Male Circumcision: for or against?

[Deactivated] on 19/11/2015 - 19:49
Last edited 19/11/2015 - 20:40 by 1 other user

A family friend , who also happens to be a doctor, is urging us to consider getting our son circumcised.We've discussed it with our pediatrician and he's of the view that our son would benefit from it.My son has no health issues, other than infrequent nose-bleeds which are unlikely to be resolved by having his foreskin removed.Also both of those doctors are biased: the first one regularly performs the procedure and the second one, is muslim.

My wife is strongly opposed to circumcision for many reasons but it really comes down to the belief that only the owner of the penis has the right to decide if he would like its appearance, structure and function altered by circumcision. Even though we are his parents, we do not have the right to make that decision for him. I agree with her.

What are your thoughts? Would you/did you have your son circumcised? Do you regret having/not having had the procedure done?

Cheers,
JJB

Poll Options

  • 124
    My son is/will be circumcised because the benefits outweigh the risks.
  • 22
    My son is/will be circumcised because of religious reasons or to look like me.
  • 92
    My son is/will NOT be circumcised because the risks outweigh the benefits.
  • 2
    My son is/will NOT be circumcised because the procedure is too expensive.
  • 470
    My son is the only one who has the right to make that informed decision.
  • 16
    Other
Health & Beauty

closed Comments

        • GameChanger on 20/11/2015 - 22:54

          @pointscrazy: Because there is no need for others to see and most likely will cause moderation problems if the prior post was bad.

        • [Deactivated] on 20/11/2015 - 22:56

          @GameChanger:

          I used to speak with him via messages

          R u insinuating that you n I were ever friends? Cos we know that's a lie. Both Wiki n I had to block you to stop receiving those disturbing/creepy PMs from you.

          As for the 2nd part of your statement, pls do share your "strong reason".

        • GameChanger on 20/11/2015 - 22:56

          @Tas: I never asked gender, it was none of my business. And don't act like you private messaged turnip, as you would have known about the stalking.

        • GameChanger on 20/11/2015 - 22:59

          @Jar Jar Binks: I am not even talking about you.

          Please post those 'creepy' messages, stop talking a load of bullsh**. Me and Turnip called you and Wiki out for having the same writing style and you went into the defensive with false accusations.

        • [Deactivated] on 20/11/2015 - 23:05
          +1

          @GameChanger: I never had cause to message her, and didn't indicate that I had.

          You must be - and clearly are - as perceptive as a brick in failing to discern Turnip as being female.

        • GameChanger on 20/11/2015 - 23:10

          @Tas: Not sure if you noticed its an ONLINE website and gender is irrelevant to me. I don't come on OzB to decipher if users are male or female. Here have a read one of 'her' posts to JJB.

          DisabledUser117531 on 21/09/2015 - 13:17 ¶

          @Jar Jar Binks:

          The irony. Seriously. Talk about people behind their backs as if you know them (to another member of the forum via PM), making all sorts of bizarre accusations about their personality when you know nothing about them, and then whinge on the public forum that you're being PM'd to by other members like you're being harassed.

          The irony.

          Tas you still want to continue your biased posts towards me?

        • [Deactivated] on 20/11/2015 - 23:17

          @GameChanger:
          I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you hv a problem with me, pls report me and let the mods do their job.

          Incidentally, it is what Turnip did, because, unlike you, and despite/because she's a girl, she had bigger balls than you. I'm not privy to her exchanges with mods but I wld assume that the result of their investigation wasn't what she expected.

        • [Deactivated] on 20/11/2015 - 23:20

          @GameChanger: There was an altercation, based on some sort of a misunderstanding, I can only believe.

          Turnip had a 'moment' and matters then got a little out-of-hand.

          I certainly think no worse of her, given the ensuing - in which you played a pernicious role by accusing JJB and Wiki as being one in the same.

          She is still a sweetheart, in my perception. JJB's too, I am quite sure.

        • [Deactivated] on 20/11/2015 - 23:41

          @GameChanger:

          Re. Turnip

          Do you know the story of the blind men and the elephant?

          You're like the blind man who touched the elephant's trunk and now firmly believes that an elephant is long and tubular, like a snake. Is an elephant like a snake, Gamechanger?

          You know so little about Turnip, wiki or me .You're jumping to conclusions based on a few comments that you've read out of the 1,000s the 3 of us have posted. We also exchanged PMs, which you were not privy to.

