Should Boys be Circumcised?

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The anti-circs are living in the past (as usual). Anesthetic is strongly advised. It needs only be a local moreover. EMLA cream, for example, if applied 2 hours before the op means no pain during or after, since the effect lasts 6 hours. This is often used with the Plastibell - a plastic device that slips on to the head of the peni.s, and the foreskin is then tied. The foreskin and plastic device drops off after a few days. The foreskin is not cut off the shaft of the penis. This makes this procedure more acceptable to some parents, although other methods, such as the Gomco or Mogen clamps are just as good, and used commonly in the USA.

The anticirc writer clearly has no knowledge of neurophysiology or psychology. This is all purile propaganda and scare tactics to confuddle the reader. Recent research on a birth cohort followed closely for over 25 years has shown that circumcision has NO effect on breastfeeding, learning ability, and every other index of the many factors studied (Fergusson et al. 2008). The only adverse effect was in the uncircumcised group, who exhibited a higher incidence of lower respiratory tract infections. Isn't it interesting that NOCIRC chooses to ignore high quality research findings when they contradict their claims.

There are no long term memories associated with circumcision. This myth is perpetrated by the anti-circs to prey on those who are psychologically (or psychiatrically) vulnerable or disturbed, or those who are foolish enough to be duped into believing their sexual problems have something to do with their circumcision --- this ploy is used for not only propaganda but to increase their membership.

Their historical diatribe about pain felt by children is a waste of time, when all agree that anesthetic should be used. Children feel pain, and feel it often. For anyone with children, they know this well! The infant also feels pain during natural childbirth as it is squeezed though the birth canal - so it's not just the mother! - and is something few people even realize. In fact Nature has endowed babies with enormous endocrine and physiological capacity to be very resistant to pain. Nevertheless pain can be massively reduced or eliminated completely by proper anesthetic administration (local being all that is needed).

Thus, once again, an analysis of this anti-circ statement shows it to be yet another emotive rant.