Circumcision: Did you leave your son intact? Why or why not?

I want to leave my son intact (pregnant with my first) but my partner is circumcised and wants baby to be as well. I really don’t want baby to get the Vit K shot but most hospitals require it for circumcisions:( I want to skip both but don’t think I’ll be able to

Circumcision is genital mutilation imo and shouldn’t be so normalized. My mother told me she had to hold my brothers legs down as a newborn to have the doctor circumcise him and she couldn’t even open her eyes during cause it’s was so sad to watch

While they tell us that circumcision is not medically necessary (which is absolutely true!), we decided to circumcise because of the medical benefits down the road. Men who are left intact are at greater risk for penile cancer, UTIs, STIs, phimosis, paraphimosis, balantitis, etc. to name a few. My son was circumcised at 5 weeks old because he was in the NICU which is much later than usual and he didn’t cry during the procedure and had no pain after. He was totally healed in a week and I honestly don’t think it bothered him one bit. What really matters is that he will be okay either way! Don’t listen to those who say there are no benefits to circumcising or that circumcision is mutilation just to make you feel bad (which is the common position from those against it on the internet lol). There are pros and cons to both sides.

I feel similar. I’m still on the fence. But I definitely worry about especially in old age as I have had a client in the past constantly getting infections or discomfort due to it not being super sanitary as he was bed ridden. My grandpa also had to have it done as an old man and that sounds so much worse to be done then. I just debate since it’s not medically necessary (at least at first)

We decided to do so based on our religion; however, even if that wasn’t the base of our decision I would have chosen to. My husband felt that for him personally he’s happy he was circumcised. I will say, hearing that cry is something I don’t want to hear ever again but he was totally fine a few minutes after I started nursing him. The surgeon let us know that he would have had complications in the future because of how tight the skin was. I’d much rather have him do it now and never remember it rather than having to do it when he’s older. Don’t let anyone make you feel like there’s a right and wrong decision. The best decision is what you and your partner choose what you want for YOUR son.

Even if it’s not absolutely necessary, it can still be medically beneficial. We didn’t want our son to run into a situation where he’s getting infections because he’s not keeping it clean as a teenager playing sports etc. It was also really important to us to protect and respect his bodily autonomy. At a certain point we can’t help him clean it anymore out of respect for his body and won’t be able to monitor how hygienically he is treating himself. He won’t remember it and most babies don’t even cry.

I was hesitant too! My doctor said it’s mainly a cosmetic procedure & said that he usually recommends “whatever dad has”. So we went with that. There’s concern over uti’s if not circumcised but as long as you’re doing your part & eventually teach him to properly clean himself, he’ll be fine!

Go for it hun. Every single boy in my family is circumcised and all are doing great if you need assurance. It's best for their health now and later down the line. If you decide to go for it, do it after a week when he's born, so by then, blood starts clotting, and most likely, you won't require vit K either if some religious authority is doing it.

My son’s father is uncircumcised and never has had an issue regarding it in any way in his life, so we knew unless it was medically necessary we’d be leaving our son uncircumcised.

Hygiene is pretty common sense! But Every body’s body is different
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/expert-answers/uncircumcised-penis/faq-20058327

I felt really torn by this as well but I did a lot of research on it and read a few scientific journals and research papers on it and it seemed more medically sound and safe to do it. We did but I had my husband be in the room because I couldn’t bear to be in the room when it happened. He healed beautifully and was fine shortly after the procedure. Honestly it’s up to you but if it helps, do some reading and make an informed decision that feels right to you.