          Yet you are blaming us for her deactivating her account. On the other hand, her boyfriend who knows and cares more about Turnip than you, and was in cc of those PMs, is still friends with us. How do you explain that?

        • GameChanger on 21/11/2015 - 00:22

          @Jar Jar Binks: If you're such 'good friends' why don't have you have an explanation for her leaving? You said you hate unsolicited private messages, what gives you the right to message other users?

          Practice what you preach, before complaining/ making false accusations.

        • [Deactivated] on 21/11/2015 - 19:32

          @Tas: Stalking is probably the wrong word.

          I left because I was weirded the feck out by the behaviour of Wicket via PMs (which weren't sent to me but were directly relating to me).

          Dearest Tas, I dont want to draw you into this negativity but I do hope you keep a more open mind too.

          Things might not be as they appear. Or they could be as they appear! Who knows. But there is always going to be that possibility that, for whatever reason, you/us/we are being played.

          I've already given too much away and let all this damage myself. I dont know what is real and what is a lie. I want to believe that people are honest and sincere but my gut is saying that people also lie for their own reasons - be it that they are unwell or suffering, not necessarily out of malice. Then there are those who are sincere and are simply misunderstood, which is most unfortunate. This leaves me feeling the most confused. I want to be ME, be REAL, be CARING where needed and be CUTTHROAT honest where needed (ie. if any trolling is occurring, they need help, so lets get them help). It's leaving me in the most confusing place right now.

          I shouldnt even be worrying about OzB dramas. I've lost all my babies now. My last beloved rattum just passed away and I'm devastated beyond words. I feel empty, broken, lost. Dead. A husk. Purposeless. My babies are gone. What am I now? Where do I belong? What matters to me now? What do I dedicate my life to now that the most incredible thing has now departed from my existence?

          Yet here I am. Back again. No doubt a result of being somewhat lost, inebriated, wanting some form of lame intarwebz justice over all the mystery and BS that has surrounded this topic for so long. Set the record straight. Even if it makes me look like a total twat for taking any bait.

          I am Turnip. I am a real person. I wouldn't have left this place if I didnt feel like I was being weirdly bullied by select member/s who should be fairly obvious by now. I have to remain vague about details because digulving them would get me in trouble. It also saddens me to see a decent, honest person like Tas get suckered in by such suspicious people. I could be totally wrong about JJB/Wicket but I cannot deny how suspicious I am of their realness. There. I said it. And I have no ulterior motives to say such things. My only motive to state such publicly is to try and explain why the hell I left this place to begin with, and to at least give poor GameChanger some backup.

        • [Deactivated] on 22/11/2015 - 01:46

          @waterlogged turnip:

          Well, you certainly have put me in the soup tonight…

          Welcome back, sweetheart. :)

          Also, real person + Turnip.

          What am I now?

          Apart from those three things? Everything you were before. You wouldn't have been missed were it not for those things, too.

          Put a little bit of purple eyeshadow blushy stuff over the tracks where the tears were.
          Nobody will notice the difference.

          There will be other fluffy and furry things to cuddle and care for in the future.
          The ones that don't live very long, can break your heart every little bit as much as the ones that do. Just with greater regularity.
          Horrid, wretched, little, shits. :(

          I figured that there was some messaging that you saw, that you probably shouldn't have seen, possibly with some content that shouldn't have been written in the first place. I don't know and don't really want to know.

          It would be nice if there could be a brief round of apologies from everyone for transgressions real or perceived, but maybe that's not possible now?

          That is probably a rhetorical question that I would prefer not to acknowledge as such.

          Note to self: Don't use the word 'journey' in the following.

          Turnip, you are both smart and sweet. You know, at core, that the issues that haunt you, don't define you.

          Careful…

          I have always thought (you know, assorted gut-feeling bullshit stuff), that you'll be fine in the long-run, and that the bits of your noggin-mush that conspire against you being happy and relaxed, will come to their collective senses. For the benefit of the good that you are, that needs to be around, because a sometimes shitty world would benefit from that.

          I do accept that you may not be persuadable at this point, but I do believe that Wicket and Binks are, by and large, as they have ever-indiscreetly presented themselves to be. They also - both, but in different ways, have a streak of mischief in them.
          I have one of those too, but mine's a mile wide. Part of the reason for the rapport between us, I suspect.

