Parents give many reasons for choosing to continue the practice of routine circumcision in the United States but I have yet to hear one that has actual validity underneath the surface. I am going to tackle the most common 
misconceptions.
Myth number 1: Babies who are left intact have higher rates of UTI's (urinary tract infections). Out of all my research I have only found one study that found a slight increase in UTI's and that was still only 1 boy in 100. This is well below the UTI rate in females which is 1 in every 10 girls. What hospital are seeing however, is the rise of staph and MRSA in newly circumcised boys that far surpasses the number of UTI's doctors are seeing. Which is riskier, a UTI or a MRSA infection? These are the things new parents need to consider.
Myth number 2: The intact penis is more susceptible to infection. In infancy the absolute opposite is true. The foreskin is attached to the glans protecting the penis from all bacteria and irritants. What can cause infection is the premature retraction of the foreskin. Pulling the foreskin back before it releases naturally causes tiny micro-tears which introduces and traps bacteria as the foreskin re- adheres to the glans. Never retract the foreskin or allow any medical professional to do so either.
Myth number 3: Circumcision reduces the chance of penile cancer. The truth is the rate of penile cancer is astronomically low for both intact and circumcised men. The studies show 1 men per one million intact vs. .3 man per one million circumcised. With the margin being that minimal it could easily be a fluke. But either way, why introduce such a harmful invasive procedure and risk serious complications to prevent one of the most rare types of cancer out there?
Myth number 4: Circumcision reduces sexually transmitted diseases. I will be short and to the point. The studies done to prove and disprove this theory are extremely conflicted to say the least. What is not under question is the fact that safe sex practices have much more to do with STD's including HIV that circumcision status. So much so, that it seems like insanity to perform surgery on an infant that will only provide a small fraction of what safe sex and condoms will provide.
Myth number 5: A boy who is not circumcised will endure ridicule and feel different among his peers. The reality is circumcision rates are declining fast. More and more parents are researching and making choices based on the facts; so having an intact penis is going to be much more commonplace in the generations to come. I also firmly believe in educating our children about their bodies. Explaining all of the benefits and functions of the foreskin will help a boy understand and appreciate his penis.
On a closing note, in my opinion circumcision will become illegal in our country in my lifetime just as female circumcision has been banned in many countries.
http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/cancer/
Female Circumcision Info:
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001524.html
Comments
While i don't believe in the practice, outlawing it would be denying other American's their right to religious freedom.
to fidget, that's not true. What about those religious that were practicing female genital cutting as part of their religious beliefs and now they can't because FMC or any form of it, is outlawed?
Very good Rachael!
BRAVO! I hope you are right and we get a MGM bill passed soon.
To fidget: We have outlawed female circumcision in the US. Muslims are among one of the religions that practice female circ. Outlawing things that are violations of a person's human rights (like circ) does not deny any religious freedom. Practices that violate human rights simply can't continue in the name of religion b/c human rights extend beyond religion, race, class, sex, age, culture, and tradition. ;)
Soon this tragedy called non-consensual circumcision will end. It has no place in a civilized society. Peace and love for all babies.
Great article - very to the point!
As for myth #1, studies in ISRAEL indicate that circumcision INCREASES UTIs.
Please visit ICGI dot com.
As for number #3, this myth has been debunked by none-other than the American Cancer Society. Yet, some doctors still continue to purport this myth.
Please google cancer plus fathermag.
As for myth #4, I'm not going to even begin showing the flaws in these "studies" people push so adamantly. Let's assume for the sake of argument that it's 100% accurate: How are HIV studies performed in adult, consenting men EVER relative to newborns who are at ZERO risk for ANY STD infection?
As for #5, since when was conformity EVER a medical indication for surgery in the healthy?
And fidget: FGM is banned here in the US, and "relgion" is no excuse. Is somehow "religious freedom" more important for parents of sons than parents of daughters? Why the double-standard?
More to the point: Are doctors required to carry out religious rites? Or is their duty to medicine?
I disagree with the statement that this article is to the point. Unfortunately it dances around what should be a non issue, and fails to make the obvious point.
Circumcision should absolutely be legal. Childhood circumcision should absolutely be illegal, barring dire medical necessity. That means illegal to perform on an infant for aesthetic reason as well as religious reasons. If you want your progeny to be foreshortened then you better sell them on it strongly enough so that when they reach the age of majority the line up to get chopped. Nothing else makes sense.
circumcision cruel n barbaric ,stop this, give love n care not pain
fidget - Good point
NOT EVERYBODY IS JEWISH.
Jewish people do it later after the birth at the synagouge (sp?) or something so even then outlawing it at hospitals is fine.
'accidental' circumcision leads to New law being proposed
it's called Mario's Law. A newborn was circumcised without parental consent while in neonatal ICU in Miami
hope it passes
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