Myth: Almost all men are circumcised
Fact: Not so much. Globally, fewer than a third of all men are circumcised [World Health Organization, 2008]. And in the USA, recent studies show that fewer than half of all boys born in conventional hospitals from 2006-2009 were circumcised.
Myth: Circumcision is recommended by doctors and medical associations
Fact: In 1999, the American Academy of Pediatrics concluded that infant circumcision is not recommended as a routine procedure. The American Medical Association and the American Academy of Family Physicians agree.
Myth: It’s just a bit of skin; he won’t miss it
Fact: The prepuce (foreskin) contains about 10,000 super-specialized nerve endings and a few feet of blood vessels. It’s important for sex, but it also protects the penis. Trust us, he’ll miss it.
Myth: It’s easier to take care of a circumcised penis
Fact: All you have to do with a child’s intact penis is leave it alone. As the boy reaches puberty, he’ll be able to retract his foreskin and rinse it as necessary. Not a big deal.
Myth: Circumcision prevents urinary tract infections
Fact: Urinary tract infections just aren’t that common, nor are they life threatening. Circumcision does help prevent UTIs, but, statistically, the number of circumcisions you’d have to do in a population to prevent a single UTI is staggering. Here’s a detailed report on the subject.
Myth: Circumcision prevents penile cancer
Fact: In a letter to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Cancer Society stated that it “does not consider routine circumcision to be a valid or effective measure to prevent [penile or cervical] cancers. …Penile cancer rates in countries which do not practice circumcision are lower than those found in the U.S.”
Myth: Intact kids will get teased in the locker room
Fact: These days nearly 50% of boys nationwide are left intact – so the circumcised boys may be just as likely to get teased.
One last fact:
Mama Natural is not here to judge. Circumcision is a personal and sometimes religious decision. Thing is, it’s an irreversible decision. So do you homework, get the facts, and do what’s right for you and your baby boy.
- http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/17/health/research/17circ.html
- “American Academy of Pediatrics: Circumcision Policy Statement”. Pediatrics 103 (3): 686–693. March 1999. doi:10.1542/peds.103.3.686. PMID 10049981.
- http://www.circumstitions.com/Care.html
- http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/UTI/to/
- http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/PenileCancer/DetailedGuide/penile-cancer-prevention
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Sharing some great comments and conversations from my YouTube channel.
I work in an ER and it’s really sad to see young boys come in for penile discomfort due to improper hygiene for their uncircumcised penises… But I blame the parents for not cleaning them properly or teaching them to clean properly… It’s such a basic thing to do to clean ones self… Circumcised or not
ranela
@ranela Thanks for sharing. YES, it’s important to clean… just like other parts of our body.
MamaNaturalBlog
I love this!!! My son is not circumcised!!! I figured I would give him his own chose in the matter when he is older. And I think the benefits are higher for him to just leave it alone anyways:)
uniqueme22
@uniqueme22 Thanks! I agree. I met a fellow that was in his seventies. He said he was born uncircumcised and decided to get circumcised when he was in his thirties. He said it wasn’t tramatic and he was happy with his decision. But the important thing is… HE made the decision.
MamaNaturalBlog
Thanks for doing this! I just had my baby boy on the 25th and debated back and forth for days on if I should do it or not. Considering your timing and the fact I choose not to. I”m going to take that as a sign that I made the right choice
Love your videos! keep them coming 
TheJoyfuladventure
@TheJoyfuladventure I love when we get signs that validate our choices
.
MamaNaturalBlog
I have already decided against circumcision if I were to have a son in the future. Great video, lots of good facts about typical questions that people have. And Mike cracked me up at 2:03!
fcossell
Thank you so much for posting this! I am always trying to explain this to people, now I can just direct them to this video.
JessicaNile
@JessicaNile Oh good! Let them argue with the virtual me
> and not you. LOL!
MamaNaturalBlog
Great video! I chose NOT to have my son circumcised and so far, it’s been a non-issue. Circumcision is promoted by the doctors because it is a billable procedure and they make money from it, not because it’s “better or healthier” for the child…
MommyReporter
Don’t cut it’s religious bullsh** and is all bad for you
bonnevie9
Good Point =) And I like The Arm analogy =)
OneSunnyDayinMarch2
I love all your videos Genevieve! here in Australia circumcision is not offered when a baby boy is born. Nobody talked to me about it, and nobody pushed the matter. Its just not done. I don’t see why so many boys in America have it done as I have never seen any health benefits to it. I am glad that the numbers are slowly dropping.
TheKiwiMummy
@TheKiwiMummy So interesting… so far, all of my non-US viewers have said similar things! WOW. Thanks for sharing with me.
