Circumcision Rates Are Declining
A recent report indicates that many fewer parents circumcised their baby boys in 1979 than twenty years prior. The number has declined form 58.3 percent in 2010 from 64.5 percent is 1979, according to a new analysis by the National Center for Health Statistics. I discuss the findings of this report in this vlog, including how the rates varied based on geographical location.
I also discuss the AAP’s most recent statement on circumcised babies in 1999: namely, that despite potential benefits of circumcision, there was insufficient evidence to recommend routine circumcision.
Expecting moms and dads, are you wondering “should I circumcise my baby?” If you’ve made up your mind or have already made a decision with your child, what went into your thinking? Please comment with your views, making sure to keep your statements respectful. Thank you. Melissa
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Comments
McKaley
We are due in January 2014 and have chosen NOT to circumcise our boy. Our decision was fairly simple, as my partner himself was never circumcised. The fact that the procedure doesn’t appear to be medically necessary also aided us in coming to a quick, mutual decision.
To ME, getting your child circumcised on the off-chance that foreskin will cause a problem is akin to getting your child’s tonsils removed because they might cause a problem one day. Being that my family has no traditional/religious reasons to wish for the procedure, and the medical reasons don’t feel terribly compelling, I feel its best to let things be how they are designed to be.
Jenny Ray
Will not. I don’t believe any parent decides to elect the procedure without the intent to do the best for their kid. However, I think there is a lot of misinformation out there. The studies that indicate higher utis in uncircs instructed that the penis be cleaned by forcible retraction, which is incorrect and does cause infections. Proper care does not increase infection rate.
Lastly, I don’t feel comfortable risking death for my son because of fear. Unless something is a definite if he has this he will experience x, I don’t believe in removing something because of potential dangers.
Melissa Lawrence
Hi Jenny, thanks for commenting. There certainly are a lot of folks that feel the way you do. Do you have a boy or a girl?