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circumcision? - Page 2

post #21 of 41

oh no, no oral suctioning here. 

post #22 of 41

ha, and when I emailed my sister asking oral suction really happens? she responded 

 

"omg yeah a traditional practice.  

 
NOTTTTTTTTTT what  I would EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR want.  It was a HUGE scandal a bunch of years ago, a mohel supposedly was spreading herpes."
 
yuk.
post #23 of 41
Yeah, I just remember reading about it in the news in the fall and thinking it was pretty out there. Seems like a small, but vocal minority were upset about a law in New York City making sure parents were aware of the risks and having them sign a waiver if they wanted it done with their baby. I was actually pretty surprised that people were so up in arms about it as that seems like common sense (and something the mohel might want to do just to cover themselves), but religious stuff is a touchy subject, especially when it may be perceived that the government is interfering with, restricting or singling out a particular group.
post #24 of 41
My DS is not circumcised. When he was in diapers and getting a rash he had some white chunky stuff coming off the end which totally freaked me out. I took him to the doc and she said that intact boys will make this to fight infection and cut boys can't and that I shouldn't have washed it off. I hadn't even heard of that. It's been years ago and my memory is a little fuzzy of the details. Does anyone know the medical term for this?
post #25 of 41
It was probably smegma. Nothing wrong with washing it off, though, smegma is a good thing:

"Smegma is probably the most misunderstood, most unjustifiably maligned substance in nature. Smegma is clean, not dirty, and is beneficial and necessary. It moisturizes the glans and keeps it smooth, soft, and supple. Its antibacterial and antiviral properties keep the penis clean and healthy. All mammals produce smegma. Thomas J. Ritter, MD [co-author of Say No to Circumcision] underscored its importance when he commented, 'The animal kingdom would probably cease to exist without smegma.'" ("Where Is My Foreskin? The Case Against Circumcision," by Paul M. Fleiss, MD, Mothering, Winter 1997)

"Infant Smegma: Skin cells from the glans of the penis and the inner foreskin are shed throughout life. This is especially true in childhood; natural skin shedding serves to separate the foreskin from the glans. Since this shedding takes place in a relatively closed space -- with the foreskin covering the glans -- the shed skin cells cannot escape in the usual manner. They escape by working their way to the tip of the foreskin. These escaping discarded skin cells constitute infant smegma." / "Adult Smegma: ... Adult smegma serves as a protective, lubricating function for the glans." ("Care of the Uncircumcised Penis," American Academy of Pediatrics, 1984)

"An infant's glans is very delicate and can be seriously irritated by urine. The foreskin acts as a cover for the glans and produces smegma for a protective coating." (p. 55) / "As to smegma, the normal secretion produced under the foreskin, Gairdner claimed that this substance protects the glans. This is particularly important if wet diapers are left on too long, since decomposition of the urine can cause irritation of the glans if it is not coated with smegma." (p. 64) / "[T]here is not a shred of evidence to support to theory that smegma is carcinogenic." (p. 91) / "All animals produce smegma, and none is circumcised. When mammals reproduce, smegma is deposited. If smegma contained a carcinogen or even an irritant, then the propagation of the species would be jeopardized. No such phenomenon exists." (p. 106) (Circumcision: An American Health Fallacy, by Edward Wallerstein, Springer Publishing Co., 1980)

"Several researchers have tried to prove that smegma causes cancer; all have failed. Not only is smegma not harmful, it is actually beneficial, serving as a protective coating and lubricant for the glans." ("The Circumcision Decision," by Edward Wallerstein, Pennypress, Inc., 1980)

"This process of rationalization has culminated in the supposed relationship between the husband's foreskin and cancer of the genitals--one of the greatest hoaxes in the history of medicine. The theory is that the uncircumcised penis, because it may generate a waxy substance called smegma, can produce cancer of the penis and cancer of the cervix (neck of the womb) ... Further evidence that circumcision is not linked with cancer comes from tests of human smegma. In 1942, the National Cancer Institute conducted careful experiments and found that smegma had no carcinogenic effect whatsoever. This test was duplicated in 1963 on a more extensive scale by Dr. D. G. Reddy and others, with the same conclusions. Negative results have also been obtained in a number of other experiments (Circumcision in Infancy, Charles Weiss, M.D., Clinical Pediatrics, 1964)." ("The Unkindest Cut of All," by John M. Foley, MD, Fact, July 1966)

"Analogous to tears, smegma is the compilation of secretions by ectopic sebaceous glands located in the prepuce, the seminal secretions of the Cowper's gland and the prostate, the mucin content of the secretions of the urethral glands, and the sloughed epithelial cells. It provides the necessary mucosal lubricant and moisturizer and is rich in sexual pheromones. The prepuce normally prevents detection of this phenomenally charged scent until the glans is exposed at the time erection takes place." (Routine Neonatal Circumcision: An Update, by Robert S. Van Howe, MD)