MamaNaturalBlog
Great video. Definitly something a parent should research before making the decision. Our son has been circumcised. I definitly believe its a familial decision. Thanks for sharing.
Shannindhall
Great video!! I was so distraught to learn that our nephew was going to be circumcised. Not because we didn’t think it was right, but because the mother and father did no research of their own and just went along with what everyone thought was right. I tried to bring it up in conversation but soon gave up when I realized that they really didn’t care that there were other ways of doing things. I realized that it was not my place to say anything and so gave up. I just wish they had made an informed decision instead of one based on “just going along with whatever”.
fluffywanderings
@fluffywanderings I hear you. It’s important to know all the facts. I feel for those that walk into blindly and then regret the decision. It’s the same with natural childbirth. Some moms think they “have” to have a c-section when there can be so many other options.
MamaNaturalBlog
That was amazing !!! Being a Scandinavian, it was never an issue for our family when we had our son. Over here circumcisions are only done for religious or medical reasons. I never really understood why it’s been so common in the US. Thank God that has changed
flo538
@flo538 So wild that my non-US viewers don’t even consider circumcisions… glad things are changing here too!
MamaNaturalBlog
MamaNatural, you are well-informed. However, i DO think it’s a moral question. Is it a moral question to ask parents to simply “make the right decision” when it comes to circumcising their daughters? No, we as a society outright condemn it. It shouldn’t be “up to the parents” Name ONE MORE neo-natal body part (which doesnt include umbilical cord) that parents can “choose” to cut off their baby? You couldn’t name on. The foreskin exception is made for religious whackos from the bronze age
BannedFrom
@BannedFrom Just because you don’t have the same opinions or beliefs as someone else, doesn’t mean you should be rude about it. Your statement about “religious whackos” is offensive, especially to the Jewish community. You can let your opinions be known without being crude and offensive.
StoliDassah
@StoliDassah Ideological struggle is the basis of all politics (including the struggle for human freedom and human rights) If you can’t “offend” someone’s ideology (such as religion or politics) you can’t offend Hitler or Manson or Jim Jones or bin Laden People like you appeased Hitler for 6 yrs so as not to “offend” the nazis and their ideology People like you ARE the problem Go back and finish watching your MTV tolerance PSA you 12 year old
BannedFrom
@BannedFrom You are well informed too
. However, it isn’t my place to tell people what to do. Today, in the US, it is still up to the parents to make this decision and that’s who I’m trying to reach, inform and empower.
MamaNaturalBlog
i luv this! lol.
Mariamparker
Love this video! It sums everything up so well. My husband and I chose not to circumcise our son because of these facts. Some of our family members don’t understand our decision and still think that these myths are truth. I try not to get into lengthy discussions with them, but next time it comes up in conversation I’ll have to send them to this video!
heatherl1224
@heatherl1224 YES! Let them “argue” with me and not you
. Takes the pressure off and I’m happy to help. LOL!
MamaNaturalBlog
If I could reverse it, I would…but I can’t. :S
TheAppieShow
Great vid, i never watched/saw vids on this topic when i was making my decision.
LouLou230705
Great topic for a video!
crimsonkurls
Great video!
SAHMommy42
I’m a Brit living in Germany and as far as I know, baby boys are only circumsized in Europe due to religion or for pressing medical reasons. I had no idea it was done routinely? Why??? I don’t want to offend anyone, but really, I don’t get it!
xoxazurixox
@xoxazurixox So interesting! Thanks for sharing. I think it will become like this in the US soon.
MamaNaturalBlog
THE BEST Circ vid ever made! people these days need the facts and they want them fast! superb video. I think this video will help mothers and fathers make an educated decision on this
DanielleBabyBliss
@DanielleBabyBliss Thank you! And I hope so!
MamaNaturalBlog
Thank you for this video!! I’ve gotten so much bad feedback over not circumcising my son because I have two sisters with sons not to far in age from my son. This made me feel better about everything! I know I made the right decision for my son. Plus my husband likes to joke that if he was ever in an accident where he lost his eyelid skin, he’d have extra! LOL!
Pixiedust0410
@Pixiedust0410 He… he… LOVE IT
>
MamaNaturalBlog
Great video, this is def going into my fav list!!!!
ljewkes
I have yet to be bold enough to make a video like this – but good work! FrownieBrown86 made a great video on this. We won’t be cutting our son – even as a Christian – I believe that God made him perfect and he should not be altered in any way. If he chooses to have it done when he is old enough to make that decision, I’ll support him 100%… I don’t think that is a choice that should be made for him. (Then again, I wouldn’t even get my daughters ears pierced without her consent.) =)
Angllbabie
@Angllbabie Me too. Griff can chose for himself.
