FGM is not even close to circumcision in males, one is damaging one is not. Government has no place in banning this. I find those numbers of % hard to believe growing up I have only met one male that wasn't and he was teased relentlessly.

Is piercing your daughters ears cried out like a crime against humanity? I despise this argument (not this thread. Not to aggregate it but not once in hearing this topic discussed have I ever hear a circumcised male ever discuss government intervention or that it was improper. less

In the USA, in other parts of the world, they aren't. (The average dildo is also about about 8 inches long and 5.5 inches in circumference.... so?? Are most men that size? Most sex toys vibrate? Do men? What does what dildos look like in the USA have to do with a medical procedure?

As of the moment in the USA about 60% of baby boys are circed and about 40% are not. In progressive places like California, Portland, the North and Western areas of Chicago etc, the percentage of boys being circed is even lower. Less and less circumcisions are being covered by insurance, because it is considered "cosmetic surgery" and "not necessary for the health of the infant."

I once asked my nephew, (uncirced, as are most of the boys I know who are less than 25 or so years old in our area) if he had ever been "teased" in the locker room, or anywhere else because he was intact. He said, "Auntie Gelli, where I go to school, looking at an other guy's dick, not to mention commenting on it will get the shit beat out of you. NOBODY teases based on who is intact or who isn't. No. I've never had it mentioned and neither have any of the other guys I know who are intact or otherwise."

Basically the whole, "He'll get teased in the locker room." is not only an urban myth, but a really poor reason to perform life changing unnecessary, possibly damaging surgery on an infant.

If the stats and insurance coverage and refusal of medical professionals continues to progress, circumcision will go the way of the "routine tonsillectomy" in less than one more generation. less

Its not a myth it might be less true now as it is more common to be uncircumcised. All the arguments not to do it are weak to say the least let alone to outlaw it. It is not damaging in the least and the only reason it is called Cosmetic surgery now is insurance companies don't want to have to pay for it. less

I'd rather have it legal than end up with parents getting it done in back alleys and such (and yes, I believe some people would rather do that than have their child go uncircumcised.) I think some more publicity for the issue would be good; I'd like to see it at least get to the same point as breastfeeding (it's divided pretty evenly between who does it and who doesn't, and when foreskin is there people won't think it looks unnatural.) But banning it, especially when some religions call for it? No way. less

I agree here. My son is circumcised. I would rather it also done in the hospital instead of some back street. Yea it is harder to clean then a non circumcised one. But some people get lazy too and when you pull that skin back it is nasty, smelly and gross. To each their own we have a right to say no or yes when asked. It is not to be considered child abuse. less

Actually, there are a number of serious penis damaging injuries every year due to infant circumcision (I'm a Maternal Infant Health nurse, and also a member of Nurses Against Circumcision, an anti-circ group. I refuse to participate in them in any way.)

There are a number of deaths a year in babies due to circumcision. This in no way can be considered "harmless" even if it only effects a small number of infants.


Somewhere in the ball park of at least half a dozen male baby boys end up having actual sex change type surgeries when too much of the penis is taken, and often these boys don't find out until they are older and know they were meant to be male and were raise female. There are thousands of serious (but not genital changing) problems every year with circumcision, not to mention the damaging effect on feeding, wakefulness, eye contact and maternal infant bonding (mostly because the baby isn't feeding properly and is spending most of his time after birth with his eyes closed to fight the terrific pain.)

I've seen baby boys go from completely "pro" nursers shortly after birth, to refusing to latch and feed, and it's been proven that circs harm the breastfeeding and M/I relationship in many situations. Yes, it's usually fixable, but for the mother who already has things to deal with, the baby suddenly refusing to nurse or latch may make her decide to forget the whole thing. I've seen it more times than I can count.

It is far from "not damaging in the least." Did Nature make a.... mistake by giving males foreskins? I think not.

Here's a good page to read from the Peaceful Parenting website about this bonding and breastfeeding effects from cutting babies. link less

The fact that there is a Nurses Against Circumcision, an anti-circ group shows that there still are plenty of people in the industry that do not agree with your opinions (which you are more then welcome to). If people don't agree with it by all means you choose for your child maybe there is even enough of you feel that way that your boys wont feel bitter about towards you (I sure would have if my parents denied mine), but to go around saying it should be illegal because you don't agree is beyond wrong. less

I work in health care, and I've never heard of a "back street circumcision?" What are you referring to?

As for foreskins being "dirty and nasty and gross" if you wait until the foreskin retracts normally, (somewhere between the age of 2 and the young teen years) it isn't a problem to clean. Is a vagina a problem to clean?

Here; Watch Dr. Kutter in action with his obviously well thought out reasons FOR circing.

link (Yes, this IS a send up.)

I could also post a video of an actual circumcision, if anyone wants to see it. Get your ear plugs out, unless one can wait until the baby loses his voice from pain and screaming until his breath gives out.... less

Since it is irreversible, I believe the decision to be circumcised should be delayed until adulthood when the individual can make the decision for themselves. However, it's easy for me to say this since it plays no part in my religion. For others it is a far more complicated issue.

I don't believe that any parent circumcises a child out of malice so I hesitate to support making it a criminal act, but I would be in favor of mandating anesthesia and requiring the procedure be performed by a qualified surgeon (i.e. not a Mohel/Mohelet). less

The fact that there is a Nurses Against Circumcision, an anti-circ group shows that there still are plenty of people in the industry that do not agree with your opinions (which you are more then welcome to). If people don't agree with it by all means you choose for your child maybe there is even enough of you feel that way that your boys wont feel bitter about towards you (I sure would have if my parents denied mine), but to go around saying it should be illegal because you don't agree is beyond wrong. less

I'm shocked that circumcision is still so common when it has been debunked as "necessary" and "cleaner" long ago. And the idea that someone would do that to their child because it "looks nicer" really turns my stomach. Really, they should only be done when medically necessary, as in males that are prone to infection. It's an unnecessary surgery that can not be undone. Add to that all the horrible things that can go wrong and the fact that many hospitals don't even numb one of the most sensitive parts of the male body before cutting a piece of it off... How is this still routine? How is it OK? How is it normal? Seriously, it is no different than removing a female's clitoral hood. There's no point and it tortures the newborn.

When our sons were born, hubs and I were very upfront that there is to be no circumcision. The hospital our first was born in asked us a bunch of times if we were sure.

It's one of the best decisions we ever made. When they grow up, if they want it done, that will be their choice. But we refused to make an irreversible, anatomy-changing choice for them. less