This is super long, but very informative. It goes into all the research that has been done in the past year or so. I still haven’t made a decision, but it was nice reading actual research rather than just opinions and really outdated info. https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-and-ethics-on-circumcision/

I was torn on the decision, cause I wanted it done but was scared of the basic stuff like him being in pain, complications etc. my baby’s father was adamant that he be circumcised so we did and it was the best decision 100%. He did not show any signs of being in pain after the procedure was done and it healed perfectly in a week with no issues

My husband wanted to circumcise our son, and I don't regret it. My son didn't cry at all during the procedure he was pretty content sucking on the apple juice drink they offer and honestly was fine afterwards, no crying, no bleeding, no complications. Just make sure to do your research and pick a good clinic if you choose to do circumcision

Me personally I left it up to my husband since at the end of the day he will be teaching him how to take care of it and all the in and outs. Since my husband is circumcised so is our son. Now due to some complications he didn’t get it till over two weeks old but hours later he was fine no pain! Not that I noticed wasn’t anymore fussy or anything then usual and healed in a couple days too

It’s bizarre that this is even a thing! In the UK you only get circumcised if it’s medically needed.

Don’t listen to the people who say it is genital mutilation because that is crap. It’s not needed but with saying that it was easy for my family to get major infections etc who regret not being able to have it young. It’s mutilation to woman as it does the complete opposite effects than a man. Like any procedure it comes with risks but that’s why it’s best to do it as a baby as there is less risks. Like getting tonsils removed if you gotta do it you gotta do it but if you can reduce the chances of him getting the infections etc it’s a good idea. My son didn’t know what happened didn’t cry when they put a needle in to his Willy to numb it which shocked me only cried for 5 mins when happened and hours and days later had no idea what happened to me. The place I took my son to was very thorough and ofc I was scared because I love him and was scared he would be in pain which thankfully he wasn’t and comments about mutilation hurt me as it made me second guess but I’m so glad I chose to

family members who have it in mine are so happy they have it and family members who have not had it done have had a lot of pain and problems not because of hygiene

Are you religious? Is there a medical reason? If the answer is no to both then there’s really no need to ‘cut’ your sons genitals I could never! I’ve got 2 boys and both intact just teach them to clean properly when they are old enough and there shouldn’t be any issues

I don’t know any circumcised men and not one of them have had an infection my son who is 16 has also never had issues. You just need to know how to clean it properly

We did both boys. Lowers the risk of infection when they are young teenagers and dont want to shower correctly and lowers the risk of infections when they are elders and can't physically clean correctly. It's very painful to get done as an adult.

My boys had it done on day 4 and day 2. I sat in on the procedure and watched. The only time they cried was being put on the table naked. It was super quick and easy. My first had a plastibell (imo the best one because there's no maintenance after) and my second had a gomco procedure (change ointment and gauze each diaper change for 3 days and then just ointment for another 4-5 days). Both were fully healed by day 8 and there was never any pain or discomfort

We did with our son. He was 5 days old, the whole procedure lasted about 10 minutes, he didn’t cry during it or after. And he was fully healed after a week. Men in my family are circumcised and so is my husband. Both my husband and I agreed on that decision for our son.

I don’t understand the obsession with circumcision in the US. It’s so weird to mutilate your son for no reason.

may be different for different countries on the risks of infection etc. no I’m not religious just family members have had issues because of not having it done and have had to have it later in life and it’s caused a lot of problems not to mention that the procedure is higher risk the older you are which is why it’s recommended before 12 weeks which causes no pain or knowledge to the baby. But family members who have it are glad. I also had lots of bladder infections etc growing up while also having 2 showers a day and it was painful so didn’t want my son to have the same pain

it’s not mutilation. Kindly If you don’t understand circumcision don’t comment this is a big decision and as someone who has gotten it for my son and know a heap from family it is not painful. For a woman yes it does the complete opposite, causes infections, trouble with childbirth etc and they do it for the wrong reasons but circumcision is different and a medical procedure for better health not worse and a lot are fine through life without it but it’s okay to have as well. We get rid of tonsils when they cause pain I’m sure the people that get tonsillitis would have wished that it could be taken out as a baby with no pain rather than later on in life. Getting circumcised later in life is much harder and complex not to mention a fortune

