# American Academy of Pediatrics Now Says Circumcision's Benefits Outweigh Risks
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [August 27, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857 "2012-08-27T21:04:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/41 "2012-08-28T17:26:07Z")
> [@Malthus](#):
>
> Heh, you haven’t addressed the point in your rather bizzare rant about magical cock-cutters 😃 - namely, if the science in this report is all about conspiring Jews and grasping, venal physicians - why did this same group have a different opinion way back in the mists of time (namely, 1999?) Has the nature of physicians changed in the last couple of decades? Grown more venal, or perhaps, more Jewish?
Ah, so now I’m connected to anti-Semitism and Jewish conspiracies.
Bravo, that didn’t take long at all. Here, I’ll save you the time of making your next argument: “yes, I am just like Hitler.”
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### Author:  [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/42 "2012-08-28T18:44:59Z")
> [@levdrakon](#):
>
> Ah, so now I’m connected to anti-Semitism and Jewish conspiracies.
>
> Bravo, that didn’t take long at all. Here, I’ll save you the time of making your next argument: “yes, I am just like Hitler.”
I’m not concerned about your Hitleresque (is that a word?) qualities; rather I am poking fun an your arguments, which rely on un-venal doctors in 1999, when the American Association did _not_ recommend circumcision be paid for, and venal doctors in 2012, when they _did_.
Personally, I’d rather believe that the science has moved on - then believe in some conspiracy that requires physicians to change their essential natures _en mass_ over a couple of decades, to perpetuate a fraud. But then, I’m not attempting to discredit the science based on my prejudices. 😃
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### Author:  [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/43 "2012-08-28T19:18:18Z")
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#):
>
> Leaving it up to the child is a complete non-starter. No grown man is going to voluntarily ask a doctor to snip off the end of his penis unless there’s a bomb attached to it. Guys would rather live with the risk of catching a disease than volunteer for circumcision. I’m grateful that my parents didn’t leave me with such a terrible choice.
What a completely insane conclusion. A sane way to look at that is that parents are making a choice for their son that their son would never take if he had any say in the matter\*.
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### Author:  [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/44 "2012-08-28T19:23:28Z")
American Acadamy of Pediatrics Now Says Circumcision’s Benefits Outweigh Risks
ohfuckthem
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/45 "2012-08-28T19:29:10Z")
> [@Simple\_Linctus](#):
>
> What a completely insane conclusion. A sane way to look at that is that parents are making a choice for their son that their son would never take if he had any say in the matter\*.
Bullshit. If my parents hadn’t had me clipped I would have had it done myself by the time I was 10 or so.
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### Author:  [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/46 "2012-08-28T19:39:34Z")
> [@Malthus](#):
>
> I’m not concerned about your Hitleresque (is that a word?) qualities; rather I am poking fun an your arguments, which rely on un-venal doctors in 1999, when the American Association did _not_ recommend circumcision be paid for, and venal doctors in 2012, when they _did_.
>
> Personally, I’d rather believe that the science has moved on - then believe in some conspiracy that requires physicians to change their essential natures _en mass_ over a couple of decades, to perpetuate a fraud. But then, I’m not attempting to discredit the science based on my prejudices. 😃
Physicians don’t have to change much. This issue is largely political. It gets treated a bit like the Surgeon General changing policy on masturbation and practically being chased with pitchforks.
I don’t think cutting should be treated that lightly. I wish politics (i.e. religion) didn’t make medical policy in things like this, but it has influence.
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### Author:  [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/47 "2012-08-28T20:12:13Z")
> [@Malthus](#):
>
> Again, where were these conspiring Jewish doctors in 1999? Has there been a sudden infusion of Jews into the ranks of pediatric physicians since? 😃
Well, my nephew was board certified in peds since then…
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### Author:  [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/48 "2012-08-28T21:10:27Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#):
>
> I do wonder…how may of the American Academy of Pediatrics are Jewish?
Why do you wonder that?