          Pretty much since the beginning of the year, I've really been picking and choosing as to which forum threads to click on, even once. Timewise, not a bad plan, as it turns out. I hope to see you in some threads, here and there, nonetheless.

          I also hope that you are getting a significant amount of your required moisture content, and other stuff - you know, nutrition - from food. I don't think that's too much to hope for. Sorry-not-sorry, 7-Eleven slurpees.

          How do I end this comment, Turnip?

          I DON'T KNOW!

          Ok.

          Speaking of food / not-food, here is my personal recipe for a little fun and distraction from real-life ever-good-bad-and-indifferent - within the confines of the 'intarwebz', but not including cat videos as they are ubiquitous:

          Welcome back, li'l turnip.

          +1 for coming back, despite your misgivings.

          Please don't attempt too much dehydration by way of Dan Murphy's.

          :)

        • Jackson on 22/11/2015 - 13:02
          +1

          @Tas: what a soap opera. If someone is truly depressed here please call beyond blue.

        • GameChanger on 22/11/2015 - 19:18
          -1

          @Tas: Surprise, surprise JJB and Wiki have not responded.

      • [Deactivated] on 22/11/2015 - 18:42

        He looks like a frog. Cute:-)

        I can resist anything except temptation :-P

        • [Deactivated] on 22/11/2015 - 19:03

          If Jar Jar Binks clicks link and has more nightmares, do not blame me, Wiki..

        • [Deactivated] on 22/11/2015 - 19:16
          +1

          I'm always in agreement with my badass better half. If she says it looks like a frog and is cute, I believe her. I trust judgement more than I trust my own therefore I don't need to click on the link :)

        • [Deactivated] on 22/11/2015 - 19:39

          @Jar Jar Binks: Proud of you. I think… :)

  • timthetoolman on 20/11/2015 - 18:38
    +2

    Leave it on! Everyone likes to have a sleeping bag to wrap up in at night

  • abh_gup on 20/11/2015 - 18:48
    +1

    The skin is nature's way of adding another level of protective covering for the sensitive skin on the part inside.
    Circumcise only on an 'if necessary' basis.
    Because should it go wrong, your son's generation is gone too, forever.

  • maximum on 20/11/2015 - 18:49
    +1

    I personally don't think you need to consider anyone else's opinions than the mother and your sons. If his mother says no you have your answer. Simple. If you look on the Internet you can find a justification and objection to everything.
    That being said here's my two cents - No - you have passed the stage where he won't remember so unless there is a medical need he can decide when he is older if it is important to him.

  • baggyred on 20/11/2015 - 18:54
    +4

    As a true ozbargainer - why would you be giving something away for free??

  • 2024 on 20/11/2015 - 20:47
    +1

    I'm waiting for a coupon code from TA - I may or may not have clicked too expensive..
    Sniparse10 or chopdickarse10 or something…
    Would 10% off remove enough foreskin?

    • bargainslut on 20/11/2015 - 21:07
      +1

      Don't forget cash rewards for an extra 4%

  • [Deactivated] on 20/11/2015 - 20:53
    +2

    genital mutilation springs to mind

  • peterpeterpumpkin on 20/11/2015 - 21:21
    +1

    Umm, OK, since this is a bargain site and all has anyone seen any deals on artificial foreskins or free samples? Won't restore the frenulum but will increase sensitivity via dekeratinisation. Maybe tightarse can organise a deal with a company?

  • sintro on 20/11/2015 - 21:29
    +3

    Dr. Robert S. Mendelsohn, in "How to raise a healthy child", pp44 writes:

    "Every generation of doctors has found a new excuse for circumcision, despite the fact that even the American Academy of Pediatrics has advised that 'THere is no absolute medical indication for circumcision of the newborn'. If your doctor suggets cicumcision for your baby boy, ask him why he wants to expose the poor kid to the pain, the possibility of infection or haemorrhage, and the risk of death from surgery that has no medical justification."

  • vicosads on 20/11/2015 - 23:01
    -1

    There is no difference between male genital mutilation (circumcision) and female genital mutilation, to even consider something like this you should be ashamed.

  • jwhero on 20/11/2015 - 23:04
    +2

    http://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/files/factsheets/male_infa…

    On the "medical benefits". For every 1000 male infants circumcised, 8 will benefit from protection from infection, while 20 will suffer a complication related to the circumcision. As a result, no public hospitals in Australia perform this procedure.