"Is smegma useful? Yes, certainly. It lubricates the cavity between the foreskin of the penis and the glans, thus allows smooth movement between them during intercourse ... Nature has ... provided a natural ointment, smegma, to ensure easy lubrication and protect this delicate region of the male genital organ. / To secure its even distribution, smegma is formed from the whole inner surface of the foreskin cavity ... Smegma production ... is concentrated in the cells of innumerable small prominences, minute microscopic protrusions of various shapes and sizes found on the inner surface of the foreskin cavity ... Sexual intercourse becomes a regular feature of life [in adulthood] and the function of smegma assumes its full value ... Freshly formed smegma ... is a wholesome lubricant--making for ease in erection and smoothness in sexual intercourse." ("How Smegma Serves the Penis," by Joyce Wright, MD, Sexology, 10/70, pp. 50-53)

"If allowed to accumulate for several years, smegma might possibly cause some irritation. But, even this is doubtful." (Modern Sex Techniques, by Robert Street, Lancer Books, NY, 1959, p. 154)

http://www.foreskin.org/smegma.htm
post #26 of 41

PastorMama,  I strongly suggest that you take a look at the helpful website Circumcision Decision-Maker. It takes you through a Q&A process. 

post #27 of 41
Thread Starter 

Dan - I appreciate the recommendation of the tool.  I followed each question through to the recommendation, and see that in all cases except for certain religious situations, circumcision is not recommended.  So, I'll take your comment as an endorsement that you do not think infant boys should be circumcised.  I like all the research that is listed in the decisions, though.

post #28 of 41

Jane - totally not weird that you haven't seen one, I haven't either, in my personal experiences, in our generation it was the norm. However now, it is totally different. In the years since my dd was born (2004), I have seen many many uncirced little boys (you just end up around a lot of diaper changes and potty trainers). In my circles, I'd say it was almost more common to not circ.

post #29 of 41

You guys wanna hear something cray cray? Ok, well not crazy but, interesting.

 

When I was in school between 6th and 8th grade (I went to a Jewish day school) we had a couple of new Russian kids join the school. It was a period when lots of Russian Jews were freed up to move as they please and many came to me CT suburb of NYC. I don't know the details but many of (all?) these families weren't allowed to ractice their Judaism in Russia and the boys wound up not being circumcised. So this one kid in our class, maybe it was in 7th grade, got circumcised in 7th grade once he came over to the U.S! All for Jewish reasons. It was like, his rite of passage. Anyway, just thought I'd share. Ya don't hear of that kind of thing happening everyday. 

post #30 of 41
We don't know if Baby is a boy or a girl, but if we have a boy we will not have him circumcised. Our 21 month old son is also not circumcised.
post #31 of 41
Thanks PBM. I knew someone had the research.
post #32 of 41
Oh yeah and I've had one uncircumcised lover. Sad to say he was terrible actually. But I won't hold that against my baby.
post #33 of 41
Oh yeah and I've had one uncircumcised lover. Sad to say he was terrible actually. But I won't hold that against my baby.
post #34 of 41
That probably had less to do with the penis and more to do with the owner. wink1.gif
post #35 of 41
Quote:
Originally Posted by PhilsBabyMama View Post

That probably had less to do with the penis and more to do with the owner. wink1.gif

ROTFLMAO.gif

post #36 of 41
So true.
post #37 of 41

My DS is circ'd. I did my research and was(still am) firmly against it, but I got bullied into it for lack of a better word by DH. At the time we were not doing very well at all, he was making threats to leave if I didn't consent to it(eh, I should have told him to get to packing... he couldn't survive without me ha), etc. It was a dark period in our relationship and being young and so in love, I wanted to make him happy... so circ'ing it was..

DS ended up getting a botched circumcision, had countless urologist appointments for almost 2 years to asses his penis, and one night he was just peeing out straight blood because the skin was closing up over his urethra. Emergency surgery had to be performed where they had to put him under since he was older(and the risks of anesthesia scare the crap out of me, adding on to the fact my son was bleeding from his penis..ugh!). Overall, my gut feeling was right, DH changed his tune, etc. We're  having a girl, and won't be having anymore children so it's kind of a moot point, but I'd never, ever, ever do it again. I shouldn't have ever done it in the first place. 
 

post #38 of 41

I haven't read the thread but wanted to leave a quick reply. I have 4 boys, none of them circumcised. I believe that male circumcision is the exact same thing as female circumcision. If we are not prepared to remove our daughter's clitoris, we shouldn't desire to remove our son's foreskin.

post #39 of 41
A few comments back, I saw a mention about if complications were more or less prevelent when done in a traditional setting vs a doctor/ surgery situation...I can't for the life of me remember where I read it now, but when I was researching for DS I did find something saying that hospital circs end up removing more skin than traditionally performed circs, so there could very well be more complications in hospitalbcircs vs traditional ones.

Fwiw, DS is not circ and neither are my brothers or my father...DH is but decided that his "biggest gift to my son is to keep his entire penis". smile.gif
post #40 of 41
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