http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/15/AR2010011503106.html?hpid=topnews
I'll start by saying that I'm Jewish, so this is an automatic yes in my household regardless of the latest study. But I do know that my son is in only a small majority of his generation who is circumcised (56%). While this has long been more of a cultural issue than anything else, recent studies done in Africa have shown that men who are circumcised have a smaller risk of transmitting AIDS and other STDs, particularly genital warts and herpes. While condoms arguably work better, not everyone is good about wearing them all the time, or at all. Studies in the US have finally started to catch up. While the article says that recommendations have yet to change, the experts are at least leaning towards saying yes.
The argument against is mainly that this is a painful, unnecessary procedure. That boys can be taught to clean themselves properly and that there are other ways to prevent the spread of STDs. But, as painful as it is to watch, let alone endure, this is being done on a newborn. He will not be psychologically scarred because his foreskin has been removed, let alone remember the surgery a couple of hours later (or week, I'll account for healing time). Yes, boys can be taught to keep themselves clean, but really, how many teenage boys do you know who are paragons of cleanliness? There is also evidence that circumcision can help prevent urinary tract infections in babies and penile cancer. Even with only 30% (estimated STDs prevented) reduction in some diseases, the result from them can be deadly. So just do it. And if the men are being big sissies, they don't have to watch.
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I"m glad you talked about the study that says that men who are circumcised have a lower change of getting STD's. I heard the reason was because the bacteria and diseases last longer in the skin because they are in a warm dark place and it's hard to clean that area. I agree though; what teenage boy is super clean? When I worked for the county there were a lot of new mothers that weren't getting their sons circumcised because it's no longer covered by insurance companies...it's considered now to be cosmetic surgery. So, lots of baby boys were coming in with severe bacterial infections because their mothers weren't cleaning it correctly.
ReplyDeleteI'm all for a circumcised penis. Shadi said he didn't care, but after having this same talk, he came around (I'm so baffled because he's cut...weirdo). I was quite surprised because I heard men usually do the same for their son that they have. So yea, I heard it's like $200. That is $200 I can live without.
Ooh, I didn't know about the poor babies! Matt still had to show me how to properly clean a circumcised penis, what experience did I have with that?? Men can be so funny about it. My dad had issues with my brother getting it done, and my dad is circumcised, it was just the idea of his little boy being cut.
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