Is hygiene a good enough reason to circumcise male human babies?
370870
NO, sorry!\nForeskin advantage.\n20 good reasons against the circumcision!\n\n1. Full penis length and circumference. The "prepuce" (foreskin) constitutes 50% or more of the skin system of the penis. If unfolded and spread flat, the average adult foreskin measures 60-90 square centimeters (10-14 square inches), or about the size of an index card. The foreskin creates a visible longer penis, especially when the foreskin extends beyond the head of the penis. Also, the double-layered tissue of the foreskin engorges with blood during erection and creates a visibly and sensually thicker shaft and glans.When the engorged foreskin retracts behind the coronal ridge of the glans, it often creates a wider and more pronounced "ridge" that many partners find especially stimulating during penetrative intercourse. The circumcised penis appears truncated and thinner than a full-sized intact penis.\n\n2. Protection. The sleeve of tissue known as the foreskin normally covers the glans and protects it from abrasion, drying, callusing (keratinization), and environmental contaminants. The glans is intended by nature to be a protected internal organ, like the female clitoris. The effect of an exposed glans and resulting keratinization on human sexual response has never been studied. Increasing reports by circumcised men indicate that keratinization causes a loss of sexual sensation, pleasure and fulfillment.\n\n3. Ridged bands. The inner foreskin contains bands of densely innervated, sexually responsive tissue. They constitute a primary erogenous zone of the human penis and are important for realizing the fullness and intensity of sexual response.\n\n4. Gliding action. The foreskin is the only moving part of the penis. During any sexual activity, the foreskin and glans work in unison; their mutual interaction creates a complete sexual response. In heterosexual intercourse, the non-abrasive gliding of the penis in and out of itself within the vagina facilitates smooth and pleasurable intercourse for both partners. Without this gliding action, the corona of the circumcised penis can function as a one-way valve, dragging vaginal lubricants out into the drying air and making artificial lubricants essential for non-painful intercourse.\n\n5. Specialized sensory tissue. In addition to the "ridged bands" mentioned above, thousands of coiled fine-touch receptors (Meissner’s corpuscles) constitute the most important sensory component of the penis. The foreskin contains branches of the dorsal nerve and between 10,000 and 20,000 specialized erotogenic nerve endings of several types, which are capable of sensing slight motion and stretch, subtle changes in temperature, and fine gradations in texture.\n\n6. The frenulum. This is a highly nerve-laden web of tissue that tethers the inner foreskin to the underside of the glans. It is similar to the frenula found under the tongue, the upper lip and the clitoral hood (female foreskin). For many intact men, the penile frenulum is a male "G-spot" that is highly pleasurable when repeatedly stretched and relaxed during sexual activity. Depending on the surgical method used, the frenulum is partially to completely destroyed by circumcision.\n\n7. Proper blood flow. The foreskin contains several feet of blood vessels, including the frenular artery and branches of the dorsal artery. The loss of this rich vascularization interrupts normal blood flow to the shaft and glans of the penis, damaging the natural function of the penis and altering its development.\n\n8. Immunological defense. The soft mucosa of the inner foreskin produces plasma cells, which secrete immunoglobulin antibodies, and antibacterial and antiviral proteins, such as the pathogen-killing enzyme called lysozyme. All of the human mucosa (the linings of the mouth, eyelids, vagina, foreskin and an.us) are the body's first line of defense against disease. This benefit of the foreskin could be one possible explanati
590293
The same issues apply to circumcised as well as un-circumcised males. As long as they maintain personal hygiene (and aren't otherwise infected), there is no more danger of infection whether circumcised or not. \n\nAt the same time, uncircumcised males need to take an extra few seconds in the shower to pull back the foreskin when they wash.\n\nRegardless, if you are prone to urinary tract infections, you should try to get in the habit of peeing after intercourse. That can help keep infections down.
73721
NO!  Why would you?  It's NOT a health concern, as long as you wash it frequently.  Circumcision is just a sadistic ritual we like to impose on little newborns for no apparent reason.  Don't torture yourself to please society.  Did you know there are actually men who try to grow the foreskin back??  I swear!  Apparently men who are not circumcised are much more sensitive, so the circumcised men feel jealous.
