Circumcision: The Flap Over Foreskin Continues

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We need an end to all genital mutilation of boys and girls in the USA. Our laws need to say this. Only condoms prevent HIV!

Chad R of NE 3:11AM May 24, 2010

All I know is that God Himself told Abraham in the Torah that he and his descendants should circumsize all their males on the 8th day, and that studies have shown that the eighth day after birth is the best time to do it, because blood clotting factors peak at about the eighth day. The Jews were not the only culture to practice circumcision, but I can't recall whether they were influenced by the Jews or came up with it on their own. I also have read the studies about the other health benefits of the practice. I know it's not the most popular stand to take today in our society, but I'm not ashamed to say it; If God said to do it, that's good enough for me - although I do like to check out everything He says and find out if it's true. And I've spent quite a few years doing just that, and I haven't found that God has lied anywhere in His Word - The Bible, Old and New Testaments. If I can't find all the answers, well, that's ok - He's Eternal, and Infinite, and Omnipotent, and He made the Universe, our world and everything in it, so - maybe I just might not understand everything that He knows about it - past, present or future. TKD3

TKD3 of WI 9:34PM May 13, 2010

Nice post, thanks for writing!

seolace of AL 1:07PM May 06, 2010

As an Australian you can really see American cultural mores in this article, particularly how it minimises the barbaric nature of genital cutting and how the doctors think there’s no right choice. How could any loving parent do such a horrible thing to their child? The hood of the clitoris corresponds to the hood of the penis. It’s the same tissue in a foetus; it plays an important role in protecting the penis and provides men with a lot of sexual pleasure. Amputation is amputation, if it’s wrong for girls then it’s wrong for boys. If circumcision was the tonic against STDs it’s claimed to be then the US should have much lower infection rates than other developed nations but the opposite is the case. If you want to stop AIDS or other STDs in baby boys, when they’re grown up teach them to use condoms – they’re cheap, pain free and far more effective. If you want to stop cervical cancer in women, tell them to get the HPV vaccine, don’t take knives to babies’ genitals.

James 11:53PM March 22, 2010

I can't stand that the media continues to use a cute little word like "snip" to describe this horrific procedure. Most people don't even know what exactly happens during a circumcision. Most parents really have no idea what they are consenting to when they send their sons to have this done. There is no consent on the part of the person undergoing this disgusting procedure. This is a glaring human rights violation, period. Anyone who disagrees with me should really WATCH a circ video before spouting off about something they are uneducated about. The risks far outweigh the benefits. It needs to end.

charleen of IL 3:33PM March 16, 2010

Wow. wwww.usnews.com is killer.

Dona of AL 12:11AM March 11, 2010

Oh Jeez! As an Englishman I find this sick! I cannot believe Americans do this to their own children. Open your eyes folks - you're sexually abusing and deforming your own kids' PENISES! I mean what sort of a complete nutcase does that much damage to his child's genitals. Honestly, you folks are freaking crazy!

Ian Cooper 9:08PM February 24, 2010

Cut off that foreskin and you cut away a large part of the pleasure the boy/man will receive later in life. By sliding back and forth during intercourse, that foreskin can supply sensitivity of its own anytime a man makes love to a woman who is very 'wet' or perhaps, a little large. And going the opposite way, by using fingers to hold the foreskin forward during entry that foreskin can act like a shoehorn going into a tight shoe if the woman is dry, or a little small. For masturbation (men do that, don't they?) When he or his (hopefully female) mate apply digital manipulation to his organ, that foreskin will allow the hand/fingers to slide up and over the head, going back and forth and acting as a lubricant and causing the act to be more pleasurable to both parties. Circumcised men will never know the unique feelings of sensitivity that can be experienced when the uncut penis is first played with when 'wet' under the skin, and then as time goes by during masturbation it slowly becomes dry. It is difficult to describe, but uncut men will understand and know of what I speak. That foreskin serves to protect the delicate glans from the constant exposure to being rubbed against clothing, etc whenever the owner walks, runs or sleeps. Greater sensitivity is the result. To those men who have been cut all their life and say, 'well, I feel things just fine.' I say, how can you compare if you were cut a few hours after you were born? You have never known what it could have been like. I have talked to a few men who were circumcised as adults, and they to the man admitted that they felt less pleasure after the operation. But a couple of them said..(trying to justify their decision) that they 'can last longer.' But I responded with, "isn't that an admission that it does not feel as good?" "Well, yes." At this point, I contend that CONTROL is all in the head, aah, the one on your shoulders.

OldWriter of AL 10:21PM February 22, 2010

Where do heterosexual men get AID's from? Infected women! It’s already illegal to circumcise women. If they infect us the problem is there not in the foreskin!

N Plude of CT 1:12PM February 17, 2010

What another loser article.

It's unreal that unethical physicians find mentally gimpy writers to support this unmedical practice. I'll never believe in physicians ever, never trust them, because of this issue, and because of the way they conduct themselves ethically in general.

It's unreal that docs are allowed to stoop to using a useless African study to promote the practice in the US.

Circ was instituted in the 1920s as part of an anti-sex program. It had and has one proven effect, to remove sensitive portions and dominish capacity to have sexual pleasure. Do you know what they were teaching in the schools about sex in those days?

the "benefits" are literally like scratching an itch by shooting it with a gun. An infection in a non-fatal area of the body is treated with antibiotics, cleaning and rest. AIDS is prevented by being careful and using protection. etc. etc.

Dredging up circ is like bringing up bloodletting. When physicians muddy the water, it's medically wrong, and has no place in modern medicine.

One more point: A woman wrote this article? circumcise her immediately. We'll call it a snip, we'll call it a flap. how clever. She'll smell less. She'll get 2 percent more protection against HPV. Yes. she must entirely support carving away her own labia and clitoris. that way, she'll will be 10 percent less likely of catching a cold. Then when she finds why she can't orgasm, she can quibble with abunch of shix-bag physicians about why she cant feel sex.

you're what's wrong.

stoplyingdocs of MD 7:36PM February 09, 2010

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