Is Circumcision Worth It?
With having a boy, it is almost custom to get him circumcised. Now this is going to be a terrible tale about that so if this isn't your cup of tea, move along and no feelings hurt.
After my son was born we asked at the hospital about circumcision. The nurse happily answered our questions and informed us that circumcision is merely a cosmetic surgery and there is no scientific results proving it is better or worse for the baby. The nurse continued to explain how it would be cheaper to have the circumcision performed as an outpatient; meaning after we leave the hospital schedule an appointment. Doing this would save about $200 off of a $300-400 surgery.
My girlfriend and I both agreed that would be easiest and cheapest since our insurance doesn't cover a 'cosmetic surgery.' After a few wonderful days of taking care of our son we scheduled an appointment to have him circumcised. Early the next week we pack up the car and take a journey I wish I never made.
We reached the doctors office and filled out the ridiculous amount of unnecessary paperwork at offices require. After that we were lead into a small room with what looked to have a small gurney that would fit a baby lying on the examining table. They ask us to stripe down the baby while the nurse straps my first born into what looked like a mid-evil torturing device. Both feet are strapped down as well as his left arm. The nurse looks to me and asks me to hold his other arm down while the doctor performs the surgery. At this point in time I thought this would be a small knife incision and it would be over quickly. Although it was quick, what I had in mind didn't even measure up to what my son and I faced in the next ten minutes.
My first thoughts was that I was able to watch my girlfriend give labor and take a front row seat and not get sick or even allow it to phase me. So this circumcision should be a piece of cake. Now as the doctor comes in I find myself bracing my son's hand as if I am entering surgery. The doctor explained that she will inject a needle to numb the pain surrounding my son's manhood. As the shiny needle poked into his surrounding areas I felt a pain as if I was being poked in the same area.
The next step was to have what I consider 3 small-time pliers grasping the skin to opening up the hole. Now my stomach is starting to hurt as I'm watching this and hearing the pain in my son's cries. The doctor then takes a metal rod and scraps the interior to allow access for a medical term she called "pealing the skin." I didn't think that was a medical term, nor did I feel that I made the right decision at this point to have my son go through with this "cosmetic surgery."
As a 4 clamp was squeezed shut, I felt bullets of sweat come dripping down my forehead. Quickly the doctor made a slice with a knife. As I sweat more and my son cried harder, my stomach followed the same motion and began to turn. The doctor noticed my symptoms and asked if I needed to be replaced by my girlfriend so she can hold his arm back from stopping his loss of manhood. I quickly replied and sat down.
I began to get lightheaded and tried to keep my composure. But all the words I could muster out were, "where's the bathroom?"
I then found myself in the restroom dry-heaving what was left of my manhood out into the toilet. Although nothing came out, I was sure I left a lung in the toilet.
As I reproached the room of doom, I felt like I had hurt my son and he was going to hate me forever. Why would I put someone I love through so much pain? And to think I just met my son, and I'm already doing this. I have never felt worse in my life. Although my son was okay and the surgery went perfectly fine, I felt as if I was circumcised that day as well. Nothing hits you more at home than that.
So my advice for other fathers out there, don't watch it. Wow that was bad.
Published by Andrew Bess
I'm a journalism major and English minor at the University of Arizona. I graduate in December and look to get my Masters there after. I'm looking to network and meet people in my field. If you think we can n... View profile
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4 Comments
Post a CommentI think the take home message here is think twice about circumcising. Read all you and then make a truly informed decision.
My advice is just not to do it. I'd never tell someone not to watch. I find it abhorable that someone could subject their child to something they can't bear to watch. I really regret circumcising my child and am ashamed of it.
However, you're one brave cat to hold your son's arm while they did that though because I would never in a million years sit through that. Like I said in your article on childbirth, I do NOT like pain in any way shape or form. I am the person you really want to see if you're getting jumped because I am the type of person to try to stop a fight, but I am NOT the type of person people come to for stomach aches. Now isn't that wild?
I tried to find evidence to back up circumcision, but instead I found more information on how pointless it is and how you can end up with STDs and bacteria anyway with or without it. *shrugging* Science is forever changing though. Next week, they'll be all about snipping and the week after that say it's torture and pointless. Without getting too much in your business, I'll say this. If I ask any man on the street right now what was it like to be circumcised, he's probably going to say "Hell if I know" about the same way as I would remember having my ears pierced. It's all cutting through skin. I can't remember a thing about having my ears pierced as a baby and your son won't remember this cut. Oh hell, he remembers it NOW, but a few months from now, it'll probably be all down the drain.