My oldest son was circumcised. The doctor preformed the procedure right before he was discharged from the hospital (when he was born). I asked about pain relief and was told (while my son screamed in my ear) that infants didn't feel pain. That poor child screamed in pain for over ten hours.

My second son wasn't circumcised. I personally feel that subjecting a child to a medically unnecessary modification procedure is child abuse and should be outlawed just like female circumcision has been.

Should be done as painlessly as possible IF medically necessary.

As I was born in the UK I did not have it done (In europe, unless you're Jewish or Muslim, it is not done unless medically necessary). The only downside I've had to it is that in the US I stand out as "weird", and there are some false beliefs about non-mutilated guys like me. The main myth is that it's "unclean". While I agree that it's SLIGHTLY more work to keep clean (I'd say it adds 1 second to my shower routine to pull back my foreskin while soaping), after washing I'm as clean as anyone. I suppose we may as well complain about the underarms of those who don't wash or use deodorant... should we sever their limbs? I have 2 sons, and we didn't do it to either of them. As it turns out, one of my sons did later need it due to his being too tight. We simply had the procedure done with anesthetic, like all procedures should be done in civilized countries! The "argument" that infants feel no pain is not only false, but clearly and scientifically demonstrably false. Ask any parent who has accidentally harmed their child... even when it's 1 day old!

I had to fight HARD to keep it from being done to my sons because their father "wanted them to be the same as him". Wtf kind of idiotic logic?

Infants are people. People have agency. Don't take away choices that they could, reasonably, make for themselves when they get older.

I'm uncircumcised thankfully. My oldest son was circumcised, but my youngest wasn't. I was in a different mindset when my oldest was born. I regret that I did that to him now. I think that it's a disgusting and horrible procedure that should be done away with entirely. There are no medical benefits to it. Keep things clean and you won't have any issues.

Circumcision on any gender is wrong and a violation of human rights. These so called issues that people say are caused by incorrect intact care. It is easy, DO NOT RETRACT THE FORESKIN. As a infant and even to early adolesance the foreskin is fused to the head of the penis like your nail to your finger. The foreskin contains 20,000 nerve endings that are designed for plesure. Ever heard of rippled for her plesure condoms? Yep they are trying to imitate something that the natural whole penis does. Want to learn more check out yourwholebaby.org, doctorsoposingcircumcision, and youtube the elephant in the hospital.

Should. Be banned for religious reasons , medical reasons are ok

I used to be open to the argument that this shouldn't be done involuntarily (I had no choice as it was performed on me as an infant), but I now think that it should be performed unless a parent/guardian really is against it. Although I am personally a very clean and hygienic man, not all my brothers are!! But in all honesty, I changed my opinion based on aesthetics -- Let's face it, the "hose" look is just flat out unattractive (as in, "Ewwwwwwwww!!!) LOL!!

The reasons behind it are either religious or pseudoscientific.

I've never heard a factual argument for it. It serves no purpose except to adhere to a command by an imaginary being centuries ago.

I was circumcised in my 20s, it was great and I highly recommend it. I was 'done' under general anesthesia. No pain no infection no problems at all. For many men that have a similar to condition to that which I had (excess or restricting foreskin) it's a great problem that, for many reasons they never address.

I understand the arguments against circumcision. I even agree with them. And I would be outraged if women were the ones having it done. Truly, I understand how people feel about this, I do. I feel the same way in theory.

However, speaking from a personal viewpoint, I much prefer it. I have been with both, and, shallow or however it may sound, an uncircumcised male turns me off.

I'm sorry for all the people I will offend with this post, but I'm only saying how I feel. It is illogical, and probably not PC, but it is what it is.

I would say don't do it for religious reasons at all. Wait until the child is old enough to make up their own mind and then they can make the decisions themselves. With regards to non religious people, I would say, it doesn't offer any kind of real health benefit otherwise it would be mandatory for us all. If you need it done for health reasons that crop up over time then fair enough. But I don't want to have it done for the sake of it

I didn't allow it done to my son, and if he wants it done later on in life, it's up to him.

I've read that it's easier to keep a circumsized penis clean, but most other countries and cultures don't do it, and it doesn't hurt them.
Worldwide, 33% of males are circumcised, 70% of whom are Muslim.

ouch!!!!

Circumcision is a religious practice. Jews and Moslems practice circumcision.

According to health.com "uncircumcised men do have higher rates of infection of certain sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)—like HIV, herpes, and human papillomavirus (HPV)—than circumcised men, according to research. ... So men with an intact foreskin might be more likely to transmit infections to their partners." That's just one online health-related site - there are a ton of others that say the same thing. And so while the practice may be rooted in religion - that doesn't automatically make it bad. We spay and neuter our pets for their health - our sons don't deserve the same considerations? That being said, I lobbied for my son not to be circumcised - my wife acquiesced - today he's 26 and wishes that I had shut my mouth. And despite the theatrics - does any male circumcised as an infant remember it - of course not - I don't. And so if it doesn't cause long-term harm and if it helps to minimize risk to our sons' health - it's a no-brainer to me.

This is not thefirst poll on this subject . If there is a valid medical reason , fine. If not ... Parents ,and practitioners of this mutilation should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law .

i can understand if there is a medical issue, ive heard several people mention it being 2 tight, and i saw a poor little foster baby who hadnt been cared for very well, he got so badly infected that they ended up removing the forskin. but outside of that, i don't agree with altering a persons body without their consent. neither of my boys had it done. my youngest is still a baby so hes learning, but my eldest is 15 and was taught how 2 properly care for it. he has never had a problem

If you want to circumcise, do it, if not, don't. Pretty easy.

I am Jewish culturaly but not religously, I now believe circumcision serves no useful purpose, and is a form of mutilation. It is like Jewsih dietary laws, most made sense for health reasons in the past.
OK, you still have some risk eating shellfish, I was on Cipro from a food borne illness from eating oysters, Trichinosis is no longer the issue it once was, but any undercooked meat is risky... and milk and meat? That one never made sense, bassed on "not cooking a calf in the milk of it's mother..." I've survived eating all sorts of "unknown" foods in Asia, save the oysters, no ill effects.

Circumsion is being recommended in some african countries to help slow the spread of aids.

This is science based.

Lets face it. It is a very ancient practice as far as I can tell it may have originated from the Egyptian culture. It was practiced perhaps a 1000 years before the Hebrew religion was made up.
Where I grew up you could line up the men and with a quick inspection of their penises tell them if their parents were Protestant or Catholic.
The root of circumcision is religion. It has also become a cultural rite as a result.
Many children such as my son were simply circumcised to "look like Dad."
There are many arguments that is is medically valid and necessary. This is still driven by religious and cultural norms. There can be medical reasons for it in certain circumstances, but in general, normally it is not necessary. The medical argument is simply an excuse to proprogate the "norm."