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Former White House Doctor Connie Mariano returns to reveal the added benefits later in life to having your newborn son circumcised after birth.
Should you circumcise your sone?
The are many medical reasons for saying yes.
I'm former White House Doctor Connie Mariano with EmpowHER.
While circumcision remains a personal decision for many parents, there is now some overwhelming medical evidence that shows the procedure can significantly reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
According to the CDC, clinical studies show circumcision reduces a man's risk of HIV during penile-vaginal intercourse.
But that's not all.
Uncircumcised men show an increased risk of genital ulcer disease, chlamydia, urinary tract infections, penile cancer, and cervical cancer for women who are partnered with uncircumcised men.
Studies also show an increased risk of HPV, the human papilomavirus, syphilis, and chancroid.
Now there are additional costs and risks associated with circumcision. And the procedure in no way should be considered a substitute for condoms and other safe sex practices.
But in my opinion and the CDC's, a little snip is well worth the risk.
I'm Dr. Connie Mariano for EmpowHER; To ask any question or for more information visit EmpowHER.com.
Add a Comment70 Comments
Most of the world is uncircumcised or natural and displays no higher instance of any disease or infection. The few studies used to support male circumcision are poorly conducted studies from unrepresentative samples (e.g. African villages with running water that mutilate / circumcise compared to villages without running water that happen to not circumcise). The infection rate and complication rate for circumcision is much higher than to leave the penis natural. Why is there no rights for male babies to their own bodies? The answer is the 4+ billion dollar per year industry that sells prepuces to laboratories. There is no medical reason for circumcision, yet more concern should be over the moral fact this is done to male babies who are highly sensitive to pain. This is done because infants cannot give consent. Would anyone involuntarily strap an 18 year old man down and remove half of his penile tissue (yes including the inside and outside of the skin which both contain nerve endings) circumcision is more than a little snip.
January 9, 2013 - 8:46pmAs a male who is circumcised I find it horrible that I had not rights to my body. Most countries that circumcise males also circumcise females. How would women in the United States enjoy having the most sensitive parts of their genitalia torn and cut off without consent? Where are the human rights advocates, where are feminists for equal rights? Where are ethical doctors who took an oath not to perform unnecessary surgeries?
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I agree with you. My husband wishes he would have been left alone. Since neither of us are Jewish we'd never get it done and if we were, it would be done in accordance to Jewish law. It's sadly become a widely accepted practice within the western world so mush so that parents just blindly hand their infant sons over to them, say here ya go. People need to research,circumcision alone is a multi billion dollar money maker to the to drs, hospitals. Unless the family is Jewish i say leave them alone, let that be a matter for them as they get older, let them tell their girlfriends/wives. sit down together, discuss why he has chosen to have it done or not if the topic came up. The med evidence is truly flawed, they are going off off villages in Africa that dont even have running water much less proper hygiene of any form. A boy can do just fine provided they are taught by their fathers, drs or w/e the case may be as to how to clean properly. 1 of my friends boys is uncut,never had a problem and this kid was diagnosed at 2-3 yrs old with actual, legit ADHD! LOL. He's grown now is a father, husband and supports his family well. So No, his penis didnt shrivel up, fall off all b/c he didnt have skin removed lol. Did you ask your parents WHY they chose to have it done? i bet the answer would be " well it was the norm" or something to that affect. You gotta remember too in today's society, a man aint worth shyt, his word MEANS ZERO, his body is no matter, his mind is no matter. Unless its words out of the female's mouth, that's the only thing that's listened too. Society cannot find a level field, its either to the extreme right or to the extreme left, they cant find a middle balance so men will continue to be screwed in numerous ways. I've heard how they are done but never saw it (and dont want too, breaks my heart, these infant boys, having a band put around it, cut on with no knock out nor numbing meds no consent..You tell a female she can t have birth control, an abortion and see what happens, but tell a male that his penis or that of his son's will be cut on that's perfectly fine.. Now i think in the case of mom wants it done and dad doesnt, dad needs to be strong, dont cave in. even to the point of restraining orders, divorcing, him seeking safety custody of the male child through out the whole thing. women have been messing over men for decades now with no end in site and time for men to push back. And btw my friend...I'm a woman :)
January 13, 2013 - 11:03pmThis Comment
My husband and i wishes he would have been left alone, let that be a choice for him to make later in life. I bet she's totally against female circumcision even tho it's forced on girls once they reach a certain age in other parts of the world.
December 27, 2012 - 12:42pmThis Comment
I can see everyone has different idea according to what he has. But to tell you the truth, I am glad that my husband is circumcised. I remember in my first marriage I used to have discomfort due to vaginal infections very often,he wasn't circumcised because that's not in our culture. But since I remarried (I didn't pursue for circumcised man, though, lol) I have never experienced such discomfort. It was amazing difference for my well-being. It's of course their choice, but I know for sure women will benefit health wise.
December 22, 2012 - 3:53pmThis Comment
Sexism is just as bad as racism. Does this Dr. support female circumcision?
December 22, 2012 - 4:48amThis Comment
I can plainly see that most of the anti/negative posts here are from the same few people. Sad.
December 6, 2012 - 12:52amThis Comment
Are you aware of what becomes of the foreskin after being sniped. It is taken by the hospital and sold. It is used to treat sever burn patients.
December 5, 2012 - 1:20pmThe boy or the parents are not even given a break on the bill for doing this. Plus insurance companies are not covering snipping of boys anymore. It is not necessary period. I am cut and wish I wasn't. Or at least have a say if I wanted to be cut. SHAME SHAME SHAME on the medical profession.
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Where in the world do you get that?? I watched my son get circumcised and watched it get thrown away.
December 13, 2012 - 10:57amThis Comment
They do sell the removed foreskin. It is used for lab experiments and also for growing skin cells.
The incidence of infection and STDs is 0 if you remove the entire penis. Cut a third off and you can reduce the chance of these diseases!
The research of this is totally flawed. Most is based on comparing devout religious men i.e. orthodox jews and their rate of STDs and HIV to third world country men who aren't circumcised. They never mention European men or compare men in the developed world.
January 3, 2013 - 12:01pmThis Comment
I sure am glad I am circumcised. Medical need or not, I am glad my parents did it for me, as I know of people who are not circumcised who have had medical issues, including one who had to be circumcised since his foreskin was two tight to allow his head through.
A one eyed monster with goo at the end makes me feel completely sick! But that is just me. As long as government allows abortions, then I feel a serious conflict if states go trying to ban sniping. If they want to ban editing a member, then why can they allow mother/doctor/god to murder babies? Abortion, yes! Circumcision, NO!
November 29, 2012 - 8:10pmThis Comment