Good articles against 2nd circumcision?

[BreezyMom]

Hi everyone-

I'm hoping someone can help me out. My husband and I have always agreed that we would never circ a son if we had one, but we have all girls, so we're regrettably not really that up to date on articles or resources against circ.

My husband knows a couple who had their son circ'd, and believe that "enough wasn't cut," so they want him re-circ'd. The baby is now a few months old, so the Dr. said he won't do it until the baby is 1 year so he can use general anesthesia. What types of articles would be helpful to show this couple that they should really consider not doing this? We have the mothering cir pamphlet already....

Thanks!

[BlessedMommy2006]

Oh, goodness, poor baby is all I have to say. I wish that I could offer you some resources. Hopefully others can do better. But that is just INSANE to go and subject the baby to the risk of GA just for cosmetics.

[Quirky]

Here's a thought...what about this recent study on the risks of general anesthesia, which has been linked to learning disabilities?

http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2009-rst/5214.html

Do they understand that their son was born with exactly enough foreskin to allow his penis to stretch later in life and have erections? Do they understand that by removing even more foreskin, they risk him having insufficient skin to have erections, making his penis shorter? He could get bowing, hair on the shaft, skin splitting, and more from not having enough skin to have full erections.

Most babies will grow into their circs and look more "normal" (from the point of view of people who are used to circed penises) as they get bigger. All they are doing with re-circing is taking a problem and making it worse.

They definitely need to look at pictures of circ complications and read stories of men who were re-circed or tightly circed in the first instance to understand that they are literally risking their son's sex life if they cut any more off his penis.

[tutucrazy]

A second circ will remove more of the skin, possibly skin he will need during erection when he reaches puberty. They need to leave what little skin he has left for both growth and to maintain as much protection and sensitivity as possible. I have some things you can use to help them but I can't do it tonight. I will come back to this post tomorrow.

[serenekitten]

Originally Posted by BreezyMom

The baby is now a few months old, so the Dr. said he won't do it until the baby is 1 year so he can use general anesthesia.

So... it's okay to do it within the baby's first few hours/days of life (with limited pain relief), but not okay re-do it a couple months later?

I'm confused by this "logic."

I hope you're able to help this couple.

[BreezyMom]

That was my first response too serenekitten. I'm hoping to change their minds....

[Full Heart]

Originally Posted by serenekitten

So... it's okay to do it within the baby's first few hours/days of life (with limited pain relief), but not okay re-do it a couple months later?

I'm confused by this "logic."

I hope you're able to help this couple.

Because when they are older they might need stitches. Its a lot more of a surgical procedure then. Not that it makes the original circ ok, just saying thats why it has to be under general.

op: Why do they want more taken off? Is it cosmetic or is it causing problems now?

I don't understand. You have something done and it wasn't to your liking so instead of thinking it wasn't a good idea you decide you want to try again? Did they talk to the dr who did it originally and find out why he was left with "too much" foreskin? Maybe it was something like the dr felt cutting more would have caused damage. It would def be worth it if they talk to the original dr and got a second opinion. I would just hate to think there was a medical reason more wasn't cut and they are pushing the issue and it can cause damage.

[DJay]

2nd circumcision

I worked with a fellow who wanted all of his boys circumcised. #2 was born near guam on an Island where they don't circumcise.

Friend had to coax a nurse to do a circumcision. It was very minimal. When they got back to the states and baby was about 2 years old, they took him to a US doctor who finished the job and gave the boy a very tight American circumcision so that he would look like dad and his brothers.

Dad would not hear of intact boys.

DJ

[Dave2GA]

The "Varialbility in Penile Appearance and Penile Findings" article by Robert S. Van Howe, M.D. tells why a second circ is not necessary. You can find it at www.cirp.org in the library. Just search "Van Howe" and it will come up.

[carriebft]

Anyone remember that horrible article from Cookie magazine? well, IIRC, it was horrible BUT it did have the head of the AAP telling parents not to retract the foreskin and not to recircumcise-- that a loose circumcision was OK. As much as I hated that article, it might help in this horrible situation