Australia: No Change in Circumcision Policy

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) finally released this statement on Routine male infant circumcision:

"When considering routine infant circumcision, ethical concerns have focused on recognition of the functional role of the foreskin, the non-therapeutic nature of the operation, and the psychological distress felt by some adult males circumcised as infants. The possibility that routine circumcision contravenes human rights has been raised because circumcision is performed on a minor for non-clinical reasons, and is potentially without net clinical benefit for the child."

In another paragraph, it talks about the possible health benefits (HIV or UTI), and the frequency of these conditions, the level of protection offered by circumcision and complication rate of circumcision do not warrant a recommendation of universal circumcision for newborn and infant males.

"One reasonable option is for routine circumcision to be delayed until males are old enough to make an informed choice."

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Great Job Aussies!

Rights of the Child

If you rather avoid controversial blogs, please stop reading and get out of here! (lol) Seriously!

One of my Facebook friends created a video regarding Human Rights (Part 1) (Part 2) and she pointed out really good arguments about rights of a human. I really wonder if we forget that a boy or a girl will always grow into an adult with same rights - do we or not? Unfortunately, we all forget Children have rights.

She said, paraphrasing: "It is a crime to cut a man. If you walk up to a man and cut him, you've done something wrong. Consensual cutting is out of the evaluation. Except: Life saving in the event of an emergency if the man is incapable of consent. By saving his life you are securing his right (right to live). Let's change the statement: It is a crime to cut a baby, though we are obligated to act in case of an emergency."

Is Infant Circumcision an emergency? NO.

Many parents feel the need to do this surgery to their freshly (healthy) newborn boy because they 'believe' is cleaner and will prevent disease. Have they seriously research it? Do they believe that all boys are born with a birth defect? I have heard many parents saying they have researched it and they still decided to do it. What I don't understand is the reasons why they ended up doing it.

What about if we respect our sons rights and let him decide what to do with his own body when he grows into an adult? Besides, we still need to teach them how to wipe their butts, how to clean their ears or hands, or brush their teeth. Why do we need to amputate part of their genitals to make them cleaner or (the most bizarre statement) to look like them? Why is it that we need to modify their genitals to match daddy's when they could be different in other parts of their bodies?

Something (not) funny I've also heard, is that it looks better. Seriously? Why are you performing cosmetic surgery on your son? So if I ever wanted to modify my daughter's ears to look 'better' I could just go ahead and get her cosmetic surgery in her ears? NO.

There are certain things that circumcision prevents, which are so minimal - unfortunately, the chances of getting a botch circumcision is higher than preventing (if) ANY disease. Though, remember, amputating ANY part of the body will prevent them to have an infection of that specific part that was amputated. For example, if we remove breast buds of little girls may prevent them to suffer breast cancer, or removing the prostate will prevent prostate cancer, and so on... We cannot be removing parts of our children's bodies to prevent disease!

Circumcision is an outdated practice. We now have access to fresh water, we have a huge variety of soaps and bathing products - why do we keep amputating part of our sons penises to make them cleaner? Besides, an infant foreskin is naturally fused to glans preventing bacteria, feces or ammonia in urine to enter the urethra and will not be fully retractable until after puberty. The retraction mechanism (which is a sexual mechanism) works just like the hymen in little girls. NO ONE should retract the foreskin of the boy (except the boy himself) to clean up inside. Just wipe like a finger and you are good to go! How simple is that?

Photo of my intact son days afer being born
who is now a year old healthy and whole!

I do have to admit that I have seen a lot of parents that are regretting their sons circumcisions and I do applaud that. I admire those that have come to the realization that circumcision is harmful for our society. How do we expect to respect the rights of the men if we have violated his right soon after birth? Should we blame society for having such a shallow mind about the foreskins of our baby boys? One of the reasons I cannot blame the parents that have already circumcised their babies, specially when they admit their regret and wish they could do better the next time, or they will tell people to stop circumcising their baby boys. Though I must say that I loose respect for those that do circumcise their sons despite all the information that have been given to them and they do it because they feel pressured by society and their family members to cut their sons. What about their sons wishes? What about HIM? Doesn't HE count? Besides, it's HIS penis.

