The Great Debate - Circumcision and the Benefits.

I have two boys ages 17 and 20. Niether one was circumsised. My dad wasn`t either. so far they have had no problems. I had no problem expplaining the process of cleaning themselves. My 17 year old has expressed that he wants to get circumsised. I bleieve if he wants to he can. They have both been sexually active and have had no complaints from the girls. I worried about it when i decided not too do it when they were born. They sem okay with it though.

"A british medical journal in May 2000 has suggested that men who are circumcised are a whopping 8 times less likely to contract the HIV virus."

I remember a study that came out a few years ago that supports this. I was so interested in; I wanted to understand exactly what it is that makes circumcised men less likely to contract HIV.  I found the original study and scrutinized it (sorry I don't have time to track it down again) and found that the study was done of men from several African countries where HIV is prevalent. On these countries, the culture look down on circumcision so men who have been circumcised end up not being as sexually active because of the shame/stigma attached to circumcision (they'll mostly likely be laughed at by women).  There really is no medical explanation on this, so far as I found. The explanation is cultural only - so the result cannot be generalized to all countries.

That said, I am not against circumcision - my husband and my son are circumcised. But I am definitely for people researching all the facts in order to make an informed decision.

Hi honey,

Thanks for sharing this info on a very controversial subject . . My thoughts are that if there is a history of problems in a family with foreskin problems then yes go ahead and have your son circumcised BUT if you have no real reason then leave well enough alone. .  I have seen both sides of this debate many time but most recently in my own family as my nephew was done due to problems with his foreskin.

The family was divided right down the middle over this when really it should not have been an issue . . There was problem with his foreskin so the doctors wanted it removed  . . There was good reason so I didn't understand all the debate . .

Sadly I think just the word circumcision leads to debate because many people don't take the time to weigh everything up properly . .

Well done mate on a great article . .

Cheers Kellz

I wish you would have mentioned whether your son was anesthetized when you had the procedure done, as that is the main thing I take issue with. For a while the trend was to do it without any anesthesia because babies "don't remember it" or "don't feel it" and I don't buy that. I am on the side of the fence of non-cirumcision as it seems unnecessary. So my son and my stepson are not circumcised. But if you are going to have it done, give your baby something for the pain! Please!

I agree with an earlier commenter, from what I've read, men with a foreskin say intimacy is more enjoyable.

As far as men thinking their genitals look better after circumcision, I would have to say that depends totally on culture and what looks "normal" to the man. I know my husband, who is not circumcised, thinks circumcised penises look... wrong. So that's kind of a neutral argument, really.

I admire your courage in tackling this contreversial topic!

This is soooo Funny chicki, if you had writen his 20+ years ago u would have 5 stars. LOL

I am a firm beliver of circumcision. I had my son done at 6 weeks. my hubby was done at birth, his brother and father and so on down the track. My poor father wasnt and at 27 he had to have it done and he said it was an aweful experience and the only thing that kept the pai away was the pretty nurse he had. LOL (bloody dad) We chose when we found out we were having alex if he was a boy he would get done and i asked my ob for a name of a doc who did it. he gave me the name of the guy who did it.

when we had Alex we took him straight away to the doc and he said come back when he was 5 weeks so he could look and all that stuff. when he looked at Alex's penis and pulled the foreskin back the smallest bit it tore and bled. so it had to be done even if we changed our minds.

great article chicki. from me

Neither of my boys are circumcised. Zak who is 7 has been cleaning his own penis since he was 4.....I talked him through it the first time and then for a few eeks I reminded him to do it every night in the bath. All they need to do is to gently and slowly pull back the foreskin and swish the bath water around it. He has been doing this in the bath every night since. Occaisionally I'll yell out to him to makes sure he washes his penis and his reply to me is "I already have". It's become a non event and isn't one bit awkward, it teaches him about his own body and how to care for himself and not be embarrest or ashamed. Also I'll add he knows why he has to do it too. Luke is only 3 but once he gets to the age of 4 he'll be doing it too. If the cleaning is taught early and properly than there's no reason why there should be any problems with cleanliness.

It's great to see the PROS but where are the CONS?

Amanda xxx

There are so many things that "cause cancer"..If they knew exactly what causes cancer no one would have it. Does having a foreskin really cause cancer??

That means also having breast...breast cancer..get rid of them??? Bone cancer...etc etc... I am not convinced.

Great advice and I would have circ'd my boys, but there are no doctors around here that do it,

I look at it this way....toncillitis, appendicitis etc. are all very painful and are caused by parts of our body that we can live without if they are removed and we don't remove them when our children are born to stop them possibly causing pain/complications when they get older. If appendicitis is not treated it can cause death, so in a way it is a lot more dangerous than having a foreskin. And there are lots of parts in our body that can get cancer, should we start removing those we don't need to try and prevent getting cancer?

I think it comes down to the fact that if it's not meant to be there then why are they born with it?

Not sure where you got all of your info from???

I am in the middle of this whole debate. I have two boys. First son has been fine not being circumcised..no problems. My second not so.

I have seen a programme on the pros and cons of circumcision. It actually was not saying there are more benifits being done. It pointed out that it was not proven that men with foreskin were more likely to get aids..or genital warts, etc etc.

The men that were not circumcised when younger and then done so as adult said that sex actually was better when they had foreskin. When the skin is removed the nerve endings become numb from rubbing etc. With the foreskin to protect the end of the penis they had more pleasure. The men that got their foreskin removed did so as not it was more to do with their confidence..wanting to not be in the minority group. Not infection disease etc.

Circumcision i think comes in and out of "trends" we did not get our sons done as we do not want them to be the odd ones out at school. I know i know...we should do what we think. But my partner(who was born when the "trend" was to be circumcised) wanted our boys to be the same as their friends.

My mum was telling me that the doctor when she had my brothers would look at the boy and say yes they had to be done..or no.

With my second son..his penis is different to my first son. Seems more skin?? My second now has to be circumcised as he has Balanitis.(well that is what they think it is...he has been ill since birth and still on antibiotics for over 12 weeks.)

I have looked after many boys..circumcised and not. They did not get infections. They were not dirty.

Feeling uncomfy about having to teach them how to pull the foreskin back...with kids you will be more embarrassed about what they say to you in front of other people

I think circumcision should come down to if the infants needs it or not. Not trends..not what each person thinks...more so what medically has to be done.

I used to think circumcision for sure. I am neither for or against...but more so against everyone say you must do it or not to do it...leave it up to if it has to be done..then do it..if not leave it alone.

Great debate topic. One of those no right/wrong answer....more your choice.

thanks for sharing belxx

I myself are a big believer in circumcision also ,we have 3 boys and all 3 are done.My husband had to be done at 2 because it hurt so much for him to pee,I wasnt going to risk my baby boys suffering this also.I am in Nth Qld and in our climate it is better,I was told this by a very wise older dr that said during the war Australian men suffered less infections from lack of personal hygene then uncircumcised men.My step daughter has just had a baby boy and I havent been able to ask her if she is circumcising or not yet,purely her and her partners choice.But I for one are all for it even in this day and age.

                                                                      Cham

And yet did you know that 97% of the worlds male infants are not circumcised!!!