MamaNaturalBlog
@Angllbabie I love your way of thinking! I saw Stephs video too, and she has a lot of good points.
TheKiwiMummy
And from my Facebook page:
Raeven V
I am ok with the procedure in general, as long as it is an adult making the decision for themselves.
If we’re talking routine infant circing, I think all children should have their right to bodily integrity preserved.
Ginger C
Guys don’t look at each other and there for the teasing factor is not an issue. I went to the doctor with a friend last month and the doctor said that circumcision is a cosmetic procedure and not needed. Also, state insurance here does not cover the cost of the procedure.
Tabatha MD
Even if it wasn’t because of religion, I would still have my son and future sons circumcised. I have read the pros and cons on circumcisions, and the pros out weigh the cons. I want my son to be clean and not have to worry if he is cleaning himself enough. I have read many stories from women who work in nursing homes and the uncircumcised men are very dirty down there. My father had to get circumcised back in 2006 and he was 66 years old at the time, because the doctors felt he couldn’t take care of himself down since he had his stroke.
Ashley RW
We didn’t want to change the way God designed our little boys body. It is not a necessary procedure, and we love him just the way he is. If he decides for himself when he is an adult that he would like to become circumcised.. that will be his decision.
Kadie CJ
I do it for religious beliefs.
Shanon T
It’s barbaric and unnecessary to circumcise babies. I’m ok with it on a consenting adult. I feel children should have the right to choose which religion they grow up to be so circumcising babies for religious reasons is wrong imho.
Megan N
I did it for Dex because I know an adult man who HAD to get it done and said it was the worst thing hes ever had to do. I mean I know men over exaggerate but if I can save dexter from pain then I will. He got over the pain from his after about ten minutes of nursing :O)
Beth J
men may not look at each other but younger boys do…and teen boys tease about size as it is so teasing is a factor…..personally I feel it is not a woman’s place to decide something like that so I have always left the decision up to my husband. he has chosen to have it done on our 4 boys. I have looked into it more since and will show him more info but it will still be his decision if we have another boy in the future.
Erica IH
I don’t agree with routine infant circumcision either. I don’t see the need for it at all. My son for a UTI at 6 weeks old and there were people who implied it was because we chose not to circ. It was a horrible experience, but I don’t believe that was why he got it. I still feel confident in the decision not to…
Jennifer C
It is genital mutilation in my opinion. People need to educate themselves. If an adult wants to have the procedure done, that is his business. But an adult deciding for their infant is wrong.
Shanon T
An adult having to be circumcised is rare. Masectomys are horrible as adults too, maybe I should have removed my children’s breast to protect them from the rare possibility of having to do it as an adult!
And circumcision is less popular now than it used to be only 35% of boys are circumcised so if you make the choice to have your boys circed to prevent them from being teased you are choosing to make them the minority!
Sarah CW
If it needs to be done for a medical reason, then let it be done at that time. But really, how common is that? We don’t routinely take out appendixes because you may one day have appendicitis. We don’t routinely pull teeth because you may one day get a cavity. Why cut off foreskin because you may one day get an infection? As far as it being for cleanliness, that’s just nonsense. We don’t cut off our daughters labia to help keep them clean…
Athena I
The current information doesn’t reflect the rise in teen STDs and the role the foreskin plays in helping viruses take hold when condoms are not used, and penis is not cleaned after sexual encounter. Also my 2 step sons are not circumcised and have issues. Oldest has more bladder and kidney infections by 12 than I can count, and the 4 year old has reoccurring jock itch in the inside tip which has affected potty training and sleep. Both boys now have anxiety and fear of pain. After seeing first hand how much their lives have been affected I opted to circumcise my youngest son.
Megan N
Well it was my decision as a mom. I don’t say you are wrong for not doing it, so I would appreciate it if you didn’t say I was wrong for making it. I was just sharing my experience. As mothers we have millions of decisions we have to make for our children, and we are constantly abused by others for those decisions we make. Wouldn’t it be easier if we supported each other instead of always telling each other that the decision you made was wrong?
Jessica UL
If I have a son, I will have him circumcised because of my religious beliefs.
