# American Academy of Pediatrics Now Says Circumcision's Benefits Outweigh Risks **URL:** \ **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:** 13\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/161 "2012-08-31T23:59:31Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > The fact that we’re even having a discussion about circumcision, here and in the scientific community, is the cultural bias part. In most countries, the idea isn’t even considered as an alternative. This is vague enough to be true (or false). Simply that there is a discussion hardly establishes any “cultural bias.” And just what do you claim “isn’t even considered as an alternative” in “most countries”? ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/162 "2012-09-01T09:41:27Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > No, circumcision does not have its origins in preventing masturbation … and of course it does not prevent it either. It does make it more difficult and changes the mechanics of it though, requiring lubrication such as lotion. Here is an animated .gif image that demonstrates what I am talking about, it shows a foreskin being glided back and forth. \<[http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr\_l88r4cuOZe1qa6hfqo1\_500.gif>](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l88r4cuOZe1qa6hfqo1_500.gif>); Copy and paste it without the brackets to see it. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/163 "2012-09-01T15:30:07Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Simply that there is a discussion hardly establishes any “cultural bias.” Sure it does. For instance, in China, people will discuss herbal or traditional medicine in ways we don’t. We don’t take it nearly as seriously as they do. It’s not really on the table here like it is there. > [@](#): > > And just what do you claim “isn’t even considered as an alternative” in “most countries”? “It is most prevalent in the Muslim world (where it is near-universal), parts of Southeast Asia, Africa and the United States; it is relatively rare in Europe, Latin America, parts of Southern Africa, and most of Asia and Oceania.” > **[Circumcision](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circumcision)** > > Circumcision is a procedure that removes the foreskin from the human penis. In the most common form of the operation, the foreskin is extended with forceps, then a circumcision device may be placed, after which the foreskin is excised. Topical or locally injected anesthesia is generally used to reduce pain and physiologic stress. Circumcision is generally electively performed, most commonly done as a form of preventive healthcare, as a religious obligation, or as a cultural practice. It is T... ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/164 "2012-09-02T18:21:57Z")
I’ll confess to being puzzled why I can find so many people on the internet outraged about being curcumcised and getting upset about it being performed on male infants, but not in real life. I can certainly understand why Muslims who had it when they were old enough to remember(though I’ve never met any upset about it, the only people who seem outraged by it are western white guys). Hell, I was circumcised as a teenager for medical reasons, so I should, at least in theory, be more outraged by circumcision. So, and this isn’t intended as an insult, but why are people who got snipped at such a young age and can’t remember it really all that upset? You’re not like women who’ve undergone FGM around puberty. You’re not missing anything. Again, I’m not trying to be insulting or belittle your beliefs but am trying to understand where you’re coming from and why you feel the way you do. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/165 "2012-09-02T18:31:35Z")
Ibn, it’s not about remembering the pain of the procedure. It’s about missing an important part of your body in a sensitive and emotionally charged area, without permission, and for bogus reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/166 "2012-09-02T18:47:21Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > Ibn, it’s not about remembering the pain of the procedure. It’s about missing an important part of your body in a sensitive and emotionally charged area, without permission, and for bogus reasons. Fair enough, but I’d dramatically question the idea that the foreskin is an important part if your body. Apologies for those who will find this to be TMI, but I’ve whacked off with and without a foreskin and trust me, those of you without one aren’t missing anything. As for “bogus reasons”, well, had my folks circumcised me whila an infant Id have been much happier. