What were your medical reasons for circumcising?

[nursenmom]

I am attempting to do my best research on the subject with unbiased information on both sides. My husband and I are on opposite sides of the fence but I honestly think either of us could be swayed, we just want to do what's best. I find lots on here about why not to and I totally get all of it. I want to know for those of you who did, why - specifically medical reasons. I know there is a lot that goes into it but I'm looking at only medical benefits. For instance lower UTI rate and lower cancer risk. Right now I'm not entirely sure that the chance of preventing those outweigh the risk of the procedure and just wondering what else I'm missing.

I'm totally great with private messages so no one will have to worry about being judged for their opinions.

(I looked at the links in the stickies but many don't work or provide information I've already been aware of. If there is a previous thread similar to this, my apologies, I have trouble with the search function on here.)

[linzbear]

The UTI rate drops from 7/1000 to 2/1000 (and UTIs can be treated easily with antibiotics anyhow)

The penile cancer rate drops from 1/200000 to 2/200000

The rate for circumcision complication is 2%

There are other genetic medical reasons for circumcision, but those are easily discovered at birth and usually require waiting until the baby is older for surgery with a specialist (stuff like pee holes on the side of the glans).

Hope this helps!

[nursenmom]

Originally Posted by linzbear The UTI rate drops from 7/1000 to 2/1000 (and UTIs can be treated easily with antibiotics anyhow) The penile cancer rate drops from 1/200000 to 2/200000 The rate for circumcision complication is 2% There are other genetic medical reasons for circumcision, but those are easily discovered at birth and usually require waiting until the baby is older for surgery with a specialist (stuff like pee holes on the side of the glans). Hope this helps!

It really did, you convinced me to do a little more digging (it apparently didn't require much) and I think your statistics are much closer than the ones I found. Cancer.gov matches your number regarding penile cancer much closer than wikipedia which quotes the risk at "as 1 in 1,437 in the United States and 1 in 1,694 in Denmark;[5] among uncircumcised males, 1 in 600." BIG difference and in this instance I think the government is more reputable than wikipedia.

[bigmamakelsey]

Originally Posted by linzbear The UTI rate drops from 7/1000 to 2/1000 (and UTIs can be treated easily with antibiotics anyhow) The penile cancer rate drops from 1/200000 to 2/200000 The rate for circumcision complication is 2% There are other genetic medical reasons for circumcision, but those are easily discovered at birth and usually require waiting until the baby is older for surgery with a specialist (stuff like pee holes on the side of the glans). Hope this helps!

This exactly.

[mibarra]

My personal feeling, not having a son yet and only lightly researching, is that I need a good reason to remove a part of my child's body, ESPECIALLY without any local anesthetic or numbing agent, which is how it's often done. And that you can always circ later but you can't 'uncirc'. It is not a religion issue in our household

[chandni3]

Originally Posted by mibarra My personal feeling, not having a son yet and only lightly researching, is that I need a good reason to remove a part of my child's body, ESPECIALLY without any local anesthetic or numbing agent, which is how it's often done. And that you can always circ later but you can't 'uncirc'. It is not a religion issue in our household

Everyone says they don't use numbing agents or anesthetic, but from talking to friends they usually do, at least in Canada. And if they don't you can just ask for it.

[AnimalHouse]

Originally Posted by chandni3 Everyone says they don't use numbing agents or anesthetic, but from talking to friends they usually do, at least in Canada. And if they don't you can just ask for it.

I don't think it's standard procedure in the US to use any kind of pain management during a circumcision. That said, DS1 and DS2 are circ'ed, and a numbing agent was used. DS3 will be circ'ed soon, and he has to go under GA for it (because he's older).

[Celeste]

Originally Posted by AnimalHouse I don't think it's standard procedure in the US to use any kind of pain management during a circumcision. That said, DS1 and DS2 are circ'ed, and a numbing agent was used. DS3 will be circ'ed soon, and he has to go under GA for it (because he's older).

They used numbing stuff on my ds too. I didn't really want him circed, but dh did. He quoted the penile.cancer and uti stuff. He is in the medical field and so was really for it (even though my ob wasn't set on it and the aap says it isn't necessary). It was actually one of 2 arguments we've had in our 7 years of marriage. Thankfully, all went well and everything is in good working order.

[mibarra]

Originally Posted by AnimalHouse I don't think it's standard procedure in the US to use any kind of pain management during a circumcision. That said, DS1 and DS2 are circ'ed, and a numbing agent was used. DS3 will be circ'ed soon, and he has to go under GA for it (because he's older).

This is what I have heard from other moms, that they don't use it. It may depend on area, too. . Not trying to come down on anyone!

[7 for now]

Originally Posted by chandni3 Everyone says they don't use numbing agents or anesthetic, but from talking to friends they usually do, at least in Canada. And if they don't you can just ask for it.

As a nurse that worked in pediatrics I can say that all circumcisions I witnessed were done with NO anesthetics. It is not standard to use it where I have worked.

If any numbing agents are used the docs don't wait for it to take effect. They slap on the gel and go to cutting, or use the nerve block but immediately start cutting. They don't wait long enough or the anesthetic to take effect.

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