Kimber LPB
When I was pregnant I discussed it with my husband who was adamant about our son having it done. So we went ahead and had our son circumcised, however the doctor’s staff was not educated (to put it nicely) and REFUSED to make the appointment when I called when my son was 6 days old – they said he was too young! Actually that is completely WRONG and I kept calling back and they said I had to wait 3 weeks! I ONLY chose this doctor because she specializes in doing these and does all the Jewish circumcisions in the area as well unfortunately her staff was not as competent! So my son was circumcised at 4 weeks old… I decided if we were making our baby go through that I should at least be in the room to hold his hand…it was terrible! If anyone out there chooses circumcision for their baby boy do NOT let anyone make you wait that long, call another Dr or demand to leave a message for the Dr. When the doctor came in to do the procedure she asked why we waited so long and I was PISSED and explained that her receptionist REFUSED to make the appointment any sooner because my son was “too young” to have it done sooner. The doctor was not happy and assured me she would be speaking to her staff immediately. So the doctor went ahead with the procedure. We stayed and I held my baby’s hand and although it was heart braking to hear him cry, that wasn’t the worst of it. When the doctor put his diaper back on I thought it was over…then all of a sudden I saw blood coming out of the top of his diaper! I told the doctor and at first she said, “oh no that’s just the design on the diaper,” but I showed her where and even she seemed surprised! She opened the diaper back up and applied pressure till the bleeding stopped! She said this was because of how old he was! It was traumatic but he was ok and 5&1/2 months later he is perfectly fine now.
Now after all that my husband is still glad we had it done…if we have another boy I don’t know if we will be having him circumcised… So there’s my story, I hope everyone makes their own informed decision regardless what everyone else’s opinions are – but it you do PLEASE make sure it is done early and by an experienced/specialized doctor!
Jennifer C
Foreskin has just as many nerves in it as a clitoris. Who here would cut their clitoris off?? or allow it to be done to their baby girl?? Not only is circ not necessary, it is actally removing the part of their body that will bring them the most sexual pleasure as an adult.
18 hours ago · Like
Shanon T
Actually the foreskin has more nerves than the clitoris, foreskin has 20,000 fine touch nerve endings the clitoris only has 8,000! I couldn’t imagine robbing my son of a fulfilling sexual experience:(
17 hours ago · Like
Larisa C
I’m not completely sure, but they say it is easier for a man to take care of “it” if circumcised. And it is better for women — fewer potential inflammations…
Shanon T
I think a vagina is harder to clean than rinsing under a foreskin. It’s demeaning to circumcise a boy because you doubt their ability to clean themselves as an adult. It’s actually painful for a woman to have sex with an uncircumcised man, they have to thrust harder to feel anything and there’s no foreskin to hold in the vaginal moisture so lube is necessary! Women orgasm easier with an intact man, circumcision robs a man of a fulfilling sex life as well as his partner…thats why millions of men are stretching in an attempt to regain some of their foreskin!
Kristy M
My 3 boys were not circumcised. They are adults now. No worries. It is barbaric.
Melanie HT
No way, Jose! Not for us. It just doesn’t make sense to me. Our little guys is happily intact!
Daryl AG
I am glad I said no to circumcision during my labor. They don’t do that in my country.
Dawn BC
I had my son done and have regreted it ever since. Everyone said it was for the best but it hasnt proved anything to me.
Thanks for this great video.
It is time we left circumcision in the past.
It removes healthy, sensitive, functional, erogenous, valuable, normal genital tissue.
it’s done without the consent of the individual who will forever live with the consequences.. and it’s VERY painful. Did I mention it’s permanent?
To say this is a pleasurable part of the body is an understatement, it contains the same type of nerve endings as those in the fingertips and lips.. and it contains fine-touch receptors more sensitive than anywhere else on the entire penis!
It’s a personal decision.. so let the person whose penis it is make the decision when they’re older.
Awesome video. <3 Mama Natural is the best!
GREAT VIDEO!!! I agree with Joel that the person whose penis it is should be able to decide whether to be circumcised.
I agree with Joel too
Thank you for the comment and for standing up for your beliefs!
Before I start let me just say that I don’t have children or expecting but I am planning and I want all the information my brain can hold. At first I was all for circumcision bc isn’t that what everyone does!! Boy was I WRONG!!!! After doing some research I found out that this procedure is down right barbaric first they strap your son down by his legs and arms on a hard plastic table and rip the foreskin away from his penis OUCH!!! Then they just cut it off!!!! And yes he feels everything the same as if you strapped a grown man down and done the same thing oh and there is NO pain medication or anything to help with the pain and most babies go into shock!!!! And if you see the video of it you can tell he is in a lot of pain…Please don’t get me wrong im not getting after anyone who has made this choice I just want planning people out there like me to know whats really going on!!!! And thank you Mama Natural for shedding some light on this important issue
Thanks for sharing Nikki and I’m impressed with how far ahead of the game you are
! You’re gonna make a great mama.
