Should I Circumcise? Quick FAQ
(For a balanced, in-depth site, go here)
Is circumcision common?
The United States, Canada and Australia are the only countries in the West that circumcise for non-religious reasons. About 55% of American newborns are being circumcised, down from the 1970’s when hospital circumcisions were nearly universal. In Canada and Australia, the newborn rate is less than 25% and dropping every year.
Is circumcision necessary?
No.
Is circumcision recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, or any medical organizations in the world?
No.
Are circumcised penises easier to clean?
No.
Are there health benefits to being circumcised?
No, no, and no.
Are there risks to the procedure?
There is a 100% chance you will cut off a valuable part of his body that gives him sexual pleasure. He might also hate you later if he finds out from the internet what was actually done to him.
Is there any reason I should not circumcise?
Yes. It’s not your penis.
Is it painful?
Yes. Even with anesthetic. Try to imagine how sore you’d be after someone cut off part of your genitalia.
But won’t my son feel traumatized if his penis looks different from mine in the bath tub?
No. You’re the only one with the hang-ups. He won’t care.
But I think circumcised penises look sexy and cute!
You only get to admire his penis for 1-2 years, but he has to look at his the rest of his life. Only his opinion counts, not yours. He’ll be happy with his natural penis.
But he’ll get teased if we don’t cut off his foreskin!
He’ll be fine. Don’t worry.
But girls will reject him!
No, they won’t.
What if he needs it done later anyway?
He won’t. (Circumcision is almost never truly necessary; it’s vastly over-prescribed in circumcising cultures.)
But I don’t want to upset his grandparents
Long after his grandparents are both dead, he will still be stuck with the penis you surgically modified to please them.
But I want his penis to look like mine!
Get over it.
Common Excuses by Parents who wish to do it anyway:
He won’t even remember it!
He won’t remember your priest fondling his genitals either. But unlike fondling, circumcision leaves a scar.
But everyone else is doing it!
If all of your friends were doing something stupid and harmful, does that mean you would too?
But our religion tells us we should do it!
Personal convictions do not give anyone the legal right to harm someone else’s body.
Why are you talking about my son’s penis?
Because you’re going to cut it.
But it’s my right as a parent to remove his foreskin!
No. It’s his dick, his rights.
Butt out! It’s my personal, private decision.
It’s his personal, private body part.
But… but…
There’s no good reason.
Get over it and stop worrying.
Don’t cut his penis.
He’ll be happy you left him alone.
Cutting to the Chase 