Circumcision and Your Baby

Circumcision and Your Baby

By Margaret Gaia

When we had our first child, he was male, and he was beautiful.  One of our debates, right out of the delivery room, was whether or not to circumcise the baby.  My husband kept telling me that it would create difficulty for the child if we chose to leave him as is, however he understood that we were the only country who circumcised babies when they were born.  It was also told to me that there were medical advantages of having this procedure completed, in addition to personal preferences.  I had no idea this could be true, so I did some research on the subject.

When considering whether or not to circumcise your baby, many things should be considered, such as medical benefits, religious reasons, or whether or not you would prefer to leave your baby identical to the way he was born.  For either reason you either decide to, or not to circumcise your child, as a parent you should make an informed and/or educated decision. 

Are there medical benefits to circumcising your baby?

There are no medical benefits to circumcising your baby.  Many believe some medical benefits exist such as decreasing potential STDs, cleanliness, decreasing the risk of cancer, and avoiding infections.  While some of these are true, it is important to be informed as of which to consider.  For example, circumcising your baby will not decrease the risk of STDs.  As your child develops into a young adult, there is just as much risk of an STD being contained as if your child was not circumcised.  In regards to cleanliness and decreasing the risk of infection, these are true, and circumcising your baby will allow for an area to develop which is easier to maintain.  It was also thought for some time that bladder infections existed in men because of an uncircumcised penis area, however it is now been proven that this in fact did not have an impact.  Although penile cancer can be prevented with circumcision, the AAP determined that the impact was so tiny, that it was not a valid prevention method to take if this were the reasoning for circumcision as a single variable in the equation.  Some other reasons to circumcise exist such as religious reasons, which are personal for the family, or the fact that the parents do not want the child to be teased when he is different in this area of the majority of the population.  Others consider an uncircumcised penis to be too much trouble to maintain, however the truth is by pulling back the skin and cleansing underneath, the effort required is minimal and should not be a factor in the decision. 

Why do people decide against circumcising a baby?

One main reason is simply religion, and again, as mentioned above, this is purely a personal decision.  This tends to be the most popular amongst the population.  Others consider the fact that nature’s creation is perfect so why alter it in any way.  If you choose not to circumcise your baby, when the child develops into a sexual person in nature, the foreskin can contribute to a better sexual experience.  The foreskin is filled with nerves and sensitive to touch, therefore it can enhance sexual experiences if left alone.  Lastly, consider the fact that the foreskin is originally there to protect the sensitive areas which could be harmed, such as simply wearing clothing that may irritate the area. 

When making your decision to circumcise, do what feels right to you and your belief system, yet one thing is for certain, life goes on whether you elect to circumcise or not and your baby can lead a perfectly healthy one either decision you enter.