Emperor1956 -> RE: foreskin (4/26/2006 2:40:33 PM)
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Circumsised a couple days after birth (like most males) so had no choice in the matter. Not that I would change it if I could. Yes, hygeine is much easier. Health concerns, chance for STDs, and so on are also reduced. I work in public health/health care. This topic comes up a lot (usually after a few beers). Bottom line: Health issues are probably NOT relevant to the decision to circumcise or not. Here is the latest info. as best as I can tell: 1. Penile cancer is virtually unknown in circumcised men. It is known but EXTREMELY RARE in uncircumcised men. 2. There is some evidence that cervical cancer rates in the (female, DUH) partners of uncircumcised men are greater than those in the partners of circumcised men. But the studies (as in most studies attempting to find "causes" of cancer) are spotty. NOTE that if you have a political dog in this fight (i.e. you are FOR it or AGAINST it) you will find a ton of web resources discounting these studies, stating alternatives, etc. But the fact remains that in two limited studies, the rates were statistically significantly different. 3. Rates of penile infection are greater in uncircumcised men, but this is almost always due to poor hygiene. Teach little boys how to clean themselves, and so long as they keep cleaning themselves, this issue goes away. 4. There is a small but present population of men who's foreskins don't retract well, either because the hole in the foreskin is not large enough to allow it to slide under the head when the penis is erect, or because of skin adhesions. As they grow older, these men might suffer pain and disfiguration if the problem is not corrected. The most common correction is circumcision, although there are a variety of other methods to ease retra as they The real issue seems to Me to be one of personal choice, and on some level choice you make for your infant sons. Do you want your little boy to look like daddy? Do you circumcise for religious reasons? Do you abhor "tampering" with nature (in which case I assume your dogs have tails, and undocked ears, and NONE OF YOU pierce anything at all..its "unnatural", you know). -E. (BTW - I have two friends who were circumcised as adults. IT HURTS. If you are going to make the choice for your son, at least do it at an early age, when ostensibly it hurts less.)
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