Tina asked today if we were going to be circumsizing little Shim. Eric and I have talked about it a great deal, and are leaning towards definitely not doing it. When I told Tina that, her response was that our decision goes right along with what AAP recommends. (American Academy of Pediatrics). In any case, here is some info on circumcisions.
From www.circumcision.org
Response to American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Circumcision Policy Statement
SIGNS OF PROGRESS
The statement takes a position of not recommending circumcision. Consistent with all previous AAP reports, no proven, actual benefits for circumcision are found. The claims of potential medical benefits are discussed in more detail that the last report (1989) and shown to be insignificant. The debate about medical benefits is over.
The report recognizes the extreme pain and trauma caused by circumcision as evidenced by large increases in heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormone levels during circumcision. The AAP notes that according to a recent study, circumcised infants exhibit a stronger pain response to vaccination at six months than uncircumcised infants, demonstrating that the effects of circumcision are not short-lived. By calling for pain medication, in the form of injection into the infant’s penis, the AAP acknowledges that this extreme pain and trauma of circumcision are serious.
The AAP statement acknowledges that the foreskin contains "a concentration of specialized sensory cells" and reports that "penile sensation and sexual satisfaction are decreased for circumcised males."
The statement references a report that circumcised men are more likely to engage in various sexual practices such as masturbation and heterosexual oral sex. This finding suggests that without a foreskin to contribute to sexual pleasure, circumcised men seek alternative forms of stimulation to compensate for their loss.
The report identifies 20 different possible circumcision complications. The 1989 report only mentioned bleeding, infection, and death as possible complications.
It warns physicians that parents should not be coerced by medical professionals to choose circumcision, suggesting that some medical professionals have coerced parents to choose circumcision. In fact, some infants have been circumcised even though parents explicitly requested no circumcision.
As in previous reports, hygiene is not an issue. According to the report, "there is little evidence to affirm the association between circumcision status and optimal penile hygiene.
And from www.kidshealth.org
Approximately 55% to 65% of all newborn boys are circumcised in the United States each year, though this rate varies by region (western states have the lowest rates and the north central region has the highest). The procedure is much more widespread in the United States, Canada, and the Middle East than in Asia, South America, Central America, and most of Europe, where it's uncommon.
Parents who choose circumcision often do so based on religious beliefs, concerns about hygiene, or cultural or social reasons, such as the wish to have their son look like other men in the family.
Despite the possible benefits and risks, circumcision is neither essential nor detrimental to a boy's health. The AAP and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) do not endorse the procedure as a way to prevent any of the medical conditions mentioned previously. The AAP also does not find sufficient evidence to medically recommend circumcision or argue against it.
From www.circumcision.org
Response to American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Circumcision Policy Statement
SIGNS OF PROGRESS
The statement takes a position of not recommending circumcision. Consistent with all previous AAP reports, no proven, actual benefits for circumcision are found. The claims of potential medical benefits are discussed in more detail that the last report (1989) and shown to be insignificant. The debate about medical benefits is over.
The report recognizes the extreme pain and trauma caused by circumcision as evidenced by large increases in heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormone levels during circumcision. The AAP notes that according to a recent study, circumcised infants exhibit a stronger pain response to vaccination at six months than uncircumcised infants, demonstrating that the effects of circumcision are not short-lived. By calling for pain medication, in the form of injection into the infant’s penis, the AAP acknowledges that this extreme pain and trauma of circumcision are serious.
The AAP statement acknowledges that the foreskin contains "a concentration of specialized sensory cells" and reports that "penile sensation and sexual satisfaction are decreased for circumcised males."
The statement references a report that circumcised men are more likely to engage in various sexual practices such as masturbation and heterosexual oral sex. This finding suggests that without a foreskin to contribute to sexual pleasure, circumcised men seek alternative forms of stimulation to compensate for their loss.
The report identifies 20 different possible circumcision complications. The 1989 report only mentioned bleeding, infection, and death as possible complications.
It warns physicians that parents should not be coerced by medical professionals to choose circumcision, suggesting that some medical professionals have coerced parents to choose circumcision. In fact, some infants have been circumcised even though parents explicitly requested no circumcision.