Parenting for a Peaceful World...

Since this video was made, 5 more countries have made corporal punishment of children illegal, they are: Spain, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Uruguay and Nepal. Meanwhile, 25 more countries are getting ready to prohibit corporal punishment, and this will soon bring the total to 50 - around a quarter of the world's nations.

I highly recommend to watch this 8 minute video and share with your family and friends... It is a great synopsis of the book "Parenting for a Peaceful World" by author Robin Grille.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp8tKUQtEsk

Documentary in the works!!!

US has a huge obsession with circumcision!

And I agree to that! UK News just released an article responding to the US propaganda running around about circumcision a method to 'prevent' HIV or other STD's.

I mean seriously? Do people really think that by performing a circumcision they will be protected against these infections? NO rational or intelligent person would think this is effective.

So yay! let's circumcise all males and let them sleep around without a condom, besides, they are protected through circumcision! (sure......)

A few quotes from the article...

"It suggests that it is women who infect innocent men - let's protect the innocent men."

"And it allows men who don't want to change their irresponsible behaviour to continue to sleep around and not even use a condom."

Exactly right! I really wonder if people really believe this circumcision baloney!

Mind you, don't forget that according to doctors circumcision prevents or cures the following: masturbation, nocturnal emissions(wet dreams), syphilis, epilepsy, bedwetting, rape, curvature of the spine, bladder infections, clubfoot, neuralgia, crossed eyes, blindness, deafness, dumbness, urinary and rectal incontinence, tuberculosis, penile cancer, prostate cancer, venereal disease, tongue cancer, nervousness, and the new ones STD's and HIV! For those who doubt, google History of Circumcision or better yet, watch this informative slideshow:

MEDICALIZATION OF CIRCUMCISION

Intactivists Unite!

Immediately move towards ending Routine Infant Circumcision. Support equal rights for boys, girls and intersexed individuals on the subject of bodily integrity, and promote respect for intact genitals. Our society should not condone harmful and medically unnecessary surgery being performed upon infants. Circumcision is painful, cruel, unnecessary, and removes a basic right to choose over the individual´s own body. It is a practice that should end.

Require state Medicaid and other programs stop paying for it to remain eligible for federal funds (as this single measure will see circumcision rates drop importantly), and support laws which protect the genital integrity of boys.

This is an important moment for Intactivists and our fight against infant circumcision.

England stopped routinely circumcising after World War II. They were in horrible economic times and were starting a new universal health care system. This new system cut all that was not needed, including circumcision. Today the UK does not routinely circumcise their infants.

America is in a similar moment. We are in tough economic times, with the possibility of a new health care system on the horizon. Not only that but we have a new administration with an open ear, waiting for our ideas.

This is a link on Change.gov, talking about the health care transition team. PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO. It is a video talking to all the people who will be very much involved in making the decisions about Obama's new health care system. (such as, should circumcision be covered). You also can get an idea of how you can get involved, and help form the decisions they will make.

Here is the link where you can submit your ideas about health care.

(there is also suppose to be a place where people can talk to each other about our ideas, at least that's what one woman in the video said, but I have not been able to find that yet)

Also PLEASE keep using Change.org, the more we organize, the more impact we will have on the issue of circumcision in relation to health care, and as a human rights issue in general.

Millions of dollars can be saved for life saving procedures if we can make it so circumcisions are removed from any/all health care plans.

Thank you SO much to those that have already voted, keep spreading the word!!!!

Enith Hernandez
NOCIRC of Florida - Broward

Those of you, who will have the pleasure to care for my son one day...

DO NOT EVER PULL BACK OR MANIPULATE ROBERTO'S FORESKIN IN ANY WAY!

