I have a baby boy on the way. He should be here within the next week. So, the wife and I have to make a decision about whether to have him circumcised. As an American male born in 80s, I am circumcised. Most Americans are. My understanding is that about 60% of newborns are circumcised in the US at this point, but the percentage of those born to American parents is much, much higher. My wife is Croatian though. In Croatia, circumcision is not common. If I hadn't brought the subject up, I don't think it ever would have crossed her mind. Even so, she does not seem to have a strong opinion for or against. I think she's really just as confused as I am.
Philosophically speaking, I am opposed to circumcision. It is essentially a cosmetic surgical procedure done without the patient's consent. The health risks and benefits seem to be just about a wash. There are little if any benefits to circumcision, and few risks. There is greater than zero risk, which I guess counts for something. But it's just not very much.
The only thing that has me even considering having the procedure done on my son is the fact that circumcision is the norm here. Kids can be cruel, and I don't want my son to be embarrassed or subjected to ridicule based on the appearance of his penis. On the other hand, that seems like a pretty stupid reason to perform a cosmetic surgery on a newborn.
Anyway, the wife and I may need to make this decision in a matter of hours, certainly within a matter of days. I know that we have varied viewpoints on this site, from people from around the world. So, I'd like to know what everyone thinks. Thanks in advance for participating in the discussion.
Last edited by VAMatt - on 23 January 2019