As in previous reports, hygiene is not an issue. According to the report, "there is little evidence to affirm the association between circumcision status and optimal penile hygiene.
And from www.kidshealth.org
Approximately 55% to 65% of all newborn boys are circumcised in the United States each year, though this rate varies by region (western states have the lowest rates and the north central region has the highest). The procedure is much more widespread in the United States, Canada, and the Middle East than in Asia, South America, Central America, and most of Europe, where it's uncommon.
Parents who choose circumcision often do so based on religious beliefs, concerns about hygiene, or cultural or social reasons, such as the wish to have their son look like other men in the family.
Despite the possible benefits and risks, circumcision is neither essential nor detrimental to a boy's health. The AAP and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) do not endorse the procedure as a way to prevent any of the medical conditions mentioned previously. The AAP also does not find sufficient evidence to medically recommend circumcision or argue against it.
That's just a little information and intro, and there is tons more out there. I've done alot of reading; enough to make up my mind. But, I'm not the one with a penis, so I'm letting Eric have a great deal of input with this decision. We are not Jewish or Islamic, so we have no relegious basis for doing it. Only about half of baby boys are circumsized these days, so the whole argument of "Don't you want him to look like everyone else in the locker room?" doesn't fly. By the time he's in a locker room, I'm hoping it'll be about half and half between the boys are are and aren't. As far as medical reasons, the benefits are so small percentage wise. So are the risks. It really just comes down to a personal decision.
In my research I learned that the reason circumcision was started thousands of years ago was to decrease the sensitivity of the penis, thereby deterring masturbation. Well, it didn't work, but the practice caught on and became prevalent. Well, now in Africa female circumcision is being forced on women to decrease their sexual pleasure, and called "genital mutilation". The rest of the world is horrified, and trying to find ways to stop it. Where was the horror when we started doing this to baby boys who didn't have a say so?
Well, enough of my soapbox of the day. Eric and I haven't made a final decision, but it should be pretty obvious which way I lean. Medicaid no longer pays for circumcision. Other insurances are stopping reimbursement. And when a peds urologist I work with straight up told me the reason it's still so popular is b/c of money to be made, my mind was made up. He says that as soon as all insurances stop reimbursement, you will be hard pressed to find ANY doctor who will do it, without out of pocket payment up front. Makes you wonder doesn't it?
Okay, I'm really done now. Circumcision soapbox over.
And can I just say that I REALLY like having a blog where I can just go on and on about whatever I'm passionate about at the moment!!! And if someone doesn't like it, they can leave a nasty comment, and I CAN DELETE IT! This is truly fabulous. I can't believe it's taken me this long in life to discover the beauty of blogging. My JM friend Angela is the first member of my entourage. I expect the paparazzi to show up any moment now. Gotta go freshen up my lipstick :-)
In my research I learned that the reason circumcision was started thousands of years ago was to decrease the sensitivity of the penis, thereby deterring masturbation. Well, it didn't work, but the practice caught on and became prevalent. Well, now in Africa female circumcision is being forced on women to decrease their sexual pleasure, and called "genital mutilation". The rest of the world is horrified, and trying to find ways to stop it. Where was the horror when we started doing this to baby boys who didn't have a say so?
Well, enough of my soapbox of the day. Eric and I haven't made a final decision, but it should be pretty obvious which way I lean. Medicaid no longer pays for circumcision. Other insurances are stopping reimbursement. And when a peds urologist I work with straight up told me the reason it's still so popular is b/c of money to be made, my mind was made up. He says that as soon as all insurances stop reimbursement, you will be hard pressed to find ANY doctor who will do it, without out of pocket payment up front. Makes you wonder doesn't it?
Okay, I'm really done now. Circumcision soapbox over.
And can I just say that I REALLY like having a blog where I can just go on and on about whatever I'm passionate about at the moment!!! And if someone doesn't like it, they can leave a nasty comment, and I CAN DELETE IT! This is truly fabulous. I can't believe it's taken me this long in life to discover the beauty of blogging. My JM friend Angela is the first member of my entourage. I expect the paparazzi to show up any moment now. Gotta go freshen up my lipstick :-)
