, for example, you can get an infection from a circumcision operation or from not having a circumcised penis to start with, some of these risks balance out. I bet that people writing on either side of the debate will only tell you the risks in one direction, not the counterweighing risks in the other direction...

Aren't statistics fun! (I'm starting to think that all pregnant women should sign up for
a course in understanding risk and statistics as soon as they get the positive on the HPT - it's all such a minefield)

[Mellz]

Although I am very much all for circumcision, I do understand all the different views and opinions each individual has. I agree with alot that tenar says regarding ear piercing etc, but I think as parents we often have to make many different decisions regarding what's best or not best for our children, and just hope that we make the right ones and evertything turns out fine.
Ear piercing isn't done for any health benefit though, like circumcision or immunisation. It's funny how immunisation doesn't come under as much scutiny as circumcision, when there are many many many mothers & fathers out there that swear their children's development or medical problems only stemmed from and became apparent after their child's immunisation. The studies are still inconclusive on this too regarding these detrimental side effects of immunisations.
In saying all this, I choose to immunise my children and running these risks involved. God forbid one developed any serious side effects/learning/developmental problems, it's a choice I make, as their parent, choosing what I personally believe is in the best interest of my child. I feel the same about the circumcision choice I have made for my boys too. It was in the best interest of them, not me, and I hope I made the right decision.. only time will tell, but it's a risk I was willing to take, feeling the benefits outweighed the risks.

Mel x

[Bathsheba]

We have 2 sons and have decided not to have them circumcised. So far they have had no infections. I'm a believer that nature usually knows best. But each to their own.

[Mumma2three]

I have to say that I think immunisation does come under Alot of scrutiny. And even though ear piercing isn't a health issue, I would say it has a pretty balanced debate as well!
As far as when I said circumcision is not routine, that's what the book said, and Im sure there are paeds and OB's who do it, but maybe they have to be requested. I have just got my book out, so as I don't make anything up. It's very interesting. It says that no national medical organisation in the world recommends routine circumcision of male infants. It also says that circumcision peaked in Australia at over 90% in the 50's and has dropped to just over 10% now. It then says that at the time of writing the book, public hospitals no longer provide circumcision for non medical reasons in Vic, NSW, WA and Tas. USA has over 50% being the only country where boys are circumcised for non religious reasons. NZ is just over 3%.
The reason I say all this is because it has made my decision not to circumcise. I found it very interesting. The book is called Heart to Heart Parenting, by Robin Grille. I know there's heaps more info out there, as well as personal choice, I just wanted to share why we made our decision(if we have a boy). xoxo

[1MOREPLZ]

Both my sons are NOT circumcised and i would only have them done for medical reasons NT cosmetic reasons, IF when they are old enough they can decide themselves. In MY opionion it is not ok if NOT for medical reasons

[Bathsheba]

Interesting post Mumma2Girls. Makes me consider what the WHO (World Health Organisation) has to say about circumscision.

I forgot to add that my 5yo son has a slight case of phimosis (forseskin too tight) but it's been responding very well to a hydro-cortisone cream which acts on loosening the skin slowly. For a while we were considering circumcision but the specialist seems to agree that that should be a last resort.

[ubba82]

We made the desicion not to get our son circumcised as my husband is not, the decision was made easy.
My brother and his partner on the other hand, got their son done, because my brother is. I think the decision runs in families - if the father is then the son is and so on, same if the father is not.

Someone mentioned in an earlier post that it looked nicer - can doodles really look nice anytime?

[kitten76]

HA HA good one Ubba82 , doodles arent the most attractive things are they, well my hubbys is