    The info sheet also lists legitimate medical indications for circumcision (balanitis, phimosis), but even then they can be managed conservatively before considering circumcision.

  • doctordv8 on 20/11/2015 - 23:04
    +2

    A few thoughts, some fact and some opinions come to mind.

    If it is not your penis, you have no right to perform this procedure.

    When your son turns legal age, it will be his choice alone, whether he listens to his parents wishes or opinions to choose.

    Medicaly speaking I have heard many arguments for and against, and the reasons are changing with the times and recent medical knowledge, but still, there is no, I repeat, absolutely no must have reason for or against.

    Religious beliefs are bordering on inconsequentional jibberish these days as those ideals started centuries ago and are not truly relevent in todays science. Each to their own, but it is still an outdated reason.

    Find a neutral unbiased doctor for a start, or many, the two you have now are not exactly a fair suck of the sav for the poor kids 'bits' future.

    My boys were given the choice and kept all their God given skin, my adopted chose to loose it. Mine is over 50 years old, and has never been a problem. After much research, it appears that poor washing and hygene training is the main reason for faulty forskins, read most, but not limited to. So, in closing, leave it alone, let him choose when the time is right, and teach him to wash it as hard and as fast as he likes/can.

    • trentq on 21/11/2015 - 00:08
      +1

      It's not more difficult to was than any other part of your body, doesn't need to hard or fast.

      • doctordv8 on 21/11/2015 - 09:10
        +2

        Yes trentq, the same as washing the rest of the body, but I did say it that way on purpose, purely tongue in cheek as it is the most fun part to wash.

        In fact it is prob easier as the boy bits are are in front, are at easy arm reach, left or right handers have equal rights and one handed persons are equally able to wash efficiently. But it is still tongue in cheek making fun, more fun being washed hard n fast.

        When a teen, we went out bush for a week, stranded for most of it with not enough water to wash, and the penis never had any detrimental effect of not being washed for that period. So there must be some truly bad hygene practices medically speaking to warrant hygene and washing or lack thereof to be cause for concern.

        I hope and judging by the anti circumcission posts here this couple give the boy the choice and not have it performed now.

  • trentq on 21/11/2015 - 00:06
    +3

    Don't do it, ask anyone who isn't circumcised and certain they will say the same. Why do something if it's not need or necessary.

  • Strikezam on 21/11/2015 - 00:24
    +1

    this youtube video answer everything :P

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCSWbTv3hng

  • lonix on 21/11/2015 - 05:49
    +3

    My parents did it to me,

    But I cant see the point to it, so I didn't do it to my son.

  • [Deactivated] on 21/11/2015 - 07:14
    +1

    If it's relevant, do stick around WT. You have been a real asset to this website, and your comments appreciated.
    If some people have bugged you, so what. Take five and come back with another tasty handle.

  • goblues on 21/11/2015 - 07:38
    -6

    There are a lot of opinions about the child not being of age to give consent. This is a very very bad argument. We give our children immunisation without their consent. We give them medicine without their consent. We dress them up in stupid cute pink outfits against their consent (ok thrown in for comic effect).

    We as parents do a lot of things without the child's consent because they do not have the ability to make rational decisions and thus we are here to do the best thing we can for them. If you want to circumsize your male child because you think its the best thing health wise or religiously speaking, then you have the full right to do so.

    This is not a cruel or barbaric act. The pain is insignificant and when done after birth or a few months after birth the baby hardly even notices it. Its nothing like teething or other growing pains. It does get painful when the baby becomes a child, say 1 -2 years and above.

    All this nonsense about losing sensitivity during sex or anything like that is completely false and idiotic. It is much cleaner and hygienic, there is no doubt about that. Both sons have done it and they are as happy as any child can be.

    But the most important thing to remember is that the parents have a right to take care of their child as best as they can and how they see fit. So I am sick and tired of hearing this absolutely garbage that children don't give you their consent. THEY DONT HAVE THE ABILITY TO GIVE CONSENT TO ANYTHING!!!! It doesn't mean we abuse them, and circumsizing them is not abusing them as much as giving them immunisation (which bloody hurts the poor kids).

    • xsacha on 21/11/2015 - 09:37
      +5

      I know you will fully remain within your stance as you and your children have already had the operation.

