I happened to have my newborn circumcised just last week. Meticulous research was conducted before the decision was made, as any rationalist would do for a surgery. My finding from medical studies (results have varied so take them as indicative ranges): 1) 5-10% of male have congenital conditions that for sure need circumcision, but identifiable only after puberty, 2) ~50% uncircumcised male encounters medical conditions that may or may not be relevant to foreskin, e.g. infection or cancer, evidence is not significant, 3) father with those 5-10% congenital conditions may increase son’s similar conditions 2-3x, evidence is not significant.
However, I’m the unfortunate 5-10%. I’m not from a culture where circumcision is common or culturally required, but I had mine at 17 and suffered both physically and psychologically. He will suffer greatly too if he finds out those conditions later. After calculating the odds and going through details of the procedure with the pediatrician, we went through the surgery. My son is now fully recovered, much faster than me at 17, but I do believe he suffered from pain especially in the first 24h after anesthesia.
For the non-5-10% fathers without cultural considerations, it seems there are only weak and insignificant evidence so far for a circumcision, as was agreed by 2 pediatricians. All surgeries incur sufferings—instead of arguing on infant abuse, I believe better medical data is the way to justify newborns circumcisions or not in the future.
I happened to have my newborn circumcised just last week. Meticulous research was conducted before the decision was made, as any rationalist would do for a surgery. My finding from medical studies (results have varied so take them as indicative ranges): 1) 5-10% of male have congenital conditions that for sure need circumcision, but identifiable only after puberty, 2) ~50% uncircumcised male encounters medical conditions that may or may not be relevant to foreskin, e.g. infection or cancer, evidence is not significant, 3) father with those 5-10% congenital conditions may increase son’s similar conditions 2-3x, evidence is not significant.
However, I’m the unfortunate 5-10%. I’m not from a culture where circumcision is common or culturally required, but I had mine at 17 and suffered both physically and psychologically. He will suffer greatly too if he finds out those conditions later. After calculating the odds and going through details of the procedure with the pediatrician, we went through the surgery. My son is now fully recovered, much faster than me at 17, but I do believe he suffered from pain especially in the first 24h after anesthesia.
For the non-5-10% fathers without cultural considerations, it seems there are only weak and insignificant evidence so far for a circumcision, as was agreed by 2 pediatricians. All surgeries incur sufferings—instead of arguing on infant abuse, I believe better medical data is the way to justify newborns circumcisions or not in the future.