Wow, this thread is
PROFOUNDLY irritating.
To see so many people make claims about how circumcision is "awful" without having the FIRST IDEA of how the procedure is even actually PERFORMED, is really annoying.
No, I would not. I don't believe in the benefits of circumcision, nor do I agree with the procedure itself (i.e. no analgesic). To me, it makes absolutely no sense to cut off a part of a newborn's genitals, no matter how many studies you can cite showing reduced transmission/infection of or by blah blah.
Let me make this very clear. Circumcisions ARE done with analgesia!!! It's a local injection of lidocaine AROUND the base of the shaft (not IN the penis itself) for a penile block. It's not a topical medication.
And for those who say that "lidocaine is weak sauce"
🙄, it's not. It's the same stuff I'd inject in you to suture you up after a laceration. It's similar to the stuff that dentists use before working on your teeth.
Yes, babies cry during circs. That being said, most of the reason why they're crying is because they are cold, and being prodded/poked when they'd rather be asleep. Once you cover them up, inject the lidocaine, and pop a pacifier in their mouth (with or without the sugar syrup), they quiet down.
Being that I don't want to be a surgeon.. no
... Actually a slightly off topic question... what type of doctor preforms circumcisions? Pediatric surgeons? Urologists? Or just straight up pediatricians?
In the north east, OB/gyns and Family Medicine does circumcisions.
In other parts of the country, it's pediatricians and Family Medicine.
Urology only does the circ if the penis is abnormal (i.e. the urethral opening is in an unusual location).
How old are Jewish boys when they get cut? like 7 or 13 or something?
No, they're usually a few days old.
No. I wouldn't. And I won't have my children snipped either. They can make that decision themselves.
No, no, no, no, no. Circumcisions become a HUGE deal for anyone past the newborn stage. Newborns heal up from the circ on their own. It's a very routine procedure.
Anyone past the newborn stage? REQUIRES SUTURES. The remaining piece of foreskin will not heal and re-attach to the skin without being sutured in place.
A urologist once told me that the BEST time to circumcise a child is at birth. Anything past that requires GENERAL anesthesia (I guess you could do a spinal, though), an OR, and suturing the remaining foreskin back to the shaft.
And I would not say that there is no benefit to circumcision. If you've ever had a patient come to your office or the ER with phimosis (or, worse PARAphimosis
), you will see the benefits to circumcision!
I've heard such stories as well, but I'm wondering whether it is just as painful experience for a newborn, but their lack of memory surrounding the event prohibits it from being traumatic.
Like I said, I've had babies contentedly lie back, sucking on the pacifier, while I did their circ. A good penile block is all that you need.