      I just have to correct you on the part about losing sensitivity during sex. That is without a doubt, a guaranteed outcome of the operation. You are cutting off nerve endings that make sex more pleasurable and the outcome will be less sensation during sex. Now I am not saying that 'sex won't be pleasurable'. Of course it will, just you won't feel it as much.
      As to whether it is cleaner or more hygienic, that is debatable. Essentially, if you never clean yourself it would be cleaner with it exposed rather than covered.

      A similar argument could be made for many parts of your body. So what we would want to know is does it cause more harm than good?
      The Australian research suggests 8 in 1000 will have an issue (infection or otherwise) resolved whereas 20 in 1000 will have complications from it, which is the reason it is not done.
      Any doctor worth their pay should only recommend the removal of parts of your body if there is an issue with it rather than the possible prevention of an issue that is unlikely to occur. This is why your tonsils and appendix don't get removed too.

      The foreskin actually serves a multitude of purposes, some quite important and some just convenient: http://www.circumstitions.com/Functions.html
      If you got cut as a baby you probably don't understand.

    • doctordv8 on 21/11/2015 - 10:20

      You sound pretty emotional about this. Please, we must deal with provable facts, and opinions are real too, but they must be seperated.

      I concour on some points, but sensitivity is a real issue, it is fact, it just is more for some than others.

      As for a poor choice of example re 'children immunisation without their consent' this is a medical issue at any age, and is legal, and is given or declined with comprehensive education and medical consultation to offset and or treat very real health threats. The incidence of sickness without immunisation stasticly is far far greater, than sickness from the immunisation or the NEEDLE.

      This is not that same for circumcission, as unless there is a direct medical threat right now with the penis and or foreskin, the procedure and choice can be made at any age. An operation has dangers, and increasing a very young childs health risk if not medicaly required is suspect in nature and practice.

      We need to be careful to only compare same with same, as unfortunatly was not the case here.
      I/we hear you, but a different example may make your point valid.

      On the pain, even plants feel pain, so unless the child is full under and sleeping, the pain is very very very real, as any screaming baby will prove with his noise for just having hunger pains.

    • stealthpaw on 21/11/2015 - 12:48
      +1

      They do NOT however, have the right to mutilate the body of a otherwise healthy child. In no way shape or form is slicing functional parts off the body "taking care" of your child - your entire paragraph is moot.

  • doctordv8 on 21/11/2015 - 09:25

    Questions to think about.
    Why are Tonsils only removed when there is recurring problems?
    Why is the Appendix only removed when there are problems? Etc.
    Cancer? Only affected parts are removed, not the whole organ/s for religious or historical beliefs I assure you.

    Do we cut our eyes out or ears off if we go blind or become deaf? I still use my foreskin, so I don't see any reason to remove it.

    I had an infected finger once, it was treated & healed but amputating it was never an option.

    My parents did everything to keep me safe with my health and when an operation was needed preteen age, they made sure the gains far outweighed the risks before butting a young boy to sleep for the knife.

    There are so many reasons at this stage in society, in the modern world and in Australia why this proceedure should go with the dinosaurs and become historical only.

    Body scaring, tattooing, other man hood passage of rights and the beliefs that go along have changed with the times. It is high time this ideal changed too, and becomes the boys choice when of age.

  • abdalian on 21/11/2015 - 10:34
    -5

    From a medical perspective male circumcision is preferable because it prevents infections (this is a fact)… We can argue all day against it.
    Honestly putting religion aside circumcision has benefits in males. Ask a Urologist!

    • xsacha on 21/11/2015 - 12:25
      +1

      You would need to show evidence for this. The reason it isn't practiced in Australia is because the opposite is true. There are more complications than there are infections resolved.
      Also, you would only need to treat the infection when it happens (which is very rare) rather than cut everyone.
      This is a similar situation to the tonsils except that infection is much more likely with tonsils, tonsils serve less of a purpose than foreskin and yet we still do not remove them!

        • xsacha on 21/11/2015 - 21:06

          HIV is not an issue in Australia. Also, circumcision doesn't remove the possibility of getting HIV. It just lowers the chance of getting it from a single contact.

          So despite Wikipedia saying: "insufficient evidence that male circumcision protects against HIV infection or other STIs." it isn't an issue regardless.

    • Duece1995 on 21/11/2015 - 14:41

      What a load of nonsense. I have never had an infection in my life. Another religious tale? I would never do that to my child. If your born with it why take it off?

      • GameChanger on 21/11/2015 - 15:22

        Circumcision should be considered 'plastic surgery' all it does is enhance the look of it. If the health reasons were so strong, why isn't it pushed onto people?

