Circumcision - Mutilation?

[Hungry Hungry Hippo]

I was reading Researcher's thread about circumcision and I was just thinking...

If your foreskin is not necessary and people are allowed to chop it off for religious purposes, should people be allowed to remove all non-essential parts from their children? For example, should you be allowed to chop off your child's ears (especially lobes) without their consent at an early age? You don't need your lobes or any cartilage to hear. Should you be allowed to remove a male child's nipples or one of their testicles? Should you be able to remove a child's eye brows? Hair? Nails? Nose tissue? Lips? A kidney? An eye? Some teeth?

Now... I don't necessarily disapprove of circumcision, but I'm beginning to think that decisions like this should be made by the person who's body is involved. I realize that some of my examples are extreme, but I'm just trying to illustrate a point. Just because you don't require something to live doesn't mean that it isn't helpful or that you don't want it. I don't think there are many uncircumsised individuals who wish they were, and if they do, they can always have the procedure done.

 

[JimfromOhio]

There are many Health Benefits but I will list only two:

1. Uncircumcised boys are about 10 times as likely to get serious kidney infections in the first year of life as are circumcised infants; even in adults circumcision protects against UTIs. These kidney infections are most dangerous in the first 3 months, during which time they often lead to hospitalization and can result in overwhelming blood infection and other serious infections. Kidney scarring has been shown to occur later. There is concern that future kidney failure and high blood pressure may follow infantile UTIs. Abnormal kidney function and hormonal secretion can occur with infant UTIs. Fecal contamination of the moist inner foreskin layer with bacterial attachment leads to these kidney infections.

2. Local foreskin infections (balanoposthitis) can occur at any age in uncircumcised males, but is most common at age 2-5 years, an age when the foreskin has often not yet completely separated, cannot be fully retracted, and genital cleanliness is more difficult to accomplish. In addition between 0.5% and 1% of boys will never be able to retract their foreskin due to a pinpoint opening at the end (phimosis) and will have to be circumcised at a later date when the procedure is more complex and difficult, and about 10 times more expensive. Newborn circumcision leads to improved genital hygiene throughout life, but most importantly in infancy, early childhood and old age when personal hygiene may be inadequate.

Religion Reason:
Old Testament (To the Jews):
God said "... At the age of eight days, every male among you throughout the generations shall be circumcised." (Genesis 17:12-13)

 

[flicka]

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.

 

[constance]

The myths about circumcision are going away & a lot of people are choosing not to have their children circumcized. My husband is not, we chose not to.

By the way, I know someone who was circumcized at age 44, and he said that the sexual act was not as pleasurable afterward.

Constance

 

[JimfromOhio]

By the way, I know someone who was circumcized at age 44, and he said that the sexual act was not as pleasurable afterward.

Constance

This a choice by all parents. I chose my son to have it for medical reason.

Circumcision can only happen when a boy is 8 days old or YOUNGER. Anytime after 8 days old, it is not worth going through circumcision. Keep him uncut is better in that case.

 

[SnowBear]

There are many Health Benefits but I will list only two:

1. Uncircumcised boys are about 10 times as likely to get serious kidney infections in the first year of life as are circumcised infants; even in adults circumcision protects against UTIs. These kidney infections are most dangerous in the first 3 months, during which time they often lead to hospitalization and can result in overwhelming blood infection and other serious infections. Kidney scarring has been shown to occur later. There is concern that future kidney failure and high blood pressure may follow infantile UTIs. Abnormal kidney function and hormonal secretion can occur with infant UTIs. Fecal contamination of the moist inner foreskin layer with bacterial attachment leads to these kidney infections.

2. Local foreskin infections (balanoposthitis) can occur at any age in uncircumcised males, but is most common at age 2-5 years, an age when the foreskin has often not yet completely separated, cannot be fully retracted, and genital cleanliness is more difficult to accomplish. In addition between 0.5% and 1% of boys will never be able to retract their foreskin due to a pinpoint opening at the end (phimosis) and will have to be circumcised at a later date when the procedure is more complex and difficult, and about 10 times more expensive. Newborn circumcision leads to improved genital hygiene throughout life, but most importantly in infancy, early childhood and old age when personal hygiene may be inadequate.

Religion Reason:
Old Testament (To the Jews):
God said "... At the age of eight days, every male among you throughout the generations shall be circumcised." (Genesis 17:12-13)

There is more than a little concern about the accuracy of these statements. Several recent studies have shown no correlation between such health issues and circumcision



Laumann, E. O., Masi, C. M., & Zuckerman, E. W. (1997). Circumcision in the United Staets: Prevalence, prophylactic effects, and sexual practice. Journal of the American Medical Association, 227(13), 1052-7.

This stated objective of this study was to asses the prevalence of circumcision across various social groups and to examine the health and sexual outcomes of circumcision in the United States. A survey of 1410 American males ranging in age from 19-59 years was obtained. The study focused on the contraction of sexually transmitted diseases, the experience of sexual dysfunction and the experience with a series of sexual practices. The study found no significant differences between circumcised and uncircumcised men in their likelihood of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Uncircumcised men were no more likely to experience sexual dysfunction than circumcised men.







