Circumcision in Australia

[alexmoving]

OK, I know this is a controversial one. I'd just like information and am not looking to start a debate. I'm pregnant and have just discovered I am having a boy. My husband is Australian and wants him circumcised. I also like to do this very much but am slightly worried about him being the odd one out at school. At the moment we are living in the UK but will be moving next year to Sydney because of my husband's work. Experiences of any mothers who have had their boys circumcised would be really welcome! Is he the odd one out among his friends? Has it caused any problems or is he cool with it? Thanks and please don't lets turn this into a debate.

[Toomanytoomany]

Circumcision is no longer the norm in Australia. Your son will not be the odd one out if he is not circumcised, in fact he's more likely to be the odd one out if he is, but I don't know how much time boys spend checking out one anothers' genitals anyway.

There are lots of good reasons not to circumcise and no really good ones in favour, imo.

Best wishes with your decision.

[~me~]

Hi alexmoving and welcome.

I too was going to have my DS1 circumsised. My OB said it was rare these days and usually done at around 6-8wks under a general and he would refer me to someone. In the end I didn't go ahead after I had him, It was just soemthing I didn't think of again after I had him. I am not sure on those who have had it done, the only thing I am aware of is that it is very uncommon now and you would need to do do your research on Dr's who are willing to do it without a medical or religious reason.
HTH

[onthefly]

I have no idea about stats, but I don't think it's that unusual to be uncut. He wouldn't be the odd one out.

[Trillian]

Either way, I don't think he would be the odd one out. I really think it would depend on where you are going to live because there would be different areas where circumcision is higher and areas where it is lower, but I think it would be very nearly 50-50. My DS's aren't done and DS1 (nearly 10) has never said that he has been singled out at school because he isn't and that they just don't look at each other. As he told me once when I asked him "Mum, we don't go in the toilet and talk about our peckers or look at them if that's what you're asking" LOL. So it seems like it's a non-even to the boys themselves. Good luck with your decision, it's not an easy one to make

[Salad]

I dont think its uncommon or common you either do it or you dont, its a personal decision. There are not a lot of doctors who do it now but they will refer you to someone who does. Your son wont be the odd one out whether he is done or not.
Just recently I have known a few older boys aged 10-13 who have had to be circumcised later in life due to problems which was obviously more traumatic for them being older than if they were babies. Learn the pros and cons and go from there.

[Toomanytoomany]

I dont think its uncommon or common you either do it or you dont, its a personal decision. There are not a lot of doctors who do it now but they will refer you to someone who does. Your son wont be the odd one out whether he is done or not.
Just recently I have known a few older boys aged 10-13 who have had to be circumcised later in life due to problems which was obviously more traumatic for them being older than if they were babies. Learn the pros and cons and go from there.

Well, no. Rates vary between 20% and 5%, depending on which state you are in, as far as I've been able to determine. So, most boys won't be circumcised, whichever way you cut it. (Pardon the pun.)

I feel like posting the article I read lately that was recommending routine toe removal. Because, you know, people have to have their toes removed sometimes in later life, and it's much more traumatic than getting it done when you're a newborn. (It's a parody.) Why is it more traumatic for a thirteen year old to be circumcised? Because they can talk about it?

[Phteven]

I don't think he'll be the odd one out. No odder than being the kid with glasses or the kid who runs fast.
If he lives in the Eastern suburbs in Sydney or any area with a high Jewish or Muslim population he might be the odd one out if he's not circumcised.

How much time do boys at school spend looking at each others' penises anyway?

There are times that I worry about my boy being the odd one out or not fitting in but never because of his penis.

Both my boys were circumcised before 8 weeks. I had no issues finding Drs to do it. In fact I had a choice of Drs, settings, anesthesia and methods. They didn't appear particularly traumatised to me but what would I know, I'm just their Mum

[onthefly]

There are times that I worry about my boy being the odd one out or not fitting in but never because of his penis.

I hope not!

[Phteven]

Can I remind all our members that the OP said she didn't want any debate. Please stick to answering the questions raised in the first post. My suggestion is that if you have posted once in this thread to reply to the OP there is no need for any further posts.

[Liviam]

Hi DH and I did our research and decided to get our son circumcised and have absolutely no regrets. I'm not sure of the official stats but out of my friends, a group of 8 boys, we are 50/50. When chatting about it at work we are approx 50/50 but like it's been mentioned it really depends on where you'll live as to what the stats are there. I had no problem at all finding a dr to do it. Actually, we had to go on a waiting list. I am more than happy to PM you about my experience if you would like. Good luck with your decision.

[tellytubby]

Oh you're brave posting about circumcision, especially in BB! bahaha!

Both my boys were circumcised before 8 weeks. I had no issues finding Drs to do it. In fact I had a choice of Drs, settings, anesthesia and methods. They didn't appear particularly traumatised to me but what would I know, I'm just their Mum

:yeahthat:

We had our DS done at 3 weeks, and our experience was pretty much the same. No hassles at all.
If you have any questions, feel free to PM me

[OceanPrincess]

Hi alexmoving! Congrats on your little boy!

I've just had my first boy and DH and I discussed circumcision and have decided against it for the reason of not wanting him to be the odd one out.

DH wanted it done so that DS is the same as him (he's had it done) but then we thought about him at school - I don't have any figures or stats but anecdotally only two of my friends have had it done to their new sons so it seems in my area at least it is not common.

