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Circumcision or Intact?by Lauren Feder, M.D.
 I am pregnant with a boy and am considering having him circumcised. Why are boys circumcised? Circumcision is a surgical procedure that removes all or part of the male foreskin on the penis. It is performed in both the Jewish and Muslim traditions. For Jews, circumcision is a sacred pact between Abraham and God that is to be done on the eighth day after birth. Muslims circumcise later in childhood. In the United States, circumcision became popular in the late 19th century to discourage masturbation and other illnesses. By the mid-20th century, nearly 90% of American boys were circumcised. The United States hasthe highest rate of circumcision in the world for non-religious reasons. Worldwide 10-15% of men are circumcised.In 1989 a report concluded that circumcision reduces the risks of urinary tract infections, cervical cancer in women and sexually transmitted diseases. Many doctors have since dismissed these findings. Currently, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recognized that there are no medical benefits to justify circumcision. Circumcision does not prevent cancer of the penis, cervical cancer is not more common in sexual partners of intact males and circumcision does not prevent sexually transmitted diseases. As a result, less boys are being circumcised. In the late 1960s circumcision was 90 percent compared to 60 percent nowadays. Circumcision is the most common surgical procedure in the United States. Up until recently circumcision was the only operation in which the patient was not given anesthesia. The American Academy of Pediatrics has now recommended that babies undergoing circumcision be given a local anesthetic to prevent pain and psychological trauma from surgery without anesthesia. In the Jewish bris, a trained mohel uses wine soaked cloth or local analgesia cream for the ceremony. What is the foreskin? In all mammals the genitals are covered and protected with foreskin. Both males and females are born with foreskin. The foreskin in female protects the clitoris, in the male the glans penis. In the male, the foreskin has multiple functions and contains nerve endings and blood vessels.The foreskin serves a similar purpose to the eyelid. As the eyelid shelters the eye, the foreskin protects the glans penis and the urinary tract. Both the eyelid and foreskin secrete lubricants and antibodies while retaining moisture on the under side of the mucous membrane. Smegma is the white emollient under the foreskin. It usually has a connotation of being unclean. It is clean and plays an important role in moisturizing the glans penis. Specifically the foreskin helps to maintain penile warmth, proper ph balance and cleanliness. In a circumcised penis, the lack of the protective foreskin can lead to desensitization. As part of the immune system, the foreskin produces antibacterial and antiviral proteins to protect against infection. Sexually, it is rich in nerve endings and is as sensitive as the fingertip. It is more concentrated in nerve receptors than any other part of the penis. The motion of the foreskin aids in stimulation. The foreskin secretes lubricants which can enhance sexual intercourse. Some researchers argue that an intact penis has more erogenous sensations. How to Care for the Foreskin On Friday morning Julie called me up to report that Vincent was fussy and his penis was red and irritated. The day before, Grandma had been washing his bottom with antibacterial soap. Julie's phone call was unusual, as I rarely hear complaints about redness or irritation of the foreskin. I saw Vincent that afternoon and he was given the homeopathic remedy, Cinnabaris every 8 hours for 3 doses. By the next day, he was fine without complaints or redness. If you ever notice any unusual redness, pain or unusual discharge call your healthcare provider immediately. Many pediatricians and grandparents grew up in an era when circumcision was the standard. It is common for them to not be familiar with care of the foreskin. Adequate bathing is sufficient for most boys. Never use antibacterial soap on baby! In addition, the foreskin should not be retracted. According to pediatrician Dr. Paul Fleiss, "A child's foreskin, like his eyelids, is self-cleansing. For the same reason it is inadvisable to lift the eyelids and wash the eyeballs, it is inadvisable to retract a child's foreskin and wash the glans." In babies the foreskin opens enough to allow for urination. When he becomes older he will begin to retract it himself. Up until puberty, there is no particular age when the foreskin retracts. By puberty the penis will have developed, and the foreskin will retract. We are having our son circumcised. What can I expect? Are there any
natural remedies that can be used?Circumcision should not be performed without some form of anesthesia. The most common method is called a dorsal penile nerve block, in which a local anesthetic is injected into the base of the penis. Baby is placed on a restraining board with hands and feet securely strapped. Using a medical instrument, the foreskin is mechanically separated from the head of the penis. The foreskin is placed in a metal clamp while it is being cut. The procedure is painful and baby will cry. Some parents prefer to not be present to this. However, I strongly encourage parents to be there and offer comfort. Anatomically, circumcision can remove as much as 80% of a male's penile skin (including veins, arteries and nerves). Surgical complication rate is one in 500. Occasionally, scar tissue may cause the penis to appear disfigured. If a baby is going to be circumcised, I recommend the following remedies be used. All remedies can be prepared in a liquid form suitable for newborns There are many herbs and medications that should not be used at the time of surgery. There are no contraindications to using Homeopathic and Bach Flower remedies during surgery including circumcision. My husband and I are at odds. I'm against circumcision and he would like to have our newborn son circumcised so he would grow up to "look like dad."Any suggestions? The idea of fathers wanting their son to look similar to them is a common concern from parents. My response to dad is, "By the time your son will look like you, he will be a teenager. He wonąt want to compare!" Sometimes an older brother is circumcised and parents decide to not continue with younger siblings. Both of my sons are not circumcised. When my son was in second grade he commented that his penis looked different than some of the other boys. I explained to him that the other boys were circumcised. My brief description of the procedure satisfied his curiosity as he never asked about it again.I hope this information on circumcision provides you with additional viewpoints. Although it may seem like an abundance of information, before you know it you will other choices and experiences that await you. Congratulations on becoming parents! In the DrFeder.com Natural Pharmacy we are pleased to feature a wide selection of homeopathic remedies. Most of them are in a 30C strength which is suitable for both children and adults. To order a remedy in a different strength or inquire about a remedy that isn't listed, please contact us. We'll find it for you! Recommended Reading: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Circumcision: Untold Facts on America's Most Widely Performed and Most Unnecessary Surgery by Paul M. Fleiss, M.D., Frederick M. Hodges |
Book of the Month February 2008
Holistic Moms Network 
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