The American Academy of Pediatrics published its Circumcision Policy Statement in the March 1 1999 issue of pediatrics. The principle findings and recommendations of the statement are: the scientific data are not sufficient to recommend routine neonatal circumcision of males. The procedure is not essential to the child’s current well-being and there is no evidence to suggest future health benefits from neonatal circumcision. The policy states that the only medically justifiable reason for male circumcision is correct a pathological condition (phimosis). And according to a study done by Rickwood et al the incidence of such a pathological condition is less than 1% of the population and that less drastic interventions are just as effective in over 90% of the cases.

Rickwood, A. M. K., Kenny, S. E., & Donnell, S. C. (2000) Towards evidence based circumcision of English boys: Survey of trends in practice. British Medical Journal, 321(7264), 792-798.

 

[SnowBear]

Mutiliation?

I’ll go on record and say it is mutilation.



I somehow managed to escape being mutilated as an infant, my spouse was not so lucky. We have ensured that none of our nephews and our son have been not been mutilated.

 

[Talmidah]

Circumcision can only happen when a boy is 8 days old or YOUNGER.

I know plenty of adult of men who have undergone circumcision.

 

[Spherical Time]

There are many Health Benefits but I will list only two:

1. Uncircumcised boys are about 10 times as likely to get serious kidney infections in the first year of life as are circumcised infants; even in adults circumcision protects against UTIs. These kidney infections are most dangerous in the first 3 months, during which time they often lead to hospitalization and can result in overwhelming blood infection and other serious infections. Kidney scarring has been shown to occur later. There is concern that future kidney failure and high blood pressure may follow infantile UTIs. Abnormal kidney function and hormonal secretion can occur with infant UTIs. Fecal contamination of the moist inner foreskin layer with bacterial attachment leads to these kidney infections.

2. Local foreskin infections (balanoposthitis) can occur at any age in uncircumcised males, but is most common at age 2-5 years, an age when the foreskin has often not yet completely separated, cannot be fully retracted, and genital cleanliness is more difficult to accomplish. In addition between 0.5% and 1% of boys will never be able to retract their foreskin due to a pinpoint opening at the end (phimosis) and will have to be circumcised at a later date when the procedure is more complex and difficult, and about 10 times more expensive. Newborn circumcision leads to improved genital hygiene throughout life, but most importantly in infancy, early childhood and old age when personal hygiene may be inadequate.

Snow Bear already commented about this, but:

As good as these reasons sound, what is your source?

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

I would hazzard a guess that this is because it is more common, and people usually fear things that they don't have experience with.

 

[ImmortalTechnique]

i think it's mutilation, but i have no personal experience, as I am "chillin in the hood"

 

[ChristianDude777]

Grace and peace,

I don't think it matters one way or another now as far as any eternal value goes but in the beginning there was a spiritual purpose behind the circumcision.

Tim L.

 

[bliz]

My 89 year old father just had a circumcision. The foreskin was drying out and shrinking and tightening. Cleanliness was becoming more and more difficult and things were more and more uncomfortable... or so he says. I frankly was not too interested in the details of my father's anatomy... :o It was outpatient surgury, but he was laid up and uncomfortable for the better part of a week and he was on pain medication.

 

[ChrisLockhart]

It's an either/or thing, I think.. and a lot of people on both sides seem a little too angry about it.

 

[Spherical Time]

It's an either/or thing, I think.. and a lot of people on both sides seem a little too angry about it.

Including people like this. However, I'm from Santa Fe, and I remember when this was happening.

 

[Rae]

I would not permit any male child of mine to be circumcized. I'm not angry about it, just firm on that point. My husband, though, is rather hurt that this decision was made for him and now limits him in some ways. I can understand a man being upset that his body was treated this way by his parents.

 

[Carri20]

If your foreskin is not necessary and people are allowed to chop it off for religious purposes, should people be allowed to remove all non-essential parts from their children? For example, should you be allowed to chop off your child's ears (especially lobes) without their consent at an early age? You don't need your lobes or any cartilage to hear. Should you be allowed to remove a male child's nipples or one of their testicles? Should you be able to remove a child's eye brows? Hair? Nails? Nose tissue? Lips? A kidney? An eye? Some teeth?

Now... I don't necessarily disapprove of circumcision, but I'm beginning to think that decisions like this should be made by the person who's body is involved. I realize that some of my examples are extreme, but I'm just trying to illustrate a point. Just because you don't require something to live doesn't mean that it isn't helpful or that you don't want it. I don't think there are many uncircumsised individuals who wish they were, and if they do, they can always have the procedure done.

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...

 

[Ninja Turtles]

I don't see an issue with it, if you don't want your child circumcised don't do it, if you do, do it.

 

[Angel4Truth]

Carri20 excellent point , i find it very ironic myself that some of the very same people who would support abortion (mutilating the unborn) to calling something that would aid in health "mutilation' . Another example of calling what is evil good and what is good evil imo .

 

[Carri20]

Thanks Angel4Truth. =) Nice to see someone agreeing with me for once lol.

 

[JimfromOhio]

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.