So you're having a boy ...

   Let me preface by saying that circumcision is a topic of heated discussions in many parenting circles, I do not intend to get into it here. I would just like to present some facts to parents who just found out that they are having a boy. Circumcision is a surgical removal of foreskin from baby's penis. It dates back to Ancient Egyptians in recorded history, but it might have been practiced even before then. It is routinely preformed in Jewish and Islamic religion, as well as it is performed in many African tribes. It has also been performed routinely in North America between 1890's and 1970's for hygienic purposes. It has since been abandoned as a routine procedure and the choice whether to circumcise their son is left for the parents to decide.

   So why would parents decide to have their son circumcised? Here are some reported benefits and reasons:

• For religious reason
• If father is circumcised and wishes his son to look like him.
• For cleanliness reason (easier to keep clean)
• For health benefits (lower rates of HIV, penile cancer, less chance of transmitting HPV to sexual partners, and therefore less chance of these women getting cervical cancer)
• Some people believe that it's more aesthetically pleasing
• Because everyone in the family had their boys circumcised
• Out of concern of their son looking like their peers
• Fear that the child might have to get it done when older or as an adult when it's more painful and complicated

Reasons parents decide against

• It's unnecessary surgery
• It causes pain to their son
• Procedure is done without the consent of a child
• Some believe that if nature designed it that way the we should let it be
• The health benefits are only marginal 
• Some believe that it's an outdated practice.
• So the son will look like his father

So what it really comes down to is family decision. Have a long talk over with your partner and decide what you will do as a family. Do not watch a circumcision video as a way to decide if this is for your son. You wouldn't show your a husband a video of a woman in pain of childbirth and ask if he wanted his wife to give birth!!!
What did we decide? I don't think it's my place to share the status of my son's genitals. The only thing I will tell you is that we are confident that we made the right decision in our son's name.

Things to remember if you choose to circumcise:

• It's not covered by most medical plans and it can cost almost 500 dollars (Dr. Pollock in Lower Mainland charges 445 dollars!)
• Once it heals there is no special care needed.

Things to remember if you choose not to circumcise

• Your son will need to learn how to clean his penis once the foreskin retracts (after the age of 5). There is no special care needed up to that time. Never retract baby boy's foreskin before it's ready to be retracted.