I did not circumcise my son. I left him as I made him - natural and intact and perfect. For myself and my husband, it was never even considered. My husband is intact, and even though we don't actually talk about my husband's penis, if we ever did, I'd thank my mother-in-law for leaving him intact, and hope my son's eventual wife feels the same. Foreskin isn't there for decoration, it's essentially equivalent to a woman's labia and clitoris - which we'll all agree are NOT just "extra flaps of skin", as the foreskin is often called.
I know that some people think the foreskin is just a gross extra piece of skin - but it isn't! It's a highly sensitized piece of skin with multiple functions! It protects the glans (head) of the penis from rubbing against fabric, from constant exposure, and from poop! When the foreskin is cut, and the glans exposed, it becomes dry and calloused, further desensitizing what should be a very sensitive part of the male body. Depending on how drastic the cut is, a circumcised penis is 50-80% LESS sensitive than an intact penis! Many believe that erectile dysfunction is caused by the desensitization of the penis caused by years of exposure and callouses. Also, the foreskin causes less friction during sex, and keeps natural lubrication in... It's been shown that most women cannot achieve orgasm with a circumcised man - one study claims that a woman is FIVE times less likely to achieve orgasm with a circumcised man than an intact man... Studies aside, most who have had sex with both a circumcised and an uncircumcised man will agree that it's better when a man's intact!
Female genital mutilation is commonly considered criminal and barbaric, but many consider the equivalent surgery on a male to be normal and routine. The propaganda used to promote circumcision has been disproved over and over again, circumcising an infant does not prevent disease, doesn't cure epilepsy, and it certainly doesn't prevent masturbation... All of these were reasons behind circumcision at one time or another! People also seem to think it's gross and smelly, but that's a hygiene issue! Teach a boy how to clean himself, and there are no problems at all. We don't cut off toes to prevent athlete's foot from fungus, we don't cut off ears because they're hard to clean. Women are 12,500 times more likely to get breast cancer than men to get penile cancer, but we don't routinely cut off baby girl's breast tissue to prevent breast cancer.
People think they're doing their son a favor by having this surgery "before he can remember it". They think they can't really feel it. Baby's are highly sensitive, and can't be properly anesthetized or ask for and take pain killers after. Before the surgery, the baby is strapped flat onto a cold plastic tray with a baby shape on it - arms spread straight out and strapped down, legs separated and strapped down. The opposite of being swaddled, safe and warm, as they were in the womb. The foreskin is actually fused to the head of the penis until about 3 years old, very like the fingernail is to the finger. To perform the circumcision, the doctor forcibly retracts the foreskin, and pulls it over a clamp. They clamp it in a vise, and then cut it away with a scalpel. Sadly, that is actually less painful at this point than the retraction and clamping. If you watch videos of circumcision, besides being scarred for life by a tiny helpless baby's screams, you'd see that many actually pass out, vomit, and go into shock. This can interfere with breastfeeding and with bonding, and may have a permanent psychological impact. Not to mention the absolutely permanent physical impact.
My son is perfect. Why mess with it?
I completely agree. I have a daughter but my husband is un-circ'ed and any future sons will be as well. Only in the US is this considered "routine" by the majority as well (we're from Canada).
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to explain this to my family - without exposing my husband - I figure it's our business! It's pretty tough to convince people of my parents generation, and aunts and uncles. It came up at dinner last week, and I explained my views and that no medical organizations recommend it anymore, but because in their time it was recommended and much more common (in the US!), they just don't understand. And sadly, even cousins who've recently had children, albeit, girls, don't know the current research and stats. I try to be vocal about it, but it's harder with people who've only known circumcised men - their husbands and sons are cut. It's hard to convince people that it's better not to cut, because you're basically telling them that they were wrong. With so many friends that are having babies now, I just keep trying to tell them to do the research, and know what they're doing to him, educate themselves before doing something so drastic and unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, and it's great to hear from someone else with an uncut husband, and beliefs!