Snip Or Skip? The Pros And Cons Of Circumcision

Your long months (and longer hours) of pregnancy and labor have paid off, and you have a beautiful little boy lying in your arms. The scene seems perfect – and then a nurse brings up the question of circumcision. Last-minute panic rarely results in well-made decisions, though, and this is one that your son will have to live with for the rest of his life. So to avoid this scenario, you'll want to decide before delivery whether or not to have your son circumcised – so here's what you need to know about the pros and cons of circumcision.

Yea?

There are a lot of benefits to having your son circumcised. The first is cleanliness – not only is a circumcised penis much easier to clean and keep infection-free while your son is a baby, it'll also be easier for him to clean himself as he gets older. Circumcised babies have a lower risk for urinary tract infections (UTIs), penile cancer, and possibly even STDs. There's also the matter of religion at hand; some religions (such as Islam, Judaism, and some sects of Christianity) either require or encourage circumcision, so if you're a Christian, Muslim, or Jew, you may want to circumcise your baby boy for religious reasons.

Nay?

On the other hand, not everything about circumcision is good. It is an extra medical procedure, which can raise your hospital bill, not to mention that lots of insurance providers don't cover it because it's seen as an elective surgery. There is a small risk of complications with the procedure, like with any surgical operation, including bleeding and infection. Circumcision can also cause your baby stress and discomfort, which you may want to avoid if you feel the benefits of circumcision aren't enough to outweigh that pain.

The biggest argument against circumcision is that it makes a permanent choice for your son that he might not have made for himself, given the choice; this choice can't be mitigated or undone if your son is unhappy with it later in life.

It'll Be Okay

Remember, no matter what you end up deciding, it'll be okay. Your uncircumcised son can always get the procedure done as an adult, or your circumcised son will never have known any other way of life. Talking to your doctor, your religious leader (if you have one), the males in your family, and especially your spouse can help you narrow down the decision and pick the one you think will be best for your new little baby boy.

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