We're having a boy; should we have him circumcised?

[Soda]

tl;dr: partner and I are having our first kid soon. He's got a penis. Should we have him circumcised shortly after birth?

We've looked up tons of peer-reviewed papers on the practice. Here in the USA, it seems like circumcision rates are declining, slowly, with maybe 50-60% of boys now being circumcised from a peak of maybe 70-90% at one point. It varies heavily by state and racial/ethnic demographic, too.

But, looking at the papers, there are several benefits to circumcision: reduced risk of contracting HIV, HPV, penile cancer, and other diseases/ailments. The reasons against circumcision are more philosophical as the procedure itself is relatively safe with rarely any major complications. There doesn't seem to be much evidence to support removal of the foreskin causing decreased sexual pleasure. But, philosophically speaking, the baby obviously cannot give consent, and furthermore, the baby will feel quite a lot of pain once the local anesthetic wears off.

What would you do or what have you done? Any data or evidence to support your decision is greatly appreciated, but any discussion at all is appreciated.

 

[crimzonflame]

oh boy

 

[Fat4all]

congrats on the baby

 

[Pankratous]

Abuse if you ask me. 🤷‍♂️ But I'm from the UK and the only people I know who are have had it done had a genuine medical requirement to have it done

 

[Meg Cherry]

Don't do an unnecessary cosmetic surgery on your child without their consent.

 

[TooBusyLookinGud]

Entirely up to you and your partner. Don't let us decide it for you OP. We had our son circumcised, but it was a decision that we made together. With no outside opinions.

I suggest you close this thread and talk with your partner.

 

[AkuMifune]

oh boy

Click to shrink...

 

[Cyanity]

Please no

 

[Deleted member 431]

No, let your kid make that decision himself in the future.

 

[subrock]

I couldn't justify it with my son, but it's your choice. Penis aesthetics never struck me as a great reason.

 

[Deleted member 2840]

Unless your kid is born clearly with something that you NEED a circumcision, PLEASE don't do this. Don't spread this honestly sad culture that's so ingrained in the US

 

[Dunlop]

If there is no medical or religious reason, then no.

 

[Deleted member 5865]

Dont do it, let your kid decide themselves

 

[Deleted member 22630]

You do you but it is genital mutilation and I say this as someone circumsized and don't really care that I was however if it's obviously medical then yeah that's different.

 

[colorblindmode]

I'm a male, and I'm circumcised. Non religious reasons. But I don't really have an opinion about whether or not you should. It has been fine for me.

 

[odiin]

What reason do you have to justify doing it?

 

[Deleted member 4212]

I didn't do it to my boy, though it was done to me when I was born. My wife and I think he is fine the way he was born, no need to cut of any parts of his body.

 

[Courage]

No

 

[Saito]

Speak with a physician (definitely not us) then make a decision.

 

[fontguy]

No.

 

[Allietraa]

i mean your kid can get it done later if they want, but they cant really undo it if they dont

 

[Liquid Plejades]

I wouldn't do it

 

[Deleted member 48828]

Hell no.

 

[Regiruler]

This is not something to ask in the off topic section of a video game forum.

 

[AnansiThePersona]

Yesn't

 

[Merrill]

Unless there is was medical reason or you just like male genital mutilation, no. It's fucking sick and abuse.

 

[Arex]

I wouldn't

 

[Jedi2016]

Nope.

 

[metalslimer]

Definitely wish it hadn't been done to me

 

[DPT120]

Nope

 

[Deleted member 17990]

Fuck no.

 

[Platy]

don't make changes to your children's body without their consent without an urgent medical reason

you can talk to your child like in 15 years about the benefits

 

[Big Yoshi]

Spoiler: Spoiler

no

 

[TaterTots]

Discuss this with your partner and a doctor. This aint the place lmao.

 

[Charizard]

Don't do it. Uncircumcised dicks are so much better to jerk off and it's not even close IMO.

More serious answer: Circumcision can lead to various issues, especially when done on a baby since you don't know how the dick will grow. It is far easier to fix issues caused by not circumcising because you can just circumcise if medically needed. Can't really fix the opposite very easily.

 

[Lotto]

i didn't but then i had developed a medical condition that required it in middle school. glad i had it done but it was a miserable experience to remember. kinda wish it was done when i couldn't remember. idk, ymmv and it seems like most people are more adverse to have it done because it's considered mutilation.

 

[Lynd]

No reason to, its there for a reason anyway.

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

Don't ask a message board.

 

[nsilvias]

No, unless it really needs to be done health reasons.

 

[Soda]

Uh just to be clear: my partner and I have discussed this extensively and are pretty sure we have our decision made (no circumcision). I more just wanted a discussion on the topic and didn't mean to imply we'd decide based entirely on a stranger on the internet's opinion.

As mentioned, we've looked up quite a few papers on the topic. We're more against it from a philosophical stand point, but we were surprised to learn that it's almost objectively a health improvement to circumcise, at least in terms of measurable reduction in acquiring various STDs/STIs.

 

[Deleted member 17990]

Don't ask a message board.

Click to shrink...

Yeah this you should be talking to your SO and not a forum.

 

[Punished Goku]

Don't ask a message board.

Click to shrink...

THIS.

 

[Wyman Manderly]

Can only speak from experience but as a circumsized American I am so damn happy my parents had it done for me after birth.

 

[shan780]

it's his choice to make.

I've always thought it was insane that this is even something people think about in america. the only guy I know that's circumcised had it done as an adult for a medical reason

 

[Deleted member 48813]

I'd say no. 99% of the time any disease you could get from being uncut can be solved by just washing properly.

 

[offtopic]

A thread designed to cull the herd...yikes. Do your research. Examine your values. Make your decision.

 

[Psittacus]

But, looking at the papers, there are several benefits to circumcision: reduced risk of contracting HIV, HPV, penile cancer, and other diseases/ailments.

Click to shrink...

Would you give a hypothetical daughter a prophylatic mastectomy at birth?*

*Noting that it doesn't actually work like that, but if it did how would you feel about the idea?

 

[nanskee]

I prefer circumcised look but it's better to let the child decide

 

[EloquentM]

Can only speak from experience but as a circumsized American I am so damn happy my parents had it done for me after birth.

Click to shrink...

why are you happy? Weird thing to be happy about.

 

[FreezePeach]

Era is the last place you should ask.