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/167 "2012-09-02T19:38:43Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Sure it does. > > For instance, in China, people will discuss herbal or traditional medicine in ways we don’t. We don’t take it nearly as seriously as they do. It’s not really on the table here like it is there. Sorry. I see no reason to draw a conclusion of “cultural bias” from that. Culture helps to shape the discussion, but the bias seems to run in both directions, cancelling it out. > [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > “It is most prevalent in the Muslim world (where it is near-universal), parts of Southeast Asia, Africa and the United States; it is relatively rare in Europe, Latin America, parts of Southern Africa, and most of Asia and Oceania.” > > [Circumcision - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circumcision) So? Wide prevalence is hardly the same as no alternative considered. Your citation merely notes that attitudes seem widely divergent around the world without ever addressing the issue of “consideration.” Certainly neither circumcision nor failing to circumcise can be seen as “isn’t even considered as an alternative” in “most countries” based on your citation. The best you could get from that would be to note that in Muslim nations and Israel, circumcision is considered a given. Everywhere else it would seem to be up for discussion, regardless of local practices. ---
**Author:** ![stevenova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4bbf92/32.png) [@stevenova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stevenova)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/168 "2012-09-02T19:59:42Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > Ibn, it’s not about remembering the pain of the procedure. It’s about missing an important part of your body in a sensitive and emotionally charged area, without permission, and for bogus reasons. Yet parents should be able to give their children dangerous hormones to delay puberty? Under the policy to ban circumcision in minors a 12 year old girl can get an abortion without parental notification, but a 12 year old boy can’t get circumcised even WITH parental consent? Does this make sense? ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/169 "2012-09-03T04:56:11Z")
> [@stevenova](#): > > Yet parents should be able to give their children dangerous hormones to delay puberty? > > Under the policy to ban circumcision in minors a 12 year old girl can get an abortion without parental notification, but a 12 year old boy can’t get circumcised even WITH parental consent? > > Does this make sense? Where in the United States can a 12-year-old girl get an abortion without the consent of her parents or guardian? ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/170 "2012-09-03T05:55:48Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > I’ll confess to being puzzled why I can find so many people on the internet outraged about being curcumcised and getting upset about it being performed on male infants, but not in real life. How many times does circumcision come up in real life? Once a year in passing maybe, and even then that doesn’t mean it is appropriate to break out photos and stats because maybe it was just a passing comment. Also there is a strong cultural taboo on men admitting hurt and regret, a guy is much more likely to boast about his circumcised penis than to say well I wish I wasn’t. The internet removes all that, ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/171 "2012-09-03T16:59:25Z")
> [@stevenova](#): > > Yet parents should be able to give their children dangerous hormones to delay puberty? > > Under the policy to ban circumcision in minors a 12 year old girl can get an abortion without parental notification, but a 12 year old boy can’t get circumcised even WITH parental consent? > > Does this make sense? I’m not sure what you’re going on about. I don’t have an issue with circumcision for a legitimate immediate medical reason. It’s woo woo theoretical preventative justifications, tributes to dieties, and cultural apathy I have a problem with. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/172 "2012-09-03T20:07:30Z")
> [@stevenova](#): > > Under the policy to ban circumcision in minors\*\* a 12 year old girl can get an abortion without parental notification,\*\* but a 12 year old boy can’t get circumcised even WITH parental consent? Um, what proposal does that? ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2012, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857/173 "2012-09-03T20:09:22Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Sorry. I see no reason to draw a conclusion of “cultural bias” from that. Culture helps to shape the discussion, but the bias seems to run in both directions, cancelling it out. So there’s cultural bias on both sides! > [@](#): > > So? Wide prevalence is hardly the same as no alternative considered. Your citation merely notes that attitudes seem widely divergent around the world without ever addressing the issue of “consideration.” Certainly neither circumcision nor failing to circumcise can be seen as “isn’t even considered as an alternative” in “most countries” based on your citation. The best you could get from that would be to note that in Muslim nations and Israel, circumcision is considered a given. Everywhere else it would seem to be up for discussion, regardless of local practices. If you came to China and said “hey, we have this great way to slightly decrease the risk of penile cancer! You just cut off part of baby’s penises!” they’d laugh that you even suggest it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-academy-of-pediatrics-now-says-circumcisions-benefits-outweigh-risks/632857.md?page=8)