1045934
It's cutting the foreskin which exposes the penis. Teaching children good hygiene renders circumcision just preference of the parents. It is unnecessary and accidents though rare still occur. IE cutting the penis tip off.
870264
This is done ONLY for appearances. Americans feel it is unclean to leave a male child intact. Which if Americans would teach there male children to bath and keep clean this would not be a issue.\nA cute little boy who then gets a very sharp knife taken to his little private area and then gets a part of his flesh CUT. You can hear a baby scream from this. There has been many baby boys get there little private area cut OFF. \nAll this because parents do not want to teach there kids to keep clean, it is a shame!\nI no a boy who had to have his cut and he was 4 or so. He had this done because his parents did not keep him clean and he got infected down there.....\n\nThere are many things about the Europeans that I do like!
107991
Yes, the majority of men in the United States are circumcised.  If they laugh at you because you look like you're circumcised or laugh at circumcision itself, here's a few points to look at:\n\nCircumcision does indeed prevent urinary tract infections.\nhttp://preventdisease.com/news/articles/080105_circumcision_prevents.shtml\n\nI've actually had first hand experience as a child and used to suffer from them every year.  I was then circumcised on the Doctor's advice at a young age and the infections stopped immediately after.  So there is absolutely merit in the claims that is does prevent infections.\n\nIt has also been found to reduce your partner's cervical cancer risk since circumcised men have less risk for contracting penile human papillomavirus (HPV) infections.\nhttp://preventdisease.com/news/articles/male_circumcision_cuts_cancer.shtml\n\nCircumcision Advantages\nhttp://preventdisease.com/news/articles/circumcision_advantages.shtml\n\nHowever there are many men who feel antagonistic towards their parents and feel like something was taken away from them and consequently feel very sensitive about the subject.\n\nHere's an article from both sides on the Pros and Cons:\nhttp://preventdisease.com/news/articles/circumcision_pros_and_con.shtml
141951
Americans are under the idea that circumcised is cleaner. Maybe american men don't wash?   This is due to lies from the american medical association over decades.  The smae people who used to give women lobotomys if they enjoyed sex (and yes..FAR worse practises also) well into the 20th century.  If you wash often there should be no problems.\n\nThe simple fact is there is no out break or epedemic of cancerous male genetalia in areas of thew world where men are predominantly uncut.\n\nUncut and cut ..apparently the 2 do taste different. But I wouldnt know.  For some women it sure feels better..some women notice no difference either way.  For men...the foreskin does an incredible amount during sex as regards sensation.\n\nPicture it this way...would you remove your eyelids in the vain idea that it would make your eye ball cleaner?  This is prretty much what circumcision is doing.
1000023
not necessarily. its a matter of choice for the parents to have their kids circumcised by virtue of their religious, health, and other beliefs. on the other hand, how about the right of the infants to be protected from undue pain from circumcission? perhaps, let the kids decide when they get older whether they want to be circumsized or not. cheers!
744980
Well, I suppose you could say the same thing about circumcision for the males too. There is really no medical justification for it. Just religious/societal beliefs.\n\nI do NOT support this, but know that spiritual beliefs often cause people to do things they wouldn't ordinarily do or do things that are very destructive without realize or admitting it.\n\nThey circumcize females to prevent arousal. To say that females should find joy in fulfilling their womanly duties and giving birth, not through fleshly, sinful sexual stimulation. Just another patriarchal way of keeping women "in line".
358283
The word it circumsized.  Many dontors now consider it a useless operation.  It is also a very painful one for a baby.  As long as an uncircumsized man keeps himself clean, there is no reason for the operation.
180930
Yes, of course! In Britain, Muslim and Jewish men are circumcised but most men who are neither Muslim nor Jewish are not. There are lots of children born to uncircumcised fathers.
415399
who says it is not good for your health.  I think your confusing it.  It does not harm you in any way to be circumcised but it does not help you either.  It used to be thought that circumcision was healthier but if you know how to care for your self being uncircumcised is fine.  It is just more work to be uncircumcised
554103
The only answer I could find to your questions on the web was a timetable of 5 - 6 weeks before you could wear tight-fitting clothes and resume "normal" activites...What I'd like to know are your thoughts about the routine circumcision of infants...my hubby and I battle about this, I say we won't do that to our son and he disagrees, says it's important to look the same and not be embarased when you grow up, I say let the kid decide when he's older.....\n\nAny thoughts?
