Circumcision - Mutilation?

[Spherical Time]

I don't know of any circumsised individuals who wish they weren't, or who can remember the event for that matter. If a person's consent to have their body messed with is really a big concern for you, then great! Maybe you can focus that energy on fighting against legal abortion. Cause, you know, show me a baby that wants scissors jammed into the back of his head...

In the post immeadiately preceeding yours, Rae introduces you to a person that is regretful.

How did I know that a gross mischaracterization of abortion would come up in this thread. Can't we keep the discusion to the issue at hand? After all, we can all hold multiple opinions about multiple things.

 

[constance]

Getting off the subject... here's another issue: The cochlear implant

Cochlear implants are one of the subjects which rouse controversy in the world of the deaf and those professionals who attend to the needs of the deaf. Most pearents of deaf children have their children get cochlear implants between 0 to 6 years old. In that case, the child do not have a choice. Just like circumcision. The parents decides.

An incision is made and the skin and tissue flap is lifted so that the surgeon can drill into the skull bone behind the ear. A receiver is placed into the drilled-out area and an electrode array is inserted into the cochlea.

CONS for getting Cochlear implants for your child:

1. Placement of the implant electrode into the cochlea will destroy any residual hearing in the implanted ear. You will never be able to hear anything in the implanted ear without the use of the cochlear implant.

2. It is recommended that one does not play any contact sports (football, wrestling, karate, etc.). A helmet should ALWAYS be worn during activities that may result in a fall or inadvertent injury to the implant site. Each user and his/her family must decide the level of risk that is acceptable in terms of activities that are permitted.

3. The implant will activate metal detectors, which may be a nuisance to you at airports and other security checkpoints. Cell phones and other electronic devices may rarely interfere with the implant performance.

4. It is unclear of the success/failure rate for cochlear implants. In failure, the person will lose his/her hearing permanently for life.

My doctor didn't think it was necessary to put tubes in my ears as a child. My eardrums are permanently scarred and I have hearing loss due to very frequent ear infections as a child. And I'm already genetically disposed to losing my hearing as I age.

You bet - my kids both got tubes put in their ears as precautionary measures.

Constance

 

[JimfromOhio]

My doctor didn't think it was necessary to put tubes in my ears as a child. My eardrums are permanently scarred and I have hearing loss due to very frequent ear infections as a child. And I'm already genetically disposed to losing my hearing as I age.

You bet - my kids both got tubes put in their ears as precautionary measures.

Constance

Both of my kids had tubes in their ears. I don't have a problem with tubes. Tubes are preventive (precautionary) measure.

 

[Chrono Traveler]

I just did a quick google and apparently American women prefer a circumcised penis for sexual activities.

I'm not sure how this plays into the whole thing but I'm guessing mothers prefer to have it done on their infant rather than have to worry about it later in life when it's more complicated. For me personally it's just one less thing me and my son ever have to deal with and since he never knew anything different he isn't going to give it much thought.

I do agree that it is not necessary though.

hm, I think this is a nature vs. nurture thing. I think we are conditioned to ASSUME, that uncut men are unclean, nasty, worse off sexually.

However, Ive read studies that show women prefer intercorse with an fully intact, and of corse clean man.....


But what do I know. Keep reading, form your own opinion. Youll prolly find a few that say this. In anycase i am biased to these articles and hope for them to be true , as I am uncut myself. =p

 

[flicka]

The cochlear implant is a great debate within the deaf community. I've heard the arguments from both sides but don't feel qualified to comment.

BTW....this is not the same at getting tubes in your ears.

 

[ond_magiker]

I for one prefer having John Thomas dressed than undressed. It's a bit more comfortable.

 

[Archivist]

This is from the encyclopedia at www.healthcentral.com:

Some faiths, such as Judaism and Islam, commonly have ritual circumcisions performed. For some areas in the world it is uncommon, such as Europe, Asia, and South and Central America.

There are varied opinions among physicians regarding the need for circumcision in healthy boys. Some place great value on the benefits of an intact foreskin, including a more natural sexual response during adulthood. However, some studies suggest that uncircumcised male infants have an increased risk for getting urinary tract infections. Other studies show correlations between uncircumcised males and penile cancer, some sexually transmitted diseases including HIV, infections of the penis, and phimosis (tightness of the foreskin, not allowing it to retract over the glans penis).

However, the overall increased risk for these conditions is thought to be relatively small. Proper hygiene of the penis and safe sexual practices can help prevent phimosis, penile cancer, AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases. Proper hygiene is always important, but is thought to be especially important for an uncircumcised male.

The American Academy of Pediatrics revised their policy statement on circumcision in March 1999, and this policy is supported by the American Medical Association. Their summary of the policy is the following:

"Existing scientific evidence demonstrates potential medical benefits of newborn male circumcision; however, these data are not sufficient to recommend routine neonatal circumcision. In circumstances in which there are potential benefits and risks, yet the procedure is not essential to the child's current well-being, parents should determine what is in the best interest of the child. To make an informed choice, parents of all male infants should be given accurate and unbiased information and be provided the opportunity to discuss this decision. If a decision for circumcision is made, procedural analgesia should be provided."