Circumcision rises down-under / The debate continues on DadsClub.com.au
The arguments for circumcision appear to be quarantined to reduced chance of sexual infections (STIs) and religious conformity (Jews & Muslims).
The risks include: pain, surgical mishap or complications, and decreased sexual pleasure.
Irrespective of what opinion you follow, it appears the trend is to avoid, what could only be described as THE most UNPLEASANT cut- OUCH!!!!
In 1950, 90% of us fellas had the little fella topped (or should I say chopped off) by the 1980’s that reduced to 40% and today it is merely 10-15%.
There is mounting evidence that the procedure can prevent the spread of STIs and HIV, it can reduce the spread of penile cancer and protects against urinary tract infections in infants.
Starting to change your mind?
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians says the potential complications of the surgery and anesthesia, such as infections and bleeding, mean any benefits “do not warrant a recommendation of universal circumcision and infant males.”
Even if you do decide on this procedure, you may find it hard to get one, as circumcisions are not performed in most Australian public hospitals unless there is a medical need.
If you want your boy to have more in common with his peers, it probably makes sense to go with the trend of avoiding the cut unless it is medically or religiously required.
Obviously see your doctor if you have any questions. If you want more info on circumcision, email us at dads@dadsclub.com.au
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The Tasmanian Law Reform Institute says the operation of circumcision might be considered an assault or a wounding.. it said there is uncertainty as to whether the consent of a parent for the circumcision of their child is sufficient to allow a circumciser to legally perform the procedure.
Australia’s peak body of pediatricians say that parents who want to circumcise their newborn son should wait until he is old enough to make his own decision.
I struggle to see why any bloke would voluntarily opt in to move from a rocket to a helmet. In a world of obsessive sanitisation it is pretty easy to keep the smega out. There is superior sexual pleasure with a foreskin and in the argument of STIs , we should all refrain from bare-backing until we know the health of who we are getting it on with.
I can’t imagine the physical pain and emotional scaring of a young lad enduring the procedure.
Bare-back is out – make sure your kids are aware of the surge of STIs in our community.
A recent report by Marie Stope International found 1/3 of sexually active teenagers have their first sexual experience before the age of 14 but almost one third of them did not know they could catch STIs from oral sex.
In Europe, almost no-one circumcises unless they’re Muslim or Jewish, and they have significantly lower rates than the USA of almost all STI’s including HIV.
The Dickson study in New Zealand also showed a slightly higher rate of STI’s in the circumcised men.
Even in Africa, there are six countries where men are more likely to be HIV+ if they’ve been circumcised: Cameroon, Ghana, Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda, and Swaziland. Eg in Malawi, the HIV rate is 13.2% among circumcised men, but only 9.5% among intact men. In Rwanda, the HIV rate is 3.5% among circumcised men, but only 2.1% among intact men. If circumcision really worked against AIDS, this just wouldn’t happen. We now have people calling circumcision a “vaccine” or “invisible condom”, and viewing circumcision as an alternative to condoms.
The one study into male-to-female transmission showed a 50% higher rate in the group where the men had been circumcised btw.
ABC (Abstinence, Being faithful, Condoms) is the way forward. Promoting genital surgery will cost lives, not save them.
The foreskin has many functions. Circumcision removes the 5 most sensitive parts of the penis and ~20,000 nerves, more than the clitoris. (Sorrells study)
Circumcision is the worst single thing parents can “legally”do to a healthy boy.
I cannot think of anything worse. (Strictly speaking unnecessary surgery on a minor is assault)
A human rights violation? You bet.
Anyway I am very pleased the rate in Australia has dropped so much in recent decades (and boys have never been healthier). The RACP now suggests waiting till the boy is old enough to make up his own mind.
Come on guys. You sound like you are all uncircumcised and are jealous because you all got teased at school or something.
There are many medical benefits to circumcision. It is quite obvious if you can read past the over-emotional opinions of anti-circumcision activists.
I was circumcised as an infant. So was my boy. And so will the next.
“Human rights violation”? You have got to be kidding. I did it for the long term well-being of my child. Yes, he may never have a problem, but at least now I know that he “WON’T”. I treat it just like immunisations. Protection against disease that may or may not happen.
