Circumcision debate: Peds change stance

[drloretta]

I'll admit I'm torn.

When we took a newborn care class, they said a circ would cost somewhere between $300 and $600, and was often no longer covered by insurance. And instead of a quick snip like I was used to, they use some nasty looking tourniquet thingy, which frankly looked awful to me. Those 2 factors alone made me think twice about doing it.

However, if there seems to be a health benefit, and that leads to more coverage, that may sway me.

Fortunately DD came along so we didn't have to think about it for now.

[karinothing]

Oh, I mentioned this on the other board. I think the statement is kind of anti-climatic since it didn't really change from before. They are just now saying that the risks of the procedure are very very small that if you want to do its health benefits you should feel comfortable in doing so.

They still state: "What remains unchanged is that the AAP still holds that the health benefits are not great enough to recommend routine circumcision for all newborn males" (this is from the other article on PCE)

I really appreciate that they came out and said that they recommend pain relief stronger than a sugar coated pacifier.

As I have mentioned on here before we chose not to do it. While I recognize that there may be some reduction in STD tranmission due to circumcision, I simply couldn't find that a compelling enough reason to make that choice for my son. Expecially, when the US at large is not experiencing a crippling AIDS epidemic, like in Africa.

And as I have mentioned before, my big reason for not wanting to do the procedure was that I found it hypocrtical of myself to stand up for a woman's right to control her own body and then to turn around and take that choice away from my son.

[Brie]

Aug 27, 2012 7:33:08 GMT -5 karinothing said:

And as I have mentioned before, my big reason for not wanting to do the procedure was that I found it hypocrtical of myself to stand up for a woman's right to control her own body and then to turn around and take that choice away from my son.

Having thought about this A LOT in the last few weeks/months, I tend to both agree and disagree.

On the one hand--if it comes out that there is a medical benefit to it, I don't see it any differently than I would making any sort of health-based decision for my newborn. Yes, it is going to change my son's body for life, but as a parent I wouldn't hesitate to make other medical decisions for my child that may have a long-lasting positive impact on his health (vaccines, etc).

But, if it comes out that there is no (or very minimal) health benefit to circ-ing, then I agree with you that it's a decision our son should get to make for himself.

We really, really don't know what we're going to do at this point. We go back and forth all the time. It's not an easy decision.

[definitelyO]

There are pros and cons just like there is for everything. "they" will always change their minds and we did what we felt was best for our DS based on all the information we had at the time.

[Deleted]

Just like I'll teach them about avoiding teen / unplanned pregnancies I'll teach them (Or DH can) about avoiding STD's.

[roselis]

I had let XH choose, and he decided to go ahead with circumcising him.
I know there are studies that show that it does reduce the amount of infections they get in that area when they are younger and might not be so good at pulling it back to clean.
As far as STDs go, he will get the same kind of talk I would have given him if he was born a girl.

[Deleted]

I agree with definitelyO and sirsleepsalot. We made the decision not to do it and I'm still comfortable in my decision.