759407
There has been -- needless to say -- an enormous amount of scholarly research done on this, both medical and sociologicfal.\n\nMedically, infant circumcision is again being indicated as a means of reducing HIV/AIDS incidence in later life. It is said to have no negative consequenceds.\n\nSociologically, it is predominant among Jews and Muslims worldwide, and among the general population in the USA (at various years, 60-80%) and the Philippines (over 90% I am told).\n\nSocially, it seems that circumcision is preferred by women, and that mothers make the decision most of the time. \n\nAs for "freedom of rights": that is not a concept known to law. Perhaps you mean "freedom of choice": but infants have no such choice even over matters that will affect them lifelong: language, religion, education, inheritance. It is not a human right, although certain scholars -- loudly among them Sami Aldeeb, a Christian Palestinian (he would prefer "Canaanite") in Switzerland -- would argue the contrary.\n\nSo-called "female circumcision" is mutilatioin, amputation, and not circumcision and is illegal in the United States and in Europe. Some activists like Aldeeb conflate the male and female procedures to bolster their own arguments, but the law is otherwise.\n\nYour answser, if you have a political view, is to petition your legislature. Others have tried and failed. The argument simply isn't there; the HIV/AIDS (and cervical cancer, among others) issues counterbalance any quasi-Christian ("new Covenant") or other arguments put forward.
6155
There are several:\n\n1 Many older men, who have bladder or prostate gland problems, also develop difficulties with their foreskins due to their surgeon's handling, cleaning, and using instruments. Some of these patients will need circumcising. Afterwards it is often astonishing to find some who have never ever seen their glans (knob) exposed before!\n\n2 Some older men develop cancer of the penis - about 1 in 1000 - fairly rare, but tragic if you or your son are in that small statistic. Infant circumcision gives almost 100% protection, and young adult circumcision also gives a large degree of protection.\n\n3 Cancer of the cervix in women is due to the Human Papilloma Virus. It thrives under and on the foreskin from where it can be transmitted during intercourse. An article in the British Medical Journal in April 2002 suggested that at least 20% of cancer of the cervix would be avoided if all men were circumcised. Surely that alone makes it worth doing?\n\n4 Protection against HIV and AIDS. Another British Medical Journal article in May 2000 suggested that circumcised men are 8 times less likely to contract the HIV virus. (It is very important here to say that the risk is still far too high and that condoms and safe sex must be used - this applies also to preventing cancer of the cervix in women who have several partners.)\n\nA BBC television programme in November 2000 showed two Ugandan tribes across the valley from one another. One practised circumcision and had very little AIDS, whereas, it was common in the other tribe, who then also started circumcising. This programme showed how the infection thrived in the lining of the foreskin, making it much easier to pass on.\n\n5 As with HIV, so some protection exists against other sexually transmitted infections. Accordingly, if a condom splits or comes off, there is some protection for the couple. However, the only safe sex is to stick to one partner or abstain.\n\n6 Lots of men, and their partners, prefer the appearance of their penis after circumcision, It is odour-free, it feels cleaner, and they enjoy better sex. Awareness of a good body image is a very important factor in building self confidence. \n\n7 Balanitis is an unpleasant, often recurring, inflammation of the glans. It is quite common and can be prevented by circumcision.\n\n8 Urinary tract infections sometimes occur in babies and can be quite serious. Circumcision in infancy makes it 10 times less likely.
942702
First of all it's Biblical, it says in the Bible that it should be done.  I think Abraham did it when he was way old as an act to be closer to God.  I dunno somebody correct me if I'm wrong.  And second, men with foreskins get infections.  Not only will he have them but he could very well pass them to his partners.  It's damp and dark under there that's practically screaming bacteria.  My son .. will be circumcised.
1052514
circumcision should be performed only on a willing adult not a\nhelpless newborn. this practice is barbaric