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### Author:  [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/49 "2012-08-28T21:19:25Z")
> [@silenus](#):
>
> Bullshit. If my parents hadn’t had me clipped I would have had it done myself by the time I was 10 or so.
Good for you.
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### Author:  [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/50 "2012-08-28T21:22:07Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#):
>
> Why do you wonder that?
He explained. The Jewish doctors would fake/cook data to make this religious practice more acceptable to the masses. Because we’re like that.
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### Author:  [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/51 "2012-08-28T21:48:07Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#):
>
> He explained. The Jewish doctors would fake/cook data to make this religious practice more acceptable to the masses. Because we’re like that.
While I doubt Jewish doctors have some pro-Jew thing going on\*, I am very confident that there is a probably indeliberate move by pro-circumcision types to publish studies finding all kinds of silly reasons for it, just cause they’re the doctors who care the most.
This is a problem with all kinds of science and certainly not anything unique to circumcision btw.
\*Although I do find the Jewish attitude to circumcision infantile, I can “understand” it. It’s no crazier than other eugenicist-cum-religious beliefs, and at least the majority subjected to it don’t suffer, because fortunately humans are irrational and tend to continue perpetrating their parents’ evil ideologies in good faith.
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### Author:  [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/52 "2012-08-28T21:50:13Z")
Eugenics is related to circumsicion exactly how?
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### Author:  [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/53 "2012-08-28T21:55:53Z")
> [@Simple\_Linctus](#):
>
> What a completely insane conclusion. A sane way to look at that is that parents are making a choice for their son that their son would never take if he had any say in the matter\*.
Seriously. Are there lots of uncircumcised adult males rushing to have this procedure done so as to avoid the slightly increased risk of certain diseases? No? How astonishing.
Left my two sons intact and don’t regret it.
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### Author:  [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/54 "2012-08-28T21:56:08Z")
It isn’t related to circumcision per-se, but it’s related to Jewish circumcision as it’s about keeping a pact to be part of god’s people.
Eugenics is the wrong word actually. But racism doesn’t quite fit either. I’m not sure what the right word is tbh.
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### Author:  [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/55 "2012-08-28T22:01:47Z")
> [@Malthus](#):
>
> I dunno how parents can “prevent penile cancer” by teaching hygene.
> **[Penile cancer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcinoma_of_the_penis#Risk_factors_and_prevention)**
>
> Penile cancer, or penile carcinoma, is a cancer that develops in the skin or tissues of the penis. Symptoms may include abnormal growth, an ulcer or sore on the skin of the penis, and bleeding or foul smelling discharge.
> Risk factors include phimosis (inability to retract foreskin of the penis), chronic inflammation, smoking, HPV infection, condylomata acuminate, having multiple sexual partners, and early age of sexual intercourse.
> Around 95% of penile cancers are squamous-cell carcinomas. Othe...
Risk factors and prevention
Balanitis - Balanitis is inflammation of the foreskin and/or the glans penis.[8] It is associated with increased risk of penile cancer.[11] **It is usually caused by poor hygiene** , allergic reactions to certain soaps, or an underlying health condition such as reactive arthritis, infection, or diabetes.[8] **Balanitis can be prevented by washing the penis regularly** with water and by avoiding soaps with harsh ingredients.
**Poor hygiene** - Poor hygiene can increase a man’s risk of penile cancer.[14][19] Good genital hygiene involves washing the penis, the scrotum, and the foreskin daily with water.
Smegma - Smegma, a whitish substance that can accumulate beneath the foreskin, is associated with greater risk of penile cancer.[10][20] The American Cancer Society suggests that smegma may not be carcinogenic, but may increase the risk by causing irritation and inflammation of the penis.[10]
Apparently, keeping it clean and wearing a condom during sexual activity are good ideas.
Who knew?
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### Author:  [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/56 "2012-08-28T22:11:20Z")
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#):
>
> Guys would rather live with **the risk of catching a disease** than volunteer for circumcision.
