Circumcision

[munchkinmama]

my son is and my nephews aren't. My son is because his dad is and he doesn't seem to be bothered by it (he's 5 now). My nephews seem to be red in that area a lot when they have to have diaper changes/ clothing changes not sure if it is because they don't clean enough and/or if mom doesn't clean it well enough. My son's cousin (dad's side had to have it done at 15 due to an issue-can't remember what it was anymore, but he was in pain as it felt too tight and so he had it done at 15.
but you can always discuss it with your pediatrician and/obstrician because one of them will probably be doing the surgery (at least thats how it happens where i live)

[D_Yeti_Esquire]

At this point in civilization, it's nothing but a vanity operation

Umm, scientifically speaking it was always an unnecessary operation. There was never a time when it wasn't. Vanity I think I'd keep out of it as that particular value judgement is a bit extreme to levy on an infant that doesn't get a choice either way or a parent that is simply deciding between two possible aesthetics the child will be stuck with which are in fact culturally relevant. We can complain about the culture, but the kid is still going to live in it.

Someone asked the question earlier, but I don't think most people who have been circumcised if asked to do it later in life would. There are a lot of things that are true about having it done as a baby. One is you're in a hygenic environment most likely. Two, you're not walking around in sweaty underwear all day post-op. The scarring would be less severe as a child and you're also not sacrificing any sexually active time of your life. But that's a different question than asking "would they rather be uncircumcised."

I think it's safer to say most guys get comfortable with the choice that was made. Most guys have to get comfortable with whatever insecurities they have about their junk at a certain point anyway. At 18, it IS a vanity choice.

[Ginger Tea]

When I asked the OP if the father was snipped or not, I assumed he was not, though it did come across as a bit TMI in me asking.

But also I got the impression, perhaps wrongly, that discussing junk with your brothers in law is a bit awkward. Well I'd find it awkward myself.

[Andara Bledin]

Whether discussing body parts with siblings is awkward or not depends a lot on the siblings and how hung up their are on matters of sexuality. Neither my brother or I have any interest in each other and in a lot of ways are pretty good friends. So talking about this sort of shit doesn't phase either of us.

In his case, any time anyone mentions circumcision around him (and the situation isn't wildly inappropriate for him to speak up), he'll quite happily gush about how glad he is that he isn't cut and how he feels sorry for all the guys out there that have to live with a choice their parents made for them.

[Kheldarson]

When I asked the OP if the father was snipped or not, I assumed he was not, though it did come across as a bit TMI in me asking.

But also I got the impression, perhaps wrongly, that discussing junk with your brothers in law is a bit awkward. Well I'd find it awkward myself.

My hubs is circumcised (he's decided he has nothing to add to this discussion which is half my problem *sigh*), and as for my bros, well, I was old enough to help with the post-surgery stuff and diapers and such.

So I guess it boils down to vanity choice and if I'm willing to learn how to take care of an uncircumcised baby?

[SkullKing]

I am not circumcised and like it that way.

I do not think it makes much difference most of the time, but the penis is a sensitive area, and I think the extra protection is a good thing.

[HYHYBT]

A friend's brother is "half-circumcised." Apparently, his mother freaked out in the procedure and had the doctor stop.

Seems like that would be the worst option. I suppose he could make it a conversation piece...

[fireheart17]

The only reason I can see circumcision being a necessity would be as a last resort for phimosis or any other case where the foreskin can't retract.

(warning TMI)




My ex wasn't circumcised and also had what I believed to be a real bad case of phimosis. As in, once erect, it would not retract over the head. The few times he DID manage to pull it right back (while erect), it basically looked like the ring of foreskin was going to cut off the circulation. He later admitted to me post-breakup that there's some issue at the ridged band of foreskin where it didn't loosen once he hit puberty and as a result, for him, it's tighter.

(end tmi)

Technically there is a small operation he can have done at the doctor's office which he hasn't done (as far as I'm aware). Although I'm guessing there would be circumstances where a circumcision would be the only option.

That said, my partner is uncircumcised and we've both found no problems with it. His mum didn't see the reason to do so and neither do I. It comes down to preference really at the end of the day.

[Greenday]

I think it's safer to say most guys get comfortable with the choice that was made. Most guys have to get comfortable with whatever insecurities they have about their junk at a certain point anyway. At 18, it IS a vanity choice.

I honestly don't know. I don't have tons of male friends, but I do know two guys who got it done at the beginning of high school. They are apparently much happier with their goods now.

[Jetfire]

I'm not cut and though I'm unlikely to reproduce, I wouldn't cut my kid either if that were to happen. But mainly because I'm not a fan of unnecessary surgery impossed by others.

The 'extra care' seems like a moot point to me; admittedly I haven't looked up much about it but there doesn't seem to be much extra to do, and all in all, being cut seems like it has more extra work involved than not being cut. (need for extra creams to have some 'fun time' so to speak)

[siead_lietrathua]

i think when you're an adult, they can either fully circumsize you, or just split the skin open in a slit to make it looser. don't quote me on it, i read that in highschool and shit changes in 10 years.

i always thought the sensitivity thing seemed like bullshit, just as someone who has partnered cut guys. they never seem to complain anyway..... *snerk*

[Andara Bledin]

I don't see how loss of sensitivity would seem like bullshit: it seems pretty common sense to think that scar tissue would be less sensitive than intact tissue.

That said, it was apparently studied specifically back in 2007 (for the first time, apparently) and it was found that other than those who had not been circumcised having a lower base penile temperature and those who had been circumcised being more sensitive to touches on the arm, there was no other differences; cut or intact, when aroused, both groups had the same level of sensitivity and the same temperature.

Article at Ars Technica

So, again, it comes down to whether or not you want to take the minor risk of complications to have what is no more than cosmetic surgery on a baby.

[Ginger Tea]

i always thought the sensitivity thing seemed like bullshit, just as someone who has partnered cut guys. they never seem to complain anyway..... *snerk*

That's the thing, most if not all will have been circumcised as a child, so they have no other basis for information than their own experiences and sensations out side of comparing notes.

Adults who have had an active sex life prior to circumcision regardless the reason would be better at telling you if there is a noticeable reduction.

[siead_lietrathua]

I don't see how loss of sensitivity would seem like bullshit: it seems pretty common sense to think that scar tissue would be less sensitive than intact tissue.

well yes, but most scar tissue from circumcision is below the head of the penis, sometimes by an inch or more. most of the nerves are packed into the head, and a friggton into the frenulum, which would be nowhere near the scar tissue.

while i do agree it should be the guys choice when older, i can also understand it from a hygene standpoint. things can get funky quick, and once a kid is old enough to bathe themselves, it becomes harder to reinforce.

@gingertea: male friend got cut in HS, he doesn't complain about the difference either. and alllll he talks about is sex. lol.

[SkullKing]

I honestly don't know. I don't have tons of male friends, but I do know two guys who got it done at the beginning of high school. They are apparently much happier with their goods now.

Do you know why they feel that way?

I know of guy in the same situation, in his case it was merelly because he was the only uncircuncidsed guy in his social circles, and he endured some teasing due to it,(mostly in the locker room, and girls who had only been with cut guys, who were the norm there, found his thing "weird".

so not out of any practical reason.