I don’t expect you guys to agree with me, and fortunately, you don’t have to. As a parent, I have the right to make this important decision on behalf of my child in my child’s best interest.
It would be a sad and dangerous time if the government was stupid enough to attempt to make circumcision illegal.
It would not happen in Australia – as much as you all wish that it did.
Don’t you get more stimulation with foreskin – what am I missing out on?
Not sure about disease, we all live in a clean world today.
I had to make the choice when I had my son and my stomach still turns when I think about it.
I chose to have it done strictly for the cleanliness reasons above. The easy option would have been not to get it done and I hope I made the right choice for my son. As a mum it’s difficult not to beat yourself up about the decisions regardless which path you take so my only advise would be…. have daughters!
This has been practiced for 1000’s of years mainly for religious reasons and cultural reason – why now do we still debate this?
Medical support suggest circumscion actually lowers the risks of urinary tract infections, penile cancer, penile inflammation, penile dermatoses and STDs – basically it’s healthier
MORE Australian parents are choosing to have their newborn sons circumcised, reigniting debate in the medical community about whether the procedure is necessary.
The practice was banned in NSW public hospitals five years ago and doctors have seen a significant increase in demand for circumcisions to be performed in private.
The world-renowned Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US is preparing a policy on the issue which is expected to support mandatory circumcision.
However the Royal Australasian College of Physicians recently announced it does not support routine infant circumcision, despite a growing body of evidence that it helps prevent sexually transmitted infections such as HIV.
Doctors that perform the procedure in Sydney medical clinics are seeing up to 40 newborn babies a week, with the number rising each year.
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Related Coverage
* Letters: Heroic indeed The Daily Telegraph, 6 days ago
* To cut or not to cut – that’s the question Adelaide Now, 16 Jul 2010
* Forty boys killed in botched circumcisions The Daily Telegraph, 30 Jun 2010
* Wives fight over dead bigamist husband The Daily Telegraph, 21 Jun 2010
* Another girl’s sexual mutilation The Australian, 3 Jun 2010
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“I am seeing dozens and dozens a week,” obstetrician Dr Norman Bluementhal said.
“It started to change about two years ago after there was adverse publicity but now people are going back to it.” Circumcision, which began declining in popularity after the 1970s, costs about $800.
Medicare figures show the rate of the procedures in NSW is rising, with 18 per cent of boys born in 2009 circumcised compared to just 13 per cent a decade ago.
A group of Sydney doctors is criticising the anti-circumcision stance taken by the medical colleges and hospitals, believing parents are putting their sons at risk by not having them circumcised.
Paediatric surgeon Dr Anthony Dilley conducts up to 40 circumcisions a week and said parents were now more open to the idea.
“Over the last 10 years there’s been lots of good research showing there’s good reasons to have circumcision,” he said.
A recent paper by a group of Sydney-based doctors, including Alex Wodak from St Vincent’s Hospital and Professor Brian Morris from Sydney University’s school of medicine, said circumcision was a long-term strategy to reduce HIV.
Circumcision is also widely accepted in some cultures for religious reasons and is seen as a rite of religious passage in the Jewish community.
Dani and Toni Zaidel, of Vaucluse, said their twin boys Jacob and Benjamin, born seven weeks ago, were already circumcised and they had celebrated the occasion.
“It was the proudest day of our lives,” Mr Zaidel said.
But College of Physicians paediatrician Dr David Forbes said the college would not be swayed on the issue.
“We may never change the view. It’s hard to say when or if there will be [enough] evidence [to support it],” he said.
From The Daily Tele 21 January 2011
The case against is well documented. Opponent believe the procedure is unnecessary and that there is a risk ( one to five per cent) of a local infection, bleeding and damage to the old fella. Serious, but rare complications include, septicemia.
When my boy is born I am going to get him circumcised.
I was and so will he. It would be more damaging to him to be different from his father in this way.
Each to there own and for every one who thinks there point of view is more valid then other’s, you just have personal problem’s that might need more attention then commenting on these choices that every human being has the right to decide for there own selves and or family member.( Baby boy).
My boys both had it done with out a glitch and never has my husband ever had a problem. Go on with your lives how ever it may look down there.
And pls make sure you teach your boys to clean well if you choose not to do the procedure.