At birth the penis is anatomically immature. The foreskin is connected to the head of the penis. This membrane protects the developing penis from irritation by feces, the ammonia in urine, and invading pathogens. (SAME REASON CIRCUMCISION SHOULD NOT BE PERFORMED AT ALL) By the end of puberty, the foreskin will have detached from the glans because hormones that are produced in great quantities at puberty help with the process. The tightness of the foreskin is a safety mechanism that protects the glans and urethra from direct exposure to contaminants and germs. The tight foreskin also keeps the boy's glans warm, clean, and moist. The prepuce contains muscle fibers that work to keep the tip closed when the child is not urinating.

Proper Hygiene:

Throughout childhood, there is no need to wash underneath the foreskin. The first person to retract the child’s foreskin is the child himself. Simply wash the penis like a finger, from base to tip; never in the other direction. Only warm water, gently applied to the outer, visible portions of the genitalia is wise. No manipulation is necessary, and as you will see below is quite harmful. Cleaning cannot be easier!

Smegma:

Skin cells from the glans of the penis and the inner foreskin are shed throughout life. Natural skin shedding creates smegma, which acts as a barrier to keep the inner foreskin and glans apart and keep a permanent adhesion from forming should there be any irritation. Smegma moisturizes the glans and its antibacterial and antiviral properties keep the penis clean and healthy.

What is retraction?

Retraction is not just “pulling back on the foreskin toward the body to expose the head of the penis.” It also encompasses “pulling back any on the foreskin toward the body." Even just a tiny bit it still falls under the heading of the word. It also means manipulating the opening of the foreskin by stretching it out or moving it around to see the opening.

Why is retraction bad?

The foreskin is bonded to the glans just like the fingernails are bonded to the nail beds. Retraction is exactly the same thing as peeling the fingernails back and is uniquely painful because the foreskin is among the most densely nerve-supplied structures of the male body. Even if the retraction doesn’t rip the child’s foreskin from his glans, it can create micro-tears, or even tears in the opening of his foreskin. Inside the foreskin will be adhesions between the foreskin and glans in most babies and toddlers. The adhesions may be almost a complete bonding of the two or they may only be spots. If the adhesions are just spots, they are easy to miss until you've gone too far. Even manipulation of the tip of the foreskin that opens it or moves the opening can cause these tears and resulting infections.

Retraction and any wounds that result, whether or not they are visible can cause infection. This can lead to UTI’s, or even complete blockage of the urethra. The raw, bleeding surfaces, formerly separated by a natural membrane, might now grow together, causing unnatural adhesions. Scar tissue will form and render the foreskin inelastic, and cause extreme tightness of the foreskin opening, which might not fade with time and may require medical intervention. The now inelastic foreskin may now periodically become trapped behind the glans when retracted resulting in a painful condition. The child may now endure painful nocturnal erections because of his compromised foreskin (four or five involuntary nightly erections are normal at all ages). This may interfere with necessary REM sleep and might even create sexual dysfunction in adulthood.

"Unfortunately, while more and more parents are coming to understand that circumcision isn't a necessary medical procedure, many are unaware of what to do with their child's uncircumcised penis. And it does seem that one of the biggest problems that leads to children needing a circumcision later in life is improper care of their uncircumcised penis, with this improper care usually involves a parent being told to retract their child's foreskin before it is ready to be retracted. The best advice that a parent can follow is to simply 'leave it alone' and let a child retract and wash his penis once he discovers that it is retractable."

Vincent Iannelli, M.D.
Board certified Pediatrician
Rockwall, TX

My son is PERFECT!!!!!!

I am so happy to know that I have made the best and educated decision of leaving my son intact! My son is perfect as God created us perfect... just the thought of circumcision gives me sadness and concern. Why doctors still doing this barbaric procedure? It is not about the cleanliness anymore, because there is no data that states circumcision is healthier... it's just about the quick and easy money or probably doctors are afraid to accept they have done wrong all this time...

Wake up people! CIRCUMCISION IS WRONG!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CC9Y-Us210

Decisiones to make for my Baby Boy - No a la circuncisión!

Cliquea aqui para: Dile NO a la Circuncisión (en Español)!