        • xsacha on 21/11/2015 - 21:12
          +1

          This isn't even true either. In general, people who are used to seeing circumcised prefer the look and vice-versa. It was never about looks.
          Like someone else on here said before, uncircumcised just looks smooth (like a seal) whereas circumcised looks like a turtle (head poking out). There's no 'enhanced' look, just what you are accustomed to.

  • inthemoney114 on 21/11/2015 - 11:16

    Uncircumcised Penis looks so gross though

    • Davo1111 on 21/11/2015 - 12:14
      +3

      Implying a circumcised penis is a majestic beauty

      • [Deactivated] on 22/11/2015 - 00:47

        Which would you rather put in your mouth????
        I know which I prefer.

        • Davo1111 on 22/11/2015 - 02:20
          +1

          I'll pass on either penis tbh

          Anyway, like i said, doing it for the visual aspect is the worst reason. In the mid 80s hairy muffs was the thing, now it's shaven. Fashions/styles change, doing something permanent doesnt sound like a good idea.

        • [Deactivated] on 22/11/2015 - 06:12

          @Davo1111:

          If you had to pick one. Also, which would want INSIDE of you?
          Think about it from the females perspective.

          Hopefully your partner is from the same time as you so if x is cool now they will still think it's cool 20 years from now regardless of what the younger generations think is cool.

        • Davo1111 on 22/11/2015 - 14:41

          @Beethoven:

          It's still an elective procedure for something you're doing for fashion reasons.

        • [Deactivated] on 22/11/2015 - 14:52

          @Davo1111:

          I wonder if there is a health thing for females. Like if men don't clean it properly then that would affect the female in some way I imagine.

    • xsacha on 21/11/2015 - 12:26
      +2

      There was a study on this and they found it was just whatever you are used to seeing. Feel free to look it up.

    • [Deactivated] on 21/11/2015 - 14:40
      +1

      Difference between a seal and an old sea tortoise.

  • Davo1111 on 21/11/2015 - 12:16
    +2

    IMO its an optional surgery. Leave it as it is and let him decide

    I think right now its fashionable to be cut. Things will change in 18 years

  • Lucky13 on 21/11/2015 - 12:30

    Do it! Hahaha

  • stealthpaw on 21/11/2015 - 12:42
    +3

    I'm actually horrified this is still a debate. It shows you what a backwards country this is.

    • infinite on 21/11/2015 - 12:48
      +3

      There's always a small minority who are stupid or ignorant beyond comprehension. How do you think religion still exists?

      • [Deactivated] on 21/11/2015 - 12:52
        +6

        Probably off-topic but funny:

        Tell people there's an invisible man in the sky who created the universe, and the vast majority will believe you. Tell them the paint is wet, and they have to touch it to be sure.

        -George palin.

      • stealthpaw on 21/11/2015 - 13:08
        +4

        And the majority of that minority will hold onto their ideals forever regardless of information presented to them. It's so sad, it really is.

        • [Deactivated] on 21/11/2015 - 14:36
          +3

          And with more than half the world's population believing in sky people etc, but not too faithful about the inevitable and permanent damage to their world by human activity.
          I believe my early childhood summation 45y ago was right. Their is no hope. As such I chose no kids. Reality instead.

  • [Deactivated] on 21/11/2015 - 13:51
    -4

    Im circumcised cos bishes dig it

    • GameChanger on 21/11/2015 - 14:18

      I'm sure they dig a big bank account as well :)

      • infinite on 21/11/2015 - 17:43
        -2

        You should see how moist my brothers gaming keyboard get's em'.

    • Shout It Out on 22/11/2015 - 11:56

      Really? Dogs dig it?

  • cryptos on 21/11/2015 - 14:27

    Soap and proper cleaning techniques, roll it back and wash

    Religious reasons should never be a consideration, just because 2000+ years ago in the sweaty desert some blind followers couldn't clean themselves….

    What if your child is intelligent and becomes agnostic or an atheist :)

  • Dr Techno on 21/11/2015 - 14:34

    Should start a new thread, Bumfluff friend or foe?

  • Duece1995 on 21/11/2015 - 14:37
    +1

    Your born with it so I cannot see the benefit of taking it off. Like other posters have said wash it correctly and it's fine. I have heard that you lose a bit of sensitivity when your circumcised.

