Poll II

Marina007

Brought on by the piercing of baby ears topic - what is your take on circumcision of baby boys?I live in a European country where circumcision is extremely rare - and I remember being so surprised when Charlotte on SATC was surprised that a guy was not circumcised.I realise there are religious aspects here, but from what I gather, a lot of people get circumcised for non-religious reasons also.(in the pierced ears thread - many of the arguments included not doing anything permanent to the child).Thoughts?

buttaflai

Funny, that was the first thing I thought about when people argued that parents shouldn't do anything permanent to the child.

wadingmoose

I wouldn't do it.  I've been with a lot of uncircumcised men and it's not a problem at all.

Nebb

If I ever have kids and its a boy, he will be circumsized, for a number of reasons.

wadingmoose

And, Buttaflai, I said in that thread I wouldn't do it.  I'm the only one who said anything about permanence.  I don't even think my brother is circumcised, but I haven't asked and don't plan to.

SarieP

I'm in favor of it because of cultural and hygiene reasons.

Soon-to-be Mrs. Vogt

I'll probably let H make this decision, since he's the one with the similar parts. I have no feelings one way or another, but it seems like most parents have their boys circumsized in these parts (for whatever reason).That being said, I have a friend who has boys. She also didn't care, and neither did her H. But, she went ahead and had them circumsized, because her H was. She wanted them to look like their dad so there wouldn't be confusion or extra explanations later on that they might not understand. I'm not sure how I feel about that, to be honest.

laurenclaire1386

It's standard practice to do it in the US for health reasons, I believe.  But to each his own.  I don't have a peen, so it's not something I worry about on a day to day basis.  I will say this though, I slept with a guy in college who wasn't circumcized. I was not prepared because every other one I'd ever seen was circumcized. I've butchered the spelling.

bbyckes

I circumcised my son.  I live in America, I'm not Jewish or Catholic and I've never slept with an uncircumcised man.  It never crossed my mind to do anything else.

scoetto

I don't think I'd do it. I'm not sure if my step-son is circumcised or not. Not sure of DH's opinion on it. But we don't plan on having children.

georgia_bride09

I will circumsize my {future} son(s), mainly for hygiene purposes, and as Vogt said, I want them to look the same as dad so there's no confusion. I can almost guarantee that my husband is pro-circumcision.

andyandhillary

**Note** I know essentially nothing on circumcision.  That being said, I asked Andy seeing as how he has a penis and I don't and he said he would like our son(s) to be circumcised.  If you don't circumcise you have to be sure to clean very well and show your son how to clean well.  We both feel that after diapers it's weird to touch your kids genitals.  On a more shallow note, living in the states where it is common, I don't want my kids being that guy that gets a rep for having a weird penis that girls talk about.  Knowing how awkward our children could potentially be they don't need that going against them too. 

MeaghanandMichael

I personally would not mind either way. I have no good reason for wanting to except cultural expectations. Mike, however, is completely for it. He argues the child will be embarassed/uncomfortable later on and be teased. I really can't weigh in on this since I have no experience with the world of male locker rooms.

tidetravel

DH has the goods, so I felt he was a better judge - I told him it was his decision if we were to have a boy.  He votes to circumcise. 

Chi_Chi

I agree with it and will have my son circumsized, should I have one. J already said that not doing it wasn't an option. With all that extra skin, there has to be extensive cleaning involved. I agree with it from a hygene stand point.

mandapanda78

I don't plan on having my sons circumcised. I've never known a guy who had hygiene issues because of foreskin, nor one who was confused because other guys were circumcised. (If my kids are short will they be confused because other kids are tall?) It's a major change to make to someone's body before they are even old enough to understand. I won't do it.

mmm_080809

Even though it'll be my child, I kind of feel like since I don't have a penis, I shouldn't get a vote on the subject. I told DH he can decide this one. He is in favor of circumcision, I think mostly because it's standard practice around here and he wants our kid to feel "normal." I'm not sure it's the greatest argument in the world, but again, I've never been in that situation.

TiDa2009

I think I'll leave this decision completely up to FI who has said he would talk to the doctors about the pros and cons of each side.  He and his brothers weren't, but one of his brothers had problems later in life and needed to have the procedure done. I know if it were completely up to me (as in if I was single when I gave birth), I would probably have it done simply for hygienic/cleaning reasons.

buttaflai

I don't think you were the only one, wading. Several said something about they their daughters should be able to decide if they want a hole in their body.I asked H about this a long time ago and he was all about it. I agree.

Chi_Chi

the child will be embarassed/uncomfortableThis is very true. I had a friend in HS that refused to let anyone see his peen. He has a MAJOR complex about it and it bothered him tremedously.

wadingmoose

FWIW, my ex husband was not circumcised and he had no problems whatsoever with hygiene OR teasing.Of course, the majority of men I've been with (from what I can remember) were not circumcised.  FI is one of the few that has been.Weird.

Soon-to-be Mrs. Vogt

Wading, are you a magnet for the uncut peen?

wadingmoose

I must be.  I thought NOTHING of it until FI.  Then I was all "WTF?"  At which point I realized that everyone else must've been uncircumcized   Oddly enough, I find that uncircumcized had certain advantages, but... that's way too much TMI.

Soon-to-be Mrs. Vogt

Snort. Do you (or any other Canadians)know if it's different in Canada as far as the norm? Here, it's basically the norm to be circumsized (from what I know). When my nephew was born, they just scheduled his and told my brother and babymama about it. I'm sure they could have told them they didn't want it at the point if they didn't, but the doctor/nurses just assumed that they would.

jamm2019

I also think it is the parents decision to do it or not.  I know that a big part is for hygiene purposes.  I have never been with a guy who wasn't, but that doesn't mean anything.  I do have a guy friend who has not been, and he has had some problems in the past.  He told me TMI with having an odor down there.  But I think if the guy knows how to cleans the area it shouldn't be a problem.

wadingmoose

I have no idea if it's the norm.  It's not something I really discuss.  I don't think my brother has had either of his boys done, but I could be wrong since I don't typically ask if someone's taking a knife to a peen. 

Hello Sunshine

ALL of the (2) men I've been with are circumcised.  DH will likely be the one to make this decision, but his vote will be yay for the same reasons posted above, mostly hygiene.

sarah0725

I'm with the crowd that think it should be FI's decision since he's the one with the parts, and my FI is for it, for all of the reasons that most of your FI's are - cleanliness and wanting our future son(s) to fit in when it comes time to show off for girls. I've never seen an uncircumcised penis in person.

andyandhillary

Odor can definitely be an issue.  Just sayin'

Soon-to-be Mrs. Vogt

Really, that conversation doesn't come up over drinks for you? I think I'm around entirely too many moms or soon-to-be moms.

SwedishChick2011

I think it's a good idea to have a baby boy circumcised for health reasons and because it's less painful (or at least the baby won't remember).  If I ever have a boy, I would definitely have him circumcised (for health reasons, not religious reasons).  I wouldn't judge anyone who decided not to have their baby boy circumcised, though.