So I have finally won the battle :) I am so happy to announce that our baby boy will not be circumcised! I have done my research, and I am opposed to have my baby go through such a horrible experience... There is NO indication that a circumcision NEEDS to be done. There are no legitimate medical reasons for circumcision. Even the American Academy of Pediatrics says circumcision is not essential! My husband would NOT watch circumcision videos because he knows how disturbing they could be, so why should I do this to my own child! We had a long but friendly/loving talk about this subject and we have agreed to skip this procedure, stop the cycle and let my son be intact!

I know some of these practices are done for religious purposes, but I am not a Muslin nor Jewish. I am a Christian-Catholic and I will do what is best for my child as a Christian-Catholic.

There are TEN BAD REASONS TO CIRCUMCISED YOUR SON:
(taken from http://www.associatedcontent.com)

It Looks Bigger
One thing that some people believe about circumcision is that a circumcised penis will look bigger. Risking a 2-10% chance of medical complications so your son can have the illusion that he has a larger penis is just not justifiable. When your son is older and if he feels that he would like to create this illusion, which isn't necessarily true, he can make that decision. There is no need, if there is ever a need, to have a larger looking penis when you are a child, or for that matter an infant.

It is More Aesthetically Pleasing
This is a personal opinion. Truth is, it is likely that when people are actually going to be examining your son's penis with the intent to view it as potentially being pleasing to the eye it will be erect. Therefore if you are worried about loose skin, which isn't the case anyway, hanging from the tip of the penis when it is not erect don't worry the only people who will see that is yourself, when your son is an infant and child, and your son. If it truly bothers your son he can make the decision when he is older to circumcise himself.

It is Less Sensitive and Therefore the Sex Life of Your Son's Future Partner will be More Enjoyable
There is no reason to make decisions when your son is an infant that will affect the sex life of his partner. Every individual is going to be different in bed and some men intact and circumcised may climax earlier then others. With this kind of thinking you are ultimately saying that you are circumcising your son so he will not enjoy sex to the fullest potential.

It Will Be Easier to Clean
A circumcised penis is exposed to everything that it comes in contact with. If you have ever changed a diaper, one that is full of poop, you will know that poop does not stay in the rear section of the diaper, it gets over everything. While a circumcised penis is healing it is constantly being exposed to urine and feces. When an intact infant boy poops in his diaper you still have to make sure that you wipe off all of the poop on his penis but you can do it a lot easier. Your son's penis will not be sore because he did not have minor surgery on it. Once your son is older he can retract his foreskin, something that happens naturally and should be done the first time by the owner of the penis, all he needs to do is pull back his foreskin and rinse that area. Something that is going to take less then a minute.

It Will Look Like the Other Boys in the Locker Room
As a woman I will be honest in saying that in the locker room I don't remember that there were ever any comparisons of reproductive organs and from all of the men that I have asked about the matter, both circumcised and intact, said that they never saw or experienced a conversation like that either.

It Will Look Like His Father's
Not really. Infant penises are hairless and that will be the biggest difference that your son will notice if he sees his father's penis, and of course the size.

My Brothers Were Circumcised
Nothing against your parents, they were doing what they were educated to do, however in this generation a lot more medical evidence has proven that times have changed and circumcising isn't medically necessary.

Your Son Will Develop a Complex for Being Different
Once again as a woman I can vouch for myself not having these feelings but I can say the all of the intact men that I know and have asked about this matter say that they do not at all fill insecure about their intact penis.

I Believe That it is Medically Healthy
It is hard to know exactly what is medically correct, between friends and family you may get told a little of why you should circumcise and why you shouldn't. That is why is is always a good idea to do research when making a medical decision. I guarantee that you will find that a circumcised penis is not medically healthier than an intact penis.

The Doctor Said To
As much as I would love to say that we can trust all doctors and what ever a doctor says is going to be the right thing, I can't. My doctor told me that he didn't like his patients to go past 38 weeks in pregnancy, but it didn't mean that inducing at 38 weeks is medically the right thing to do. Remember, research is the only way that you can know for sure what is the right thing to do about anything.

When your son grows up he most likely will not have a reason to get circumcised, but if he wants to make that decision it is best that he is the one making it as an adult and not his parents while he is an infant and without his consent!