    • [Deactivated] on 21/11/2015 - 21:09
      +1

      Correct. Lots of nerves sensory neurons innervate the foreskin tissue.

  • kingwang on 21/11/2015 - 14:58

    The sex is better

  • zolinger on 21/11/2015 - 16:06

    You're discounting skin. Its a definite OzBargain Yes

    • infinite on 22/11/2015 - 19:41

      You are actually paying for the privilege of giving it away, which is the opposite of a bargain.

  • floorpie on 21/11/2015 - 18:46
    +3

    Not sure if you are aware of this but the foreskin is a functioning part of the penis which provides lubrication during sexual activity. Also, if your son were to pull back his foreskin and rinse himself in the shower even just once a week or so I don't see how he could possibly get an infection.

    • [Deactivated] on 21/11/2015 - 20:52

      His prepuce isn't fully retractable but then he is only 6 years old. There is no such thing as the "right age" for it to become retractable. Even his paediatrician agrees that for a few boys this will only happen after they hit puberty. Where he and I disagree, is that circumcision is the easiest solution.

      It's not. Even if he hits puberty and it still not fully retractable, there are other avenues to explore: manual stretching, topical steroid , both…

      In the meantime , we are subtly encouraging him to explore his body and kind of have a play with 'things',by giving him more privacy. We've installed locks on the door that separate his room from his twin sister's. They are way over the stage where they were curious about how different their bodies look ( they used to watch each other's pee when they were 4-5) and thought it was funny. Now they get embarrassed/angry if they are caught naked by one another.

      sigh They grow so fast :(

      • xsacha on 21/11/2015 - 21:00
        +3

        I don't think it would be normal for it to be retractable at that age. The average would be closer to pre-puberty or so. Definitely nothing to be worried about.
        When you are going for a position in the army, they actually check for this condition and will advise people who fail the test on various methods like you said — none of which are circumcision.

  • Tenebrae on 21/11/2015 - 22:30

    You and your wife are wrong. You make every decision for your son, because you have the right to do so until he is able to do so himself.

    • GameChanger on 21/11/2015 - 22:59
      +2

      So plastic surgery decisions to alter his face is fine as well?

  • [Deactivated] on 22/11/2015 - 00:02

    I'll give a different viewpoint.

    I'm a Jewish female.
    Obviously every Jewish male I know is circumcised. I have dated Catholics and they were all circumcised too. I have never seen an uncircumcised penis and would likely think they had an STD or something was wrong with their penis.
    My Catholic female friend brought this issue up recently and every male (not just Jews) said they would circumcise.
    I also know my father is circumcised and he is not Jewish.

    Would I do my son? Yes. Jews do it 8 days after birth.
    Partly because it's the Jewish thing and because it's the 'in' thing in my societal group. However, if it were abnormal I would not do it regardless of religious history because I would never want them to be an outsider or weird because of it.

    Waiting until the male is 18 is ridiculous. It's a serious procedure at 18 and the healing time is much longer and far more painful. No one would elect to do it at that age because they would think it was not worth the trade off and they were used to what they had and very likely had already had sex with it as it was.

    • ArjaytheGuy on 22/11/2015 - 01:01
      +8

      In Australia circumcision rates are below 20% of males.

      Not to discount your religious or cultural background; but amongst the wider australian community circumcision is the "abnormal" choice .

      • [Deactivated] on 22/11/2015 - 06:10

        I'll have to take your word on that :)
        But I would want my son socialising with my societal group in future generations so I don't care if the majority of people in other groups aren't circumcised.

      • Tenebrae on 22/11/2015 - 15:57
        -1

        Got a source for that? Circumcision of neonates was almost universally practiced in until very recently.

        • [Deactivated] on 22/11/2015 - 16:29

          Prevalence of circumcision in Oz

        • ArjaytheGuy on 22/11/2015 - 18:31

          @Jar Jar Binks:

          Thanks JJB, I should've specified that for my above comment I was referring to the rate of infant circumcision (as per the RACP); but that wikipedia article links to some more specific little factoids.

          wasn't certain of the age bracket breakdowns (but knew that it was more common in older age brackets (and of course within some social / religious groups)).

    • xsacha on 22/11/2015 - 17:46
      +1

      So basically you just need to find friends outside of your very small circle :) No offense.
      It is 14% nationally right now and 2% in Tasmania.

