Protecting Our Sons, the Circumcision Question

Years ago I had the privilege of hearing the famous French obstetrician Michel Odent speak about what he called “initiation rituals” of newborns in different cultures.

“The greater the need to develop aggression and the ability to destroy life, the more intrusive the rituals and the cultural beliefs are in the period around birth.” Michel Odent, MD

SOME THOUGHTS TO REFLECT UPON

• No national or international medical organization in the world recommends infant circumcision.

• Circumcision is the first experience a boy or girl has with his/her genitals.

• Circumcision is a cosmetic surgery that can not be reversed.

• It is painful surgery and there is no medical reason for routine circumcision of baby boys or girls.

• Before you agree to circumcise your son, take a few minutes to watch some of the videos on this page.

• You want to know everything about this surgery including watching a video, before letting your newborn experience it in his flesh.

• Babies profoundly experience pain.

• It is upon the mothers to protect our sons and daughters. For a circumcised father questioning circumcision brings emotions and questions that he might not be ready to address.

• When a circumcised father decides to keep his son intact, he begins his own healing and initiates profound generational healing.

INFORMED CONSENT

“Informed consent goes something like this, we do circumcision mostly for its cosmetic benefits, not for anything medical.” -doctor speaking to the mother on the video below

I remember when it all finally came to me; the realization of all that I had actually taken from my son. I was sitting in front of the computer holding him in my arms. I just remember thinking how badly I wanted a do-over; how badly I wished I could go back and change things.

-Read this mother-baby story Circumcision: a question that should never have been asked

CIRCUMCISION DECISION MAKER

Avoid an Infant Circumcision Mistake

• Are you arguing about infant circumcision?

• Thinking about circumcising your baby boy?

• Want to verify you made the right decision?

This circumcision decision-making tool is for you. Just click to get the infant or adult circumcision information you need.

FORESKIN FACTS

VIDEOS

This is a surgery that can not be reversed. Before you agree to circumcise your son, take a few minutes to watch at least the first two videos. Your son deserves it!

Dr. Spock On Circumcision

CUT: Slicing Through the Myths of Circumcision – Documentary by Jewish filmmaker Eli Ungar-Sargon which examines the subject of male circumcision from a religious, scientific and ethical perspective.

Intact versus Circumcised Baby Care -Dr. Bob Sears

Jewish scholar Miriam Pollack speaks about her experiences and studies on circumcision.

History of Circumcision in the USA – Why Americans Started Circumcising

RESOURCES

• FULL DISCLOSURE: Circumcision Information for Health Professionals and Parents

• Instruments Used During Circumcision – Circumstraint Board, Gomco Clamp, Plastibell and other devices used to restrain and cut the baby’s penis

• 8 Reasons NOT to Circumcise Your Baby Boy from Intact America

• Care of the Intact Penis – Doctors Opposing Circumcision

• Foreskin Care Parent’s Guide – printable PDF

• Time for U.S. Parents to Reconsider the Acceptability of Infant Male Circumcision

• Myths about Circumcision You Likely Believe – Circumcision Surgery Myths, Psychology Today

• More Circumcision Myths You May Believe: Hygiene and STDs Psychology Today

• Circumcision Myths: Social, Sexual, Psychological Realities Psychology Today

• First, Do No Harm – Georganne Chapin, Founder and Executive Director, Intact America on The American Academy of Pediatrics new position on circumcision

• Circumcision Ethics and Economics Psychology Today – “Circumcision is ending with the generation being born now – only 32% of babies born in 2009 in the USA were circumcised.”

• DOCTORS OPPOSING CIRCUMCISION (D.O.C.) Physicians for Genital Integrity

• www.IntactAmerica.org

• Whether or Not to Circumcise – Dr. Sears

• Nurses for the Rights of the Child is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the rights of infants and children to bodily integrity. “As health professionals, we specifically seek to protect non-consenting infants and children from surgical alteration of their healthy genitals.”

This post was first published in The Peaceful Birth Project website on 2003. Revised and updated March 2019.