I used to perform circumcisions when I was in residency(it was a requirement). It is kind of a barbaric procedure where the infant is strapped down on a board and the penis poked 5 times with a needle to get local anesthesia. You can never tell if the part is completely numb because the baby never stops hollering once you start poking on the penis. So during the whole procedure, most babies keep crying. Plus there are many horror stories as to what can go wrong if the instruments are not used properly. I have seen 1 case of irreparable damage to penis occur. Plus more common complications of too much or too little skin being cut off. Now agreed, most complications do not happen, but why subject baby to a medically unnecessary procedure when the risks seem to outweigh the benefit. Once I started my own practice, I have never performed a single circumcision, even if it meant the Parents going with another Doc.
Dear LG,
I know you're in Socal, but your neighbors to the North in San Fransisco have proposed a bill to ban male circumcision for minors. It seems like supporters of this ban argue male circumcision is a painful and permanently damaging cosmetic surgery that's forced upon men when they're at their weakest and most vulnerable. As someone who was circumcised at birth, I obviously can't remember the pain of the procedure. Sex still feels pretty damn good & I don't think my life is altered too much by having my wee wee cut as an infant.
Is there any research backing up this proposal's claim of an adverse effect male circumcision can have upon male sexual sensitivity? Also, why is this such a hot button issue? Aesthetically speaking, I think it's pretty customary from women I've been with to prefer circumcised penises - (at least Americans anyway). I know overseas the procedure is not done in many countries as often as the US, but I find it odd that people are so up in arms about a minor medical procedure that seems to have no long term problems other than a speculated lack of sensitivity.
If the intention was to prevent masturbation, then it is a colosal failure, and I speak from lots of personal experience.
...I would be blind as a bat and have hairy palms if I was uncut.
I used to perform circumcisions when I was in residency(it was a requirement). It is kind of a barbaric procedure where the infant is strapped down on a board and the penis poked 5 times with a needle to get local anesthesia. You can never tell if the part is completely numb because the baby never stops hollering once you start poking on the penis. So during the whole procedure, most babies keep crying. Plus there are many horror stories as to what can go wrong if the instruments are not used properly. I have seen 1 case of irreparable damage to penis occur. Plus more common complications of too much or too little skin being cut off. Now agreed, most complications do not happen, but why subject baby to a medically unnecessary procedure when the risks seem to outweigh the benefit. Once I started my own practice, I have never performed a single circumcision, even if it meant the Parents going with another Doc.
go on some kind of record with this, email my office (look at the banner ad on this board for contact info). There are some of us clinicians who need all the ammo we can get to stop these unnecessary procedures!
Thank you, thank you, thank you,
The Love Goddess