Response from: Rachael

Yes, there's a reason why anyone not in Israel, the middle east or the USA looks on circumcision with horror. We, in Europe, don't condone damaging cosmetic surgery on small children, male or female. Your little boy is fine as he is, don't do it. BTW even if you were still living in the States, the rate is about 50/50 now and dropping, so he still wouldn't be "different".

Response from: Gina

Rachael is right, in the states the rate is dropping and almost everyone in my playgroup has opted not to have it done. How I look at it, if when he get's older he wants to have it done, then we can do it, but we can't put it back...
There has also been some research done that implies that the foreskin may increase sexual pleasure in men.

Response from: Melissa

Good to know. I guess, I should just leave it up to my son if he wants to have himself circumcised later in his life.

Response from: fran

My friends had twin boys. They decided their sons would be raised as individuals as well as twins. They wanted a sure way to tell them apart when they were very young. They decided one boy would be circumcised and one not. This was chosen for them with love because they are still two different people. Now preteens, they still dress alike, and each is fine with the circ choice made for him. It makes them one of two, not half.
Still, these days many preteens and most teens have sex, often without a condom. You get your son vaccinated to protect him. He's twice as likely to get STDs and aids without a circumcision. 1/3 of very young teen girls already have at least 1 (to 4) STDs, so boys have them too. Some of these STDs have no cure and are for life. Urinary tract infections are also very common. Guys with a foreskin also pass on a germ that causes vaginal cancer. It really is much easier to keep a circumcised penis clean. The slight risks of circumcision seem less than the dangers of not having one. A urologist told me that he typically does 1, 2 and even 3 school age circs a week in our small town. It costs more, hurts more, and the risk is greater to do it later. At least consider circumcision for your baby son, or perhaps your growing son. If you have decided that he should choose for himself, consider offering him that choice as a preteen and make it a right of passage as well as protection from possible poor choices.
Parents have the right to choose, and no one is harmed either way. Still, if you really want to give your son every advantage you can, choose the advantages of circumcision for your son.

Response from: nmay

Yes, the rates of circumcision in the U.S. are continuing to decline and are approaching 50/50. I know more and more parents who are opting not to circumcise their sons. There does not seem to be any guaranteed medical benefits to the procedure, only potential ones. There is an excellent debate about whether to circumcise your son or not at www.opposingviews.com/questions/should-boys-be-circumcised Experts from both sides debate the issue and make some interesting arguments. Really great read on the topic!

Response from: Tom Goode

I find i amazing that the people who are most against circumcision are women, who have not actually had the procedure.
As a male who was circumcised as a baby I can honestly ay that if it hurt, I can't remember it.
That is the good thing about infant circumcision, you don't remember it.
People now-a-days get body peircings or tattoos as adults and nothing is said about that, so why all the fuss about (God ordained) circumcision.