To Circumcise or not to Circumcise?

Whether you're expecting a baby boy or have just welcomed your new little guy into the world, you have an important decision to make before you take your son home: whether to circumcise him.


Male circumcision is the removal of some or all of the foreskin (prepuce) from the penis. The word "circumcision" comes from Latin circum (meaning "around") and cædere (meaning "to cut").

Approximately 55% to 65% of all newborn boys are circumcised in the United States each year, though this rate varies by region (western states have the lowest rates and the north central region has the highest). 87% of all 20-24yo males born in US have been circumcised. From the differences in circumcision rates by race, one can infer that over 90% of all 20-24yo white males born in US have been circumcised. (Circumcision data: Wallerstein)

The procedure is much more widespread in the United States, Canada, and the Middle East than in Asia, South America, Central America, and most of Europe, where it's uncommon.

Parents who choose circumcision often do so based on religious beliefs, concerns about hygiene, or cultural or social reasons, such as the wish to have their son look like other men in the family.


There is controversy regarding circumcision. Arguments that have been raised in favor of circumcision include that it provides important health advantages which outweigh the risks, has no substantial effects on sexual function, has a low complication rate when carried out by an experienced physician, and is best performed during the neonatal period. The World Health Organization, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that evidence indicates male circumcision significantly reduces the risk of HIV acquisition by men during penile-vaginal sex, but also state that circumcision only provides minimal protection and should not replace other interventions to prevent transmission of HIV.

Those raised in opposition to circumcision include that it adversely affects penile function and sexual pleasure, is justified by medical myths, is extremely painful, and is a violation of human rights.

There are three main reasons for circumcision but doctors disgree on how promptly circumcision should be offered as the treatment. Some see it as a last resort; others will suggest it sooner.

Phimosis In babies, the foreskin and the glans develop as one, only separating during childhood. As a result the infant foreskin is frequently tight and inelastic. Some doctors may suggest circumcision in these circumstances. Others say that generally the foreskin loosens by the age of three and that true phymiosis, which affects fewer than 1% of boys, is very rare before the age of five.
If possible, watchful waiting is sensible in suspected phimosis because the vast majority of foreskins loosen themselves naturally. While only 4% of baby boys have a retractable foreskin, 98-99% of 18 year-olds do. The figures are from the British Medical Journal, 1993, the same article that revealed that many surgeons simply cannot tell the difference between an everyday tight foreskin and true phimosis.

Balanitis In Balanitis the glans and/or the foreskin become inflamed. It can affect men of all ages including boys (most commonly around the age of three or four).
Poor hygiene, a tight foreskin), skin disorders allergy to products such as soap or washing powder or to the latex or spermicides in condoms can all damage the skin and, if this becomes infected, balantitis can develop. Balanitis is not transmitted sexually but a bacteria called candida which can cause it is. Sex may also damage the skin. It is best avoided by keeping the penis clean, especially under the foreskin but in recurrent cases circumcision might be offered.

In adults it may be offered as a treatment if a tight foreskin is making sex painful.


More often than not the reason we get our babies circumcised is so that they look like every other boy/man in their family/school/sports team/locker room.

I have two sons and I had both my sons circumcised and if I were to have more sons (which I'm not) I would have them all circumcised too.

As a grown sexually active woman, I can say that I don’t like the look of an uncircumcised penis. I couldn’t imagine having oral sex with a man who had to pull back a foreskin. The thought of it is disgusting to me. That may incense some folks, especially if your husband or children are not circumcised, but that’s why we each get to choose for our children whether or not we want to have them circumcised. I don’t have any friends or relatives that have NOT gotten their sons circumcised. Everyone I know has circumcised sons.

Did you have your sons circumcised, and if not, why not?