“The risk of catching a disease” is that a euphemism for having sex?
Yeah, most guys I know would rather have sex than have a knife near their private bits.
Or are we talking about increasing the chance of living a life free of penile cancer from greater than 99.999% to even greater than greater than 99.999+%?
I expect most guys would rather give up the fractional percent benefit than part of their penes.
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#):
>
> I’m grateful that my parents didn’t leave me with such a terrible choice.
Are there missing sarcasm tags somewhere?
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### Author:  [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/57 "2012-08-28T22:13:18Z")
> [@Dr.Crap](#):
>
> How do I get these unseemly stretch marks off my foreskin?
Generous application of various moisturizing lotions?
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### Author:  [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/58 "2012-08-28T22:14:31Z")
> [@Simple\_Linctus](#):
>
> It isn’t related to circumcision per-se, but it’s related to Jewish circumcision as it’s about keeping a pact to be part of god’s people.
>
> Eugenics is the wrong word actually. But racism doesn’t quite fit either. I’m not sure what the right word is tbh.
What exactly are you claiming is not really eugenics but quasi-racist?
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### Author:  [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/59 "2012-08-28T22:15:58Z")
> [@Malthus](#):
>
> You misunderstand the role of circumcision in Judaism for a start.
>
> Circumcision in Judaism is, essentially, a tribal marking - a physical sign of the “covenant” between Jews and their God. It is a sign of distinction.
>
> Jews have no religious interest whatsoever in promoting circumcision generally in the population.
>
> Moreover, I would say it is pretty harsh to “assert” that Jews are likely as a group to allow their religious beliefs (to the extent they have any - many Jews are atheists) to overcome their scientific objectivity and cause them to publish untruths.
I don’t believe Jewish doctors are the cause of this shift, its not like Jewish moms want their sons to be doctors as much as they used to BUT they do circumcise their boys and its just natural to believe things that confirm what you already beleive. For example, tend to overemphsaize every scientific finding that says that using chopsticks makes you smarter and more sexually potent.
> [@levdrakon](#):
>
> Most importantly, is that it should be a covered benefit so government funds will pay for it.
Well, insurance companies too.
> [@Malthus](#):
>
> What were they in 1999, when they _didn’t_ recommend the procedure be paid for? Non-Jews? Less grasping?
Its fucking Obamacare, man, its forcing these pediatricians to look for more revenue sources.
> [@Malthus](#):
>
> Heh, you haven’t addressed the point in your rather bizzare rant about magical cock-cutters 😃 - namely, if the science in this report is all about conspiring Jews and grasping, venal physicians - why did this same group have a different opinion way back in the mists of time (namely, 1999?) Has the nature of physicians changed in the last couple of decades? Grown more venal, or perhaps, more Jewish?
Well, seeing as how more Jewish women are entering the medicine (I have conclusive anecdotal proof) and pediatrics attracts a large portion of female physicians…
> [@silenus](#):
>
> Bullshit. If my parents hadn’t had me clipped I would have had it done myself by the time I was 10 or so.
REALLY!!! I was lucky if I could get most of my piss in the bowl at ten.:eek::eek:
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### Author:  [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2012, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/60 "2012-08-28T22:46:47Z")
> [@levdrakon](#):
>
> Where do you live you can’t teach your kids basic hygiene? It’s odd you care enough about your child to slice up his cock but not teach him how to not be an illegal drug injecting street prostitute in equatorial Africa.
>
> That is truly odd.
Having gone to school with a bunch of boys, and having had a fair amount of contact with boys my age growing up, I can state that many of them seem to suffer from some generalized phobia to soap and water. There is a reason that the stereotypical joke about young boys seems to be about their reluctance to _bathe_ on a regular basis.
And having grown up, and hung out at a fair number of colleges and SF/fantasy/gamer conventions, obviously there is a subset of the male population that never seemed to learn to bathe regularly.
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