"As long as he keeps himself clean..."

[minkajane]

I'm watching Cut and I've heard this sentence at least four times now. "There are no medical benefits to circ, as long as he keeps himself clean." Why is this caveat always tossed in there? I feel like it gives the impression that strenuous hygiene measures are needed, or that it's a lot of trouble to keep clean. Sometimes it's stressed that the parents must teach the boy to keep his penis clean. Why? I see no reason to pay any more attention to teaching DS to keep his penis clean than to keep his toes or his ears or his fingernails clean. I'm a lot more worried about his teeth than his penis!

I have a friend who insists that "uncircumcised" guys have to SCRUB their penises after every time they have sex or they'll get horrible infections. I asked her if she scrubbed her vulva after sex and she blew me off. I think this is an example of the belief that it takes a lot of work.

Adding this phrase to the circ discussion just perpetuates the myth that the foreskin needs extra cleaning and that circ promotes hygeine.

[yarngoddess]

Yep, I've heard that one too. I have yet to understand it. THere is so much bad information out there- stuff that's been circulating for WAY too long too!

[kriket]

I think they are saying this as a preventative measure. I know every time I hear about circs preventing STDs, gang green, yeast infections, I say, "so does WASHING" Sorry I'm not to cogent today, but YKWIM, thats the huge argument for circ, is all these nasty things will happen to your dirty uncut penis.