So I’m 33 weeks 5 days with my first, a little baby boy. My husband was born in India and is against circumcision. I didn’t know anything about it but after doing several hours of research today I have decided to go with my husband and not have our son circumcised. My mother is angry with me and says my child will be made fun of and look like a monster as well as being dirty nasty and disgusting. How do I explain to her that it isn’t wrong and her grandson won’t be an outcast? Also an unrelated question if anyone happens to know the answer. My baby measures in the 6th percentile. Is that something I should be alarmed about?
Also for the record my husband is uncircumcised as well. She (my mother) says a friend of ours nephew was uncircumcised and he got an infection nearly had to have his whole penis removed at age 11.
Hi Aryan’s Mommy, I’m sorry your mom isn’t supporting your decision but remember YOUR his mommy and not everyone is going to agree with your choices. You and your husband need to come together and decide what’s best. Having said that, you can show your mom our video and maybe she’ll change her mind
. Also, you can share with her the research that shows that the new trend is to NOT circumcise so your son will not be the outcast as she fears. I’m not sure about your friend’s nephew. Sounds like an exaggeration but infections can happen circumcised or not.
In regards to the 6%, is that in utero? I wouldn’t be concerned about it. Be sure you are eating enough, especially good fats, and getting plenty of fluids. Your baby will be the size he needs to be. XO.
thanks so much. I’ve tried showing her but she still insists I’m wrong. She also insists breastfeeding is unnecessary and will just cause me to sag so I guess this is just something else we are going to clash on. Yes, that is in utero. I go to the OB today, we’ll se what she s says. I’m probably worried about nothing. Thanks for the advice but she told me nothing I showed her would change her mind so I guess that’s that.
Hey loved the video!
We decided to have our son circumcised even tho it is taboo within my family. My dad is a medical doctor and my mother a nurse, and it is NOT medically necessary to get it done. However, they have seen MANY many cases where boys and men have to have it done later due to issues, and my husband and I decided that was our best bet. Aswell, my husband is circumcised and it was within our belief system.
It’s crazy how when you become a parent the heated discussions that come about. Great how you guys approach it with humor!
Love what your doing!
Thanks Emily! Yes, there’s a lot of “heat” with this issue. Bottom line though, each parent is making the best decision for their family and making it out of love.
I was going to say this somewhere else on the site, but this seems the more appropriate place. In MNS this week, you mentioned Mayim Bialik, who could be Queen of Crunch IMO, who’s under fire from the media for her extended breastfeeding, cosleeping, etc. I 100% agree with you that it’s shameful to put down others for their parenting decisions, when we live in a world that feeds junk (food and others things) to kids. However, then I remembered that there is one thing (only one, because I love this site!) on your site that made me feel uncomfortable, and that is the fact that “Avoiding circumcision” is listed as a “Way to be a natural mama.” My 1st thought was, “So people who practice two out of the three major world religions cannot be natural parents, because they circumcise?” I watched your video and can see that you have no intention to judge others, but by suggesting that there is “a way” to be natural in parenting, and that circumcision isn’t included in “the way,” is only promoting mean people to say mean things when someone DOES choose to circumcise. I mentioned Mayim Bialik here because she was a victim of this. She’s a Jewish woman, and very religious. She chose to circumcise her sons because it is a right of passage in our religion, and boy, was she slammed for it. People from within the holistic living community can be just as nasty as anyone else, so let’s remember not to judge (or to promote others to judge by suggesting that something is wrong).
I agree that whether or not to circumcise should be an INTENTIONAL and INFORMED choice of the parents (btw if my husband and I have a son, he’ll be circumcised), and I probably wouldn’t have taken issue if your link just said something like “Be informed about medical procedures,” and not just “Avoid circumcision.” But, thank you for clarifying your intentions in the video
I am a nurse working in the hopital nursery and assist with the procedure frequently. We always give infant Tylenol then a Lidocaine block w/ a tiny needle called penile block. Nerve endings in newborns are not as sensitive as when the child is older or becomes an adult. Then it becomes necessary to have general anesthesia and much more difficult. I feel it is a personal choice of course but if uncircumcised men are more sexually sensitive than noncirced’ , …… then circ. them! Men are plenty sexually sensitive enough already… =) and I think the Naturaltheory is great and all …but being cleaner is better. Also, I have had labiaplasty and labia is more like foreskin and glans penis is male version of a female ‘ s clitorus . It wasn’t very painful and it all works beautifully! But I love your site and the education you share. Thank you for caring and sharing.
what if you were a young mother whose child was born with a spinal issue and needed surgery (like my son) and they just did the circ? Then there’s nothing you can do.