Infant Circumcision

[jonasmom]

Hi!

I hope this topic isn't too out of line for this forum. It tends to be an emotional one - at least when pregnant women discuss it. I am an Pediatric/Postpartum Nurse and have assisted with Circumcisions and cared for infants and boys both circumcised and uncircumcised. I just assisted in the first circ in a long time and to tell you the truth I was pretty appalled - again. I have not witnessed one circumcision that wasn't extremely traumatizing to the infant or done for an actual medical problem. Claims are being made that adult circumcision is much more difficult and traumatic. I don't know what specialties you are all in, but I think it would be good to hear from men in the nursing profession whether they think routine infant circumcision is necessary from a medical and personal standpoint. I know this topic has the potential to go into "unprofessional" directions, but I'm hoping for some honest, informed opinions regarding the matter. There's a lot of information on the internet and in books, but I'm finding that when parents are making the decision to circumcise their boys, they are almost completely clueless and are basing their decision on a lot of misinformation or lack of information.

Thanks for any thoughts you can share.

[Aaron C.]

I think that it is beneficial in terms of decreasing the chances of infection, although it could ironically occur due to circumsicion at the time it is performed. The societal aspect is obviously a strong one in terms of appearance I'm guessing.

That's my opinion, off the top of my head and based on very little if any fact

[nursinghumor]

I had mine done much later in life and honestly it caused a lot of headaches and frustration in my teenage years.

Would have preferred that my parents had it done at birth and to have been done with it.

It can be said that the way most doctors do it (without anesthesia, site preparation) is a bit barbaric, but the kids typically are no worse for the wear by the next day.

Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.4nursing.com

[Anonymous]

You think a circumcised penis looks good??? YUCK. The 4 most important men in my life were uncircumcised. My preference. 3 of them had more infections in their ears than their penis... Matter of fact none of them had any infections of their penis...


WR,,, three commas for Becca

[jonasmom]

I really don't think appearance has much to do with the issue. I am married to a circumcised man so this is what I'm used to. My son is uncircumcised and hopefully he will marry someone who hasn't become too "familiar" or "comfortable" with the look of a circumcised penis, or any for that matter. I really think it depends on what your are used to, and you can get used to anything when your really love your husband.

Jane

[1mg.epi]

Being the weekend option outpatient nurse, I have seen urgent circumcisions done on the weekends. Mainly due to strictures. I have seen many un-circumcised men have problems and a few of the urologists recommend having it done.

[jonasmom]

When I worked as a School Nurse at a school with a large handicapped population (100 students in 400) mostly severely handicapped, I became pregnant. I found myself worrying a lot more than the avg about my child being born handicapped. I realized that my perception of the problem was skewed because I worked in an environment specifically made for those with handicaps. I wonder if, when we nurses work in hospitals and clinics where people with medical problems are drawn for treatment, we forget to look at the big picture and put the problems in their proper perspective.

Do you think that if you looked at the whole population of the country the number of men with the problems you mentioned would warrent every infant being circumcised to prevent them having a problem later?

Or do you find yourself expecting problems to crop up because you have seen so many of the small percentage that have problems?

[Anonymous]

If you look closely I was responding to shortbus and his comment that circumsiced penis' looked good.


WR,,, three commas for Becca

[cassioo]

at my hospital the use EMLA cream before. There are studies about pain in infants. There used to be many procedures on infants without meds because of their "immature" nervous system but times are changing. Had all my boys done they seem no worse for the wear now.

[Trygve]

I am a male nursing student who will graduate this December. Having witnessed two infant circumcisions on my recently completed Maternity-OB clinical rotation (one using the PlastiBell and the other using a Gomco), I must say I was rather appalled by the entire process. I asked one of the Docs if this was truly a medical necessity. Her reply was that the American Association of Pediatricians stated it was not "absolute". I went to the AAP's website and found this statement adopted in 1999.

"Existing scientific evidence demonstrates potential medical benefits of newborn male circumcision; however, these data are not sufficient to recommend routine neonatal circumcision. In circumstances in which there are potential benefits and risks, yet the procedure is not essential to the child's current well-being, parents should determine what is in the best interest of the child. To make an informed choice, parents of all male infants should be given accurate and unbiased information and be provided the opportunity to discuss this decision. If a decision for circumcision is made, procedural analgesia should be provided."
PEDIATRICS Vol. 103 No. 3 March 1999, pp. 686-693
http://aappolicy.aappublications.org...cs%3b103/3/686

Although the AAP's position promotes the use of procedural analgesia, the only comfort measures used in the two circumisions I witnessed was the use of sugar water to quell the screaming.