55 replies to this topic

[Andrea V]

I was just wondering how Folsom feels about male circumcision. I do not believe that there is only 1 answer for everyone. I do not think it is wrong or right. I think it is a decision (some times hard) that can only be made per family, and not as a whole society. What do you think?

[realtor]

I had two sons. We wanted them to "look" like daddy. Need I say more?

[Andrea V]

I had two sons. We wanted them to "look" like daddy. Need I say more?

I think that is interesting too... a lot of people make the decision based on what "dad looks like" I am sure you made a good choice (no matter what it was)

[NSFather]

I have two young sons, both circumcised. Our pediatrician would not make a recommendation either way saying it was a personal choice. We learned that circumcision may not make much of a difference for a man's health, but the partner of a circumcised male is less likely to develop uterine cancer. I'm fuzzy about this one, but I think I remember that homosexual men are less likely to get HIV when they are circumcised.

(by the way - I think you need to vote in all three sections for your vote to be accepted. I think we need an NA in each category.)

[Andrea V]

I have two young sons, both circumcised. Our pediatrician would not make a recommendation either way saying it was a personal choice. We learned that circumcision may not make much of a difference for a man's health, but the partner of a circumcised male is less likely to develop uterine cancer. I'm fuzzy about this one, but I think I remember that homosexual men are less likely to get HIV when they are circumcised.

(by the way - I think you need to vote in all three sections for your vote to be accepted. I think we need an NA in each category.)

I can't fix it, maybe a mod can???????????

PS I wonder if that is true about the uterine cancer thing.

[StephanieW]

I was just wondering how Folsom feels about male circumcision. I do not believe that there is only 1 answer for everyone. I do not think it is wrong or right. I think it is a decision (some times hard) that can only be made per family, and not as a whole society. What do you think?

I agree with you! i got my son circumsized... but man have you ever got in a debate with someone about circumcision??? lol some people are VERY passionate about that foreskin

[cw68]

I can't fix it, maybe a mod can???????????

PS I wonder if that is true about the uterine cancer thing.

Fixed.

According to www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov, "A research team from the Multicenter Cervical Cancer Study Group of the International Agency for Research on Cancer has found that the risk of cervical cancer is less in women whose male partners are circumcised. The study also found that circumcised men have a reduced risk of contracting penile human papillomavirus infection."

I left the circumcision decision to my husband. Personally, I didn't want it done, but I didn't care enough about to force the issue. However, I told him that if he chose to have our son circumcised, he had to do it and I couldn't attend. Our son is circumcised, but I think my husband had a few regrets during healing, regrets that have completely passed.

[stacycam]

Our son is circumcised, but I think my husband had a few regrets during healing, regrets that have completely passed.

Same with us. That recovery was horrible. I really regretted it and felt awful. The whole procedure is barbaric. Then I heard all these horror stories about adhesions. Now, 2 1/2 years later, I'm glad I did it, and he is fine.

[bordercolliefan]

Fixed.

According to www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov, "A research team from the Multicenter Cervical Cancer Study Group of the International Agency for Research on Cancer has found that the risk of cervical cancer is less in women whose male partners are circumcised. The study also found that circumcised men have a reduced risk of contracting penile human papillomavirus infection."

Thanks, cw. I thought I recalled that there actually are some health benefits to circumcision.

On the other hand, there are risks, too.

I think it's a difficult decision.

[MrsTuffPaws]

Foreskins are really fun to play with. If you haven't had the chance, go to craigslist or something and find one.

[Andrea V]

[UnionBlondie16]

......ew

[LexHillsmom]

I've got very mixed feelings about circumcision. I've read the pros and cons and think this is just one of those things that have been "done" for centuries with its roots in religon. We are the only industrialized nation (besides Israel) who routinely circumcises.

When my son was born 18 years ago I didn't think twice about having him circumcized because it was not yet a controversy. I also bought into the "look like daddy" part.. and my husband wanted his son circumsized.

I think ppl may be safer being circumcized when they live in 3rd world countries and/or lack proper hygiene. However, the average "Joe" can keep himself clean and not put his partner at rish simply by taking extra precaution.