My son will not be circumcised. Honestly it’s completely up to you and your partner, my husband thinks that’s what’s best for him and I left that decision up to him because I trust him (he’s also not circumcised). The reason why we chose it would be best is because we have heard a lot more peoples kids going through infections with getting it done (like bad infections).I have also done research and I’ve also been taught how to take the proper care of him and don’t have any issue with extra time to clean him. I would just talk to your partner and explain why you would like this (whatever your decision is) and why you think that, get his opinions on things. If you want to get him circumcised that’s completely fine to everyone has their own preferences, and I’m not quite sure why I always see moms bashing other moms just because of their decision on whether to do it or not. Choose what you think is best despite other people’s opinions.

I don’t have a lenis, so I left the decision entirely up to my husband. He is circumcised, so he decided to to the same for our son.

kindly don’t try to influence others with anecdotes. There’s not a single man in my life and circle who has ever been circumcised and it’s never been an issue for anyone. It’s a weird custom in the US and needs to stop

That’s why I also mentioned about different countries as hygiene can be different etc. it’s not harmful I think it’s completely fine to not have it done but to say it’s mutilation as tho it is harmful when it isn’t is sad. I also said some men don’t have problems some do which is why it’s good to know yours and your partners family background on it. If it’s done for no reason and no knowledge that’s odd. I think she would like and prefer personal experience and although scary my son had no harm or knowledge I wouldn’t push onto anyone nor would I judge for someone to chose not to but calling it mutilation is an opinion not factual on Befits and non benifits or experience of own child never met someone who has had a problem with having it done.

Intact as it’s his body and both my husband and I don’t believe in mutilation. It’s not hard to take some time to teach how to clean or take the time to clean it

Let’s be kind! We’re all parents for the first time trying to figure things out and do our best. Preventative medicine is a good thing! If you don’t want to do it for your sons, then don’t, but it’s unkind and just plain wrong to call circumcision mutilation. There are plenty of justifiable reasons to have it done. I believe it’s comparable to having wisdom teeth removed before there’s pain. We don’t consider that mutilation even if it isn’t medically necessary. That surgery is way more involved than circumcision with a much more difficult recovery, but it’s still a common practice to have it done as a young adult so the healing process is easier rather than waiting for a potential problem to arise and have a harder recovery later in life. It’s the exact same thing with circumcision. We have it done at a time where there is little to no pain and they won’t remember so our sons don’t have to have it done later if something happens.

I wanted my son circumcised but it's considered a cosmetic surgery now, so I have to pay $2000 to get it done. I didn't realize that it would've been $500 at the least expensive but only under a certain age. I wasn't healed after having a c-section by that time, and now he's over a year, so I'm scared he will keep the memory of it and be traumatized 😬

Our son had it done when he was just 3 months old. He cried and was in some discomfort for the first day. He had the ring method so it fell off 4-5 days later. No complications, nor issues. However, if I was to do it again, I’d get it done younger, within the first 2 weeks. I saw at the clinic several babies that were very young and didn’t even wake up during the procedure.

Done for my baby while he was 3 days old only, my husband is circumcised and it’s more cultural thing in our country.
There was no sign of pain or fussing and healed through couple of days but still putting vasalin to ensure everything is healed 100%
From my view it’s more likely as a hygiene thing

it’s just a different culture. I’m not unkind anywhere, just honest. My wisdom teeth weren’t taken out because it wasn’t medically necessary for me and by that age I was also able to give consent. Outside the US it’s mainly done for cultural reasons in small communities. My parents in Germany were shocked that doctors would even ask us to circumcise our son.

most clinics don’t do over 12 weeks as it is high risk and they have to be put under. Unfortunately someone did it past the time and the 2 year old never work as you would know with any surgery getting put under is risky. Babies don’t have to be put under they prefer before they’re old enough to realise and reach down there. I personally wouldn’t do it at 1 unless there was a big reason like if his in pain etc I just feel there’s so much more risks but at the end of the day you and your partners can decide what you think is best

I think this is a US thing and honestly it baffles me. If you’re teaching them to clean themselves properly there really shouldn’t be an issue.