DH assures me that boys DO notice things like different penises, esp if they play sports as they get older and they are having showers and stuff after games (he played lacrosse for years and wants to get our kids involved in that or something similar). Once I pointed out that if we can reduce the number of things that our DS could possibly be picked on for, we should, he agreed to let it go.

That and I pointed out we'd have to have it done privately and it would probably cost us $$$... If we could find an Obs who would agree to do it for us!

The two friends that I know who had it done - one was for religious reasons as her hubby is Jewish. The other wanted it done in case they went on a mission trip to somewhere remote like Africa, to make sure no bugs got trapped in there - so also a religious reason. But then the Dr refused to do it. Fast forward to around 9-10mths, they had noticed his foreskin wasn't growing at the same rate as his penis, so he ended up needing a circumcision for medical reasons.

He had one done at 12mths and was fine. It was performed under general at a private hosp.

Good luck with your decision.

[TeniBear]

Not going to get into what I think of "it" but I just wanted to say that if you decide not to get it done, make sure you know how to take care of an intact penis - for example, you have to know that normally the foreskin doesn't retract for quite a while (around seven, IIRC? Someone correct me if I'm wrong) and you just need to rinse with warm water. The mantra is "only clean what is seen" - you wouldn't clean the inside of a daughter's vagina, so why clean under the foreskin? It's actually fused like a fingernail, so it's incredibly painful and damaging stripping it back.

My advice would be to look at anti-circ websites as well as pro ones - preferably at the same time so you can compare arguments and evidence to help make your decision. If you want some links to anti ones, I have some links I can send you if you'd like? I'm 100% anti, but I happened to come across a few the other night that I read thoroughly so I could educate myself some more

[mysticaljo]

hi everyone..
i am pregnant at the moment with a boy and have a 15 year old boy as well, my son is circ and my personal experience from it, was my son felt the inital pain of the needle and then nothing, i had a great doc who done it and i am happy i did. He has not had any bad experiences by having it done even when older, he thinks nothing of it.
as someone said before it really is a personal choice, i chose to get my son done because of hygeine (plus i live in nth qld )and other reasons.. my mate at the time had a 8 year old who suffered from infections because he didnt clean properly etc,
when i made the decision it was a hard one , i did not want him in pain from it etc, but i am happy with my decision and now i have the big decision of whether i choose to get my new boy done.
it really is a hard decision.. so i say just do your research and look around for a great doc ..
all the best jo

[KimB]

Was debating whether to look at your pics rory but couldn't make myself lol.

I have 2 boys and neither are circumcised. My DF, my EH, my dad and my 2 brothers aren't either so it was never an issue for me. I have friends who have decided to do it but that is their decision. I don't think either way will matter in this day and age. It is a personal choice.

[Yeddi]

I have never seen a baby strapped down like that before (only in America) and if he is anaesthetised, I bet you that's far more distressing than the actual circumcision. Finding decent information about circumcision is really hard. Most of the stuff on the internet is opinion based to one extreme or the other, and each have their own propaganda. Finding something that comes from a neutral stand-point is almost impossible. It's a really polarised area of opinion.

I agree that it's a personal choice. I personally don't see circumcision as being any different to vaccination, both are done in the name of preventative measures, and each should be decided based upon individual risk/benefits and values. The WHO have research that says there are health benefits, and a lot of medical bodies have changed their policies regarding circumcision from "closed" to more "open" language, saying it's the parent's choice because there really isn't a definitive answer despite the extremes in opinion.

This is an issue that we are currently struggling with ourselves. We have a history of autism and yeast over-growth in our family. The risks of DS getting an infection and/or not having the capacity to clean properly are much higher than average on both counts - we can't stick our heads in the sand, but have to take this into account. I believe it will be far more traumatising getting it done later, then just after he's born. It's something we are going to have to decide soon as I'm 38 weeks, and if we are going to get it done, we'll get it done within the first 2 weeks when the foreskin is thinest and healing is at maximum. At this time, I still conflicted and in the end we'll just go with our guts. My DH isn't done, but thinks it's important to be the same as his sons, as children get their identities from home and are far more likely to see dad's penis when going to the toilet or having a shower than they are other males. So if we do get it done, DH has decided he will go get done to as an adult as well (because he would never do something to his children, he wouldn't be prepared to do himself) - so you can see, it's not a decision we take lightly. But it is a personal decision, and its relative.

OP - I don't think it would be too hard to find a doctor in Sydney who will do it, you'll just have to ring around and investigate what method you want it done by - there's loose, low, high, tight depending on whether they take just the outside foreskin, or both outside and inner foreskin. Whether the doctor uses the clamp or plastibell or other method etc. would also dictate which type you get. I think most adult men who were done as babies have a high and tight (you'd be able to tell this on your partner by where the slight colour change is on the shaft - it's normally about half way up). I know the Jewish people normally go for a low and tight, so the skin taken is only enough to reveal the glands. As you can see, there are a number of different options...

[Babyluv]

My sis has 2 young boys & neither are circumcised, I think it's more uncommon to circumcise these days. If our bub had been a boy we would have had him circumcised. DH was taught all the right things, did the right things etc as a boy & needed to be circumcised at 8 yrs old because he got a bad infection that wouldn't clear up, he remembers it being very painful. So DH would like any sons we have done. I don't have a prob with it, I've done my research. I don't think they would be the odd one out either way. Do what you think is best for your little boy