While I admit I like a "hatless head' in appearance...I still think these preferences are just what we are used to and that probably one day we'll find out we've been doing this barbaric ritual that may explain the under the surface rage we see in so many men...some posters of this board even.

[bishmasterb]

Excellent thoughts lexhillsmom, I agree with everything you said.

You mentioned that circumcision may be useful in third world countries where hygiene isn't what it is in industrialized nations; the Wikipedia article on circumcision hits on this as well, pointing out that past cultures (before modern hygienic practices) that did practice circumcision may have had a survival advantage over cultures that did not. But in modern industrialized nations, the hygiene argument seems to be holding less and less water.

[Steve Heard]

According to www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov, "A research team from the Multicenter Cervical Cancer Study Group of the International Agency for Research on Cancer has found that the risk of cervical cancer is less in women whose male partners are circumcised. The study also found that circumcised men have a reduced risk of contracting penile human papillomavirus infection."

Poppycock! Although I am sure we can all find articles that support our positions, either way, I think this one is correct:

"The American Academy of Pediatrics previously held that "...the procedure has potential medical benefits and advantages, as well as inherent disadvantages and risks. In other words, circumcision may or may not provide any benefits or advantages, but it does have built-in disadvantages and risks. It is not suprising , therefore, that the AAP had assigned a Task Force to re-examine Routine Infant Circumcision.

On March 1, 1999, after a two year investigation, it was concluded that the "potential medical benefits" of infant circumcision aren't significant enough and therefore, the AAP does not recommend it as a routine procedure.

PENILE CANCER
Whether a man is circumcised or not, penile cancer can be avoided by practicing good hygiene. As pointed out earlier, good hygiene is easy to achieve.

The foreskin does not cause penile cancer. In a letter to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Cancer Society stated that it “does not consider routine circumicision to be a valid or effective measure to prevent [penile or cervical] cancers. ...Penile cancer rates in countries which do not practice circumcision are lower than those found in the U.S.” Penile cancer occurs at the rate of 1 in 100,000 males in the U.S. circumcised or not.

Risk factors for penile and cervical cancer are the presence of the human papilloma virus and smoking. The HPV virus is found in both circumcised and uncircumcised men. “Portraying routine circumcision as an effective means of prevention distracts the public from the task of avoiding the behaviors proven to contribute to penile and cervical cancer: especially cigarette smoking and unprotected sexual relations with multiple partners. Perpetuating the mistaken belief that circumcision prevents cancer is inappropriate.” (For instance, read about the case of penile cancer of 76 year old circumcised male.)

"It has been suggested that circumcision prevents cancer of the penis and of the uterine cervix. Both kinds of cancer are associated with genital infection with specific types of human papillamoviruses. It has been alleged that cancer of the penis is virtually unknown among men circumcised in infancy. However penile carcinomas have in fact been reported among circumcised men. The incidence of cancer of the penis in the United States, where most men have been circumcised at birth, is reported to be between 0 and 2.1 per 100,000, representing less than 1 percent of all cancers in men. This incidence of penile cancer is similar to the rates in Denmark (1.1 per 100,0000 and Japan (0.3 per 100,0000 where neonatal circumcision is not routinely performed.

The Maden study found that 37% of penile cancer cases occurred in circumcised men. Penile cancer is so rare among the intact, few people realize that more deaths result from the circumcision procedure itself than from penile cancer.

CERVICAL CANCER
“Research suggesting a pattern in the circumcision status of partners of women with cervical cancer is methodologically flawed, outdated and has not been taken seriously in the medical community for decades.” “The strongest predisposing factors in cervical cancer are a history of intercourse at an early age and multiple sex partners.” Penile warts which are caused by a virus have been linked to cervical cancer. Studies have been conducted to compare the frequency of cervical cancer in countries where most men are circumcised to countries where most men are intact. The results showed no significant difference. Many case/control records in the U.S. demonstrated no difference in cervical cancer incidence in women with intact or circumcised partners."

Cutting off the foreskin to in hopes to prevent diseases is like pulling teeth to prevent cavities, cutting off breast to prevent breast cancer (that has happened), or cutting off toes to prevent stinky feet.

Take what the good lord gave you, and keep it clean.