Let’s be honest. The penis is not the most attractive part of a human body, male or female, in my opinion. So I don’t usually dwell on it. But it came up as part of a very important conversation about our unborn son. When we were in the hospital at 28 weeks for my pre-term labor scare, the nurse asked us if we planned to have our baby circumcised.
I had never thought about it, really, being averse to thinking about penises in general. My husband’s immediate reaction was, “yes, of course.” But I hesitated. Why be so quick to decide? It is really necessary to circumcise, or do we just do it because that is what is done? Is it true that it’s more hygienic to circumcise, or is that just a myth, and could it be better to leave your baby’s penis intact? Why do I feel like I’m writing an episode of “Sex and the City?”
Well, since Stewart was so convinced, I went along with him and said “yes” to the question also.
But then yesterday my friend Trevor came over to preach the Joys of Uncircumcising. He brought with him a 400-page binder that is full of testimonials and scientific-looking quotes about why it is better to have an “intact penis.” There are even diagrams and pictorial representations of the circumcision process. It was quite a revolting sight, if you ask me (which you didn’t, and if you’re too grossed out by now, you’re welcome to navigate off this site). I read a little bit of the literature and then chose not to think about it anymore.
Until Stewart came home. He found the book and exclaimed “what is THIS?!” He looked through it a little bit, too, and it didn’t seem to bother him. Then on the way to dinner we discussed it a bit more, and then AT DINNER with four other men and one other woman we discussed it even further. It seems people have strong opinions about this topic. One of our fellow diners had even videotaped his son’s circumcision in the hospital. He said he was curious, because of course he didn’t remember his own circumcision! And he did admit that the procedure made him feel faint.
I am intrigued by all of this because as I come closer to having a baby boy I am facing dealing with baby boy parts on a daily basis. And in the future I will have to answer his questions, or say “ask your father.” And hopefully his father will have answers, because HE’S the one who’s gonna be witnessing the circumcision procedure this time.
A good friend of ours is a pediatrician and he has told us there is no “good reason” either FOR or AGAINST circumcision – merely parental preference. So that 400-page binder was um, unnecessarily painful, if you ask me.
The only advice/suggestion given to us was that we consider having a United Penis Front in our household. I.e. if dad was circumcised and didn’t have a problem with it as an adult, the boys should be circumcised as well so all penises would look similar. Kids ask so many questions once they hit 3 and 4 – particularly about body parts – that explaining why daddy’s penis looks markedly different from their penis is preferably one conversation you don’t have to have.
Great. What am I going to say to MY little boy when he grows up (you know, after he’s born)?
“Go ask KTP’s kid’s father.”
That’s funny Anne, a “United Penis Front” … sounds like some kind of military invasion!! And 400 pages?? WOW!! That’s an impressive amount of information about penises! I am glad I had a girl so I didn’t have to make that decision (though most likely my husband would have said oh must be circumcised as he is) or feel guilty about causing my new baby such pain!
very interesting read. Honestly, it really won’t matter wither way whether he is circumcised or not…
I don’t envy you this decision, girl.