My so. Didn’t even really know it happened. There was no tears and he was perfectly fine

we were told I had to get it done within 6 days of birth.

unfortunately I wasn’t given to much information and everything was such a rush. My son was done a few weeks after but each country and clinic can be different I much would have rathered it be within the 24-48 hours at the hospital as they say it’s a good time between then (I was so nervous to take the bandage off, thankfully was fine but didn’t have partner that weekend which made me more worried but that boy really didn’t know what happened) think he was maybe 11 weeks

Sex therapist and educator here. Circumcision is a form of culturally acceptable genital mutilation. While it is done for religious reasons, it is medically unnecessary in modern times to do it for health reasons if you clean regularly. While it can be done without damage, it often does cause problems for men with sensitivity and/or pleasure as adults. It’s your decision as a parent, however, it’s also your son’s body…there is no pressing reason to have this procedure done if he will be bathing regularly.

I think that’s great that you know so well how to take the proper care and how easy it is to access’s information on how to clean it the best we can. Partners/husbands always need to be included they have the penis ! I truly think It’s a hard decision and If they know they have been good through life then most likely their child will too and they can help them too learn how to clean it best they can. 💯 if done wrong etc can cause bad infections and need to contact Dr to fix before bad and it’s important information to know that that could happen if a person decide to do it. Another thing is looking out for heaps of blood it can be so scary deciding to do it which makes it so so difficult to know what decision to make. Need to know all details good and bad !!

My husband is intact so I left the decision up to him. My son is not circumcised and is almost 2. We haven't had any issues yet.

Do what you want with your son, he’s yours end of the day.
For us we did circumcised him, it was something we agreed on without having a conversation about it. He was uncomfortable for the first two days, we got it down two days after he was born at the hospital before discharge.
My side of the family didn’t agree with what I wanted to do and tried convincing me out of it, I reminded them that I am his mother and I will do what I want with my son end of the day

I know two different American men who got circumcised in their 20s because they wanted it. They were bullied because women thought it was gross. Also I saw a video of a British man seeing a doctor because he couldn’t pull his hood back anymore and thought his D was still growing (🤦‍♀️) turns out he never cleaned under it and it was filled with a huge amount of smegma. Boys even if you teach them to clean themselves can be disgusting and other people can be cruel. That is just two reasons why people get it done here in the US. There’s even like stand up comedian bits making fun of uncircumcised men. Another reason why mothers here get it done. For the most part men are usually happy they were circumcised here. That being said it’s still not my first choice but dad wants it done. 🤷‍♀️

if you look at data, the majority of boys are not circumcised anymore. The Midwest is the last place in the US where more boys get circumcised than not but overall the numbers are declining all over the country

I just asked chat GPT and the majority of men born in the US are circumcised. Less than what they use to be. But over 50%.

yes because it used to be the norm to circumcise but less and less newborns get circumcised.

Both of my boys are intact and have no cleanliness issues. That’s a myth. Just teach them to pull the foreskin back when washing and all stays clean

https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-and-ethics-on-circumcision/


In the U.S., an estimated 71% of adult men are circumcised, but the current rate of routine newborn circumcision is much lower and research suggests that the rate continues to decline. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) published a report in 2013 tracking trends in male newborn circumcision from 1979 to 2010 (Owings et al. 2013). The overall rate of U.S. newborn circumcision before hospital discharge fell from 65% to 58% over the 32-year period.

Thank you to the person sharing this article earlier - very interesting read

I dont mean to be argumentative but that does just prove that still over half the baby boys being born today are circumcised, and the majority have already been circumcised. It kind of proved my point. I’ll definitely read the article though.