When we found out we were having a boy, the decision about whether or not he would be circumcised didn't cross my mind until my doctor asked me about it.
I Googled circumcision (bad idea) and was completely flooded with information. Whether or not to circumcise a child is widely discussed -- it's an extremely controversial topic.
I read pages of information circulated by parents and professionals who oppose circumcision, but I didn't see as many arguments presented by parents who chose to have their children circumcised, with the exception of those who decided to do it to honor their religious traditions.
So my husband and I talked about it at length, and by our next appointment, we had come to a decision.
We considered the medical benefits and risks. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, circumcision has some health benefits associated with it along with surgical risks, but the procedure is not considered medically essential. We also didn't have strong religious influences to weigh our decision one way or the other.
When we talked about our options, I went back and forth a few times on my decision, but my husband's feelings remained consistent: The men in his family had all been circumcised. He felt it would be strange to have a son whose body looked different than his own. I could respect that. What every other boy looks like in a locker room when he gets to be a teenager didn't impact my decision, but while he's young and learning about his body, I didn't want him to feel different than his own father.
Maybe I would feel strongly one way or the other if I had a penis, but since I don't, I relied heavily on my husband's thoughts and feelings on the matter.
So it came down to this: While it wasn't medically necessary, long term, it wouldn't cause him any harm. Yes, I know it's painful for a baby in the moment, but so are a lot of other things in life. We weighed our feelings about family against any possible medical ramifications and decided to do it.
This is a deeply personal issue and I know many people will not agree. While I don't think anyone who chooses not to circumcise is making the wrong decision, I think the criticism that is meant for parents who do make this choice is over the top.
How do you feel about circumcision? Did you choose to circumcise your baby boy? Why or why not?
Image via jen_rab/Flickr
This Hot Dad Wants to Do Your Ironing
KStew Refuses to Shower
This Hot Dad Wants to Cook You Dinner
This Hot Dad Cooks AND Does the Dishes
Comments 150
Both of our sons are circumcised, as well as my husband. I still don't get why some people get their panties in a wad about this subject. I don't care if other people choose to circumcise or not circumcise. It is not my business nor is it anyone else's. It is a personal choice. I don't go around surveying random strangers about the condition of their sons' or their husbands' penises when I'm out in public. Quite frankly, I find all the fuss a little bit disturbing.
I have 3 sons and they are not circumcised. If I were to have anymore kids and they ended up being boys I would not circumcise them either. Circumcision is pointless and a barbaric practice that is only perpetuated in American society for the money it rakes in for the health care professionals. If I wouldn't lob a piece of my daughters body off then why would I with my son? Looking at dad, IMO, is the most ignorant reason ever. That's like saying that my daughter will have to undergo surgery to make her breasts as big or small as mine or make her genitalia look like mine. Ignorant to say the least.... The locker room reason is also invalid. 33.5 percent of the population is now circumcise so the majority is not. This is the most recent American statistic. There will be other boys in my sons locker room who look like him and even if their wasn't; who cares? Children need to feel secure with who they are and I really doubt cosmetic surgery makes them feel that way. I just cannot understand why any parent doesn't think their newborn son is perfect at birth the way God made him. It's ignorant to act like the foreskin is a birth defect. If it wasn't supposed to be there it would be evolved away by now. I will leave my sons whole, then you very much!
@ Beth - you are absolutely correct - it IS a personal decision - for your SON to make when he is able to understand the facts, which so many parents choose not to do. I'm against circumcision like I'm against tattoos and plastic surgery and other body modification. I'm NOT. Not at all. I'm all in favor of men electing to get circumcised, themselves.
It's parents inflicting their cosmetic preferences on unanesthetized babies that bothers me.
It really is a human rights issue. Humans have a right to bodily integrity. Period.
We did not circumcise our son. We don't agree with it and couldn't find any convincing reason to have it done. My husband is not but we didn't make our decision because we wanted our son to look like him. IMO, that's a ridiculous reason. Little girls don't look just like their mothers.
@Rachel, how is it anyone of YOUR business if anyone else's sons are circumcised? The bottom line, it isn't!!! And to those who are saying that parents should have to watch a video of the procedure before making the decision, guess what? When I was in nursing school, I saw a circumcision done LIVE AND IN PERSON and my husband and I STILL chose to have our boys circumcised. To the person a few pages back who said circumcision affects breastfeeding, WHATEVER!!! Tell that to my two boys who were nursing like champs both before and after they were circumcised. That is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard.
I swear, if some of you women actually worry about other little boys' penises as much as you claim to, you need therapy. It is downright scary!! Get a hobby please!!
@Beth- You choosing to mutilate your baby after seeing it done live is really sad. Our hobby is protecting boys and girls from genital mutilation. Personal means PERSONAL, not someone else making the decision. Choosing to give your baby plastic surgery is WRONG.
You choosing to be so concerned about MY SONS' PENIS is really sad and wrong. How about instead of worrying about healthy baby boys' penises, you worry about the millions of unborn babies who are being murdered every day in the name of "choice"? At least MY SONS are alive and walking around, unlike SOME babies who were never given the chance. I mean, seriously, do you go up to random strangers and ask them about the condition of their child's genitals?