  • anonymous8 on 22/11/2015 - 00:31
    +5

    Just teach your kid to shower everyday and he will be right.

  • Baebs on 22/11/2015 - 01:34
    +2

    Few threads ago he was divorced, now he has a wife again. Wonder what other tale he'll concoct next.

  • [Deactivated] on 22/11/2015 - 04:00

    Off in space now, here's a reference regarding the origins of circumcision, predating the suggestion of it being a Jewish practice. With references below it.

    Ethiopians known now in India as the Dravidians, invaded India between 3250 and 2750 BCE, to establish a civilization in the Indus Valley (see Pears Cyclopaedia, Pelham Books), and give India, Hinduism, which combines elements of their beliefs: the caste system, circumcision, magic, witchcraft, with the influence of the Osirian Mystery System.

    Read more at: http://www.modernghana.com/news/438014/1/maat-truth-and-just…

    and
    Circumcision is the world's oldest planned surgical procedure, suggested by anatomist and hyperdiffusionist historian Grafton Elliot Smith to be over 15,000 years old, pre-dating recorded history.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circumcision

    • I read also only about 10% of non-muslims worldwide are circumcised. 70% of Muslims are circumcised.
  • [Deactivated] on 22/11/2015 - 08:55
    +3

    males are born with foreskin on for a reason, leave it there!

    • Billygoat on 22/11/2015 - 13:23

      Really?
      What's the benefit?
      Making cheese?

      • xsacha on 22/11/2015 - 17:11
        +6

        The two primary ones (for the boy) are:
        sensation
        natural lubrication

        Here's a bigger list: http://www.circumstitions.com/Functions.html

        Circumcision also affects your partner.

        There's research that suggests the female feels more pain with circumcised because, due to the lack of sensation for the male, they prefer it 'rough', which hurts the woman and delays/prevents climax.
        http://sciencenordic.com/male-circumcision-leads-bad-sex-lif…
        The women were three times more likely to report pain with a circumcised partner, in the Denmark-based study.

        Two more studies:
        "In a landmark study of US women, 85% who had experienced both circumcised and intact men preferred sex with intact men. Sex with a circumcised man was associated with pain, dryness and difficulty reaching orgasm (O'Hara 1999). In another study, women were twice as likely to reach orgasm with an intact man (Bensley 2003). Even when a woman said she preferred a circumcised partner, she had less dryness and discomfort with intact men (O'Hara 1999)."

        Also: http://www.drmomma.org/2009/07/how-male-circumcision-impacts…
        I know this is a 'blog', but it has a collection of links to journals, books, groups and doctors opinions as well as anecdotes in the comment section that suggest that circumcision leads to a worse sex life.
        You could find them all yourself if you wanted.

  • Finde on 22/11/2015 - 08:58

    Speaking as one who has been circumcised, I am incredibly thankful that my parents did it when I was a baby so I didn't have to go through the pain later in life when I would actually remember it.
    My family are not religious at all and was done for the benefits.

  • [Deactivated] on 22/11/2015 - 09:20
    +7

    Im sorry but what are the supposed benefits of this procedure?

  • lostn on 22/11/2015 - 09:55
    +8

    Even though we are his parents, we do not have the right to make that decision for him. I agree with her.

    I agree with you. Let him make the decision for himself when he's old enough to. It's an irreversible process, and it's his body, so he should choose for himself.

    I had the procedure done when I was an adult. Let me tell you, sex does not feel the same without it.. The foreskin contains about 30,000 nerve endings. You don't feel half as much pleasure once you've removed it. That alone is reason enough to keep it. I regret getting it done.

  • Shout It Out on 22/11/2015 - 11:54
    +1

    Ohhhh goodie. I thought I would only encounter these discussions on parenting sites. How fun to see this on a bargain site too lol.

    Unfortunately the discussions of breast vs formula, controlled crying vs attachment parenting, to pierce a baby's ears or not, to vaccinate or not to vaccinate and circumcision vs non circumcision, end up more often than not in heated arguments and whatnot.

    Personally, I think that if there's no medical necessity for a circumcision, I wouldn't do it.
    But…. That is my personal opinion and I respect that not everyone agrees with me.

  • Jackson on 22/11/2015 - 13:04
    +2

    At least when it comes to males, apparently it turns out that all the ones that recommend circumcision are circumcised. This means that bias is inherent in the answer, so you need to be completely scientific about it, and the science is in and says "No!"

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