# Thinking of getting circumcised. Some Questions **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 6, 2004, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-of-getting-circumcised-some-questions/258656 "2004-08-06T19:03:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![teemingONE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b4bc9f/32.png) [@teemingONE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teemingONE)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-of-getting-circumcised-some-questions/258656/1 "2004-08-06T19:03:42Z")
Any reason not to do it? How is it done? Do I have to go to the hospital? Or can my regular doctor do it? How much does it cost? How long does it take to heal? Will it hurt? Does it really hurt that much during the first urination post-surgery? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-of-getting-circumcised-some-questions/258656/2 "2004-08-06T19:08:47Z")
> [@teemingONE](#): > > Any reason not to do it? > > How is it done? > > Do I have to go to the hospital? Or can my regular doctor do it? > > How much does it cost? > > How long does it take to heal? > > Will it hurt? > > Does it really hurt that much during the first urination post-surgery? [Adult Circumcision](http://www.aafp.org/afp/990315ap/1514.html) ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-of-getting-circumcised-some-questions/258656/3 "2004-08-06T19:09:55Z")
I’ll go on a bit of risk here and assume that you’re an adult, yes? If so, why would you be willing to have sharp things anywhere near your nether bits? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-of-getting-circumcised-some-questions/258656/4 "2004-08-06T19:11:45Z")
…and in case you change your mind [Tug-Ahoy!](http://www.tugahoy.com/) ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-of-getting-circumcised-some-questions/258656/5 "2004-08-06T19:19:18Z")
> [@teemingONE](#): > > Any reason not to do it? > How is it done? > Do I have to go to the hospital? Or can my regular doctor do it? > How much does it cost? > How long does it take to heal? > Will it hurt? > Does it really hurt that much during the first urination post-surgery? Why? Urgent medical indication? Religious requirement? Personal hygiene? Juvenile supidity? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![teemingONE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b4bc9f/32.png) [@teemingONE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teemingONE)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-of-getting-circumcised-some-questions/258656/6 "2004-08-06T19:35:37Z")
A little of the last 2 **spin** ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2004, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-of-getting-circumcised-some-questions/258656/7 "2004-08-06T22:12:51Z")
…and remember, follow the advice of any competent carpenter:“Measure twice, cut once.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![praxim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@praxim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/praxim)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-of-getting-circumcised-some-questions/258656/8 "2004-08-07T00:13:14Z")
**Mercury** points out that this is the perfect time for this smiley: ;j (He should be much sadder, I think.) Well, I had this done when I was 14, and fully grown (_ahem_), so I guess I can answer. This is naturally TMI territory. They put you under general anesthesia, you wake up, a nurse takes a peek at your naughty bits, and they send you home. You have to change the bandage daily, which can be a little painful. Also, looking at your post-operative member is, uh, interesting. At first, it looked like a triceratops had exploded in my groin. It got better over the weeks to the point where it merely looked like a roasted pig. It’ll be very misshappen for a while. It looks really, really weird. I wish I’d taken pictures. You’re going to have scars no matter what. It’s going to hurt. Showers will be difficult. A freshly-chopped penis does not like being pelted with hot water. And erections are a nightmare. And whatever you do, listen to your doctor and don’t attempt to take matters into your own hands, so to speak. I didn’t listen (I was 14!), popped a stitch, and now I have a fascinating “ornament” at the tip. (I hear it looks badass, actually. It’s like a fleshy horn. This may work in your favor.) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-of-getting-circumcised-some-questions/258656/9 "2004-08-07T00:50:13Z")
> [@teemingONE](#): > > Any reason not to do it? Well, there’s the old saying: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-of-getting-circumcised-some-questions/258656/10 "2004-08-07T00:50:20Z")
FYI; I’m 59, not circumcised, and I’ve never never gotten a negative reaction (been laughed at) by a woman. Some have liked to play with it. One liked to blow it up like a little balloon. 😛 There ya go! Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-of-getting-circumcised-some-questions/258656/11 "2004-08-07T00:57:09Z")
> [@teemingONE](#): > > Any reason not to do it? Any surgery entail at least some minimal risk : anesthesia accident, botched surgery… A better question would generally be : “Any reason to do it?” [/quote] How is it done? [/quote] I wouldn’t know, and probably don’t want to. From my point of view, you go to sleep, than wake up and notice it has been done. > [@](#): > > Do I have to go to the hospital? Or can my regular doctor do it? I went to the hospital. I assume you have to if you’re an adult, because I doubt it would be done without anesthesia, but I wouldn’t know for sure. > [@](#): > > How much does it cost? I wouldn’t know. > [@](#): > > How long does it take to heal? Something like two weeks, if I remember correctly. Perhaps a little more. > [@](#): > > Will it hurt? Yes, but not all the time. Only when you mess with the thing (like when you’re taking care of its recovery, bathing it in antiseptic, etc…). And it doesn’t hurt _that_ much, really. > [@](#): > > Does it really hurt that much during the first urination post-surgery? Yes, it does hurt. Once again, not _that_ much. I’m wondering why, by the way, since they don’t touch your urethra. Anyway, you should ask these questions to the potential penis hacker…err… I mean surgeon. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-of-getting-circumcised-some-questions/258656/12 "2004-08-07T01:10:56Z")
No, he (big assumption, huh?) should do a search and wade through all the previous threads on this subject. 😉 Ask a couple doctors. Really. ---
**Author:** ![teemingONE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b4bc9f/32.png) [@teemingONE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teemingONE)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-of-getting-circumcised-some-questions/258656/13 "2004-08-07T02:19:32Z")
I plan on asking my doctor next time I see him. I figured I’d ask the Dopers first, mostly hoping to hear about other people’s experience. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-of-getting-circumcised-some-questions/258656/14 "2004-08-07T02:27:34Z")
Here’s the hilarious account of someone who circumcised himself. Maybe a little TMI… [http://www.subgenius.com/subg-digest/v5/0206.html](http://www.subgenius.com/subg-digest/v5/0206.html) ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-of-getting-circumcised-some-questions/258656/15 "2004-08-07T03:21:58Z")
> [@teemingONE](#): > > Any reason not to do it? I’m not opposed to body modification, and I respect your right to make decisions about your body. But this is also a surgery, and all surgery has its risks. Small ones include infection (and complications stemming from it) and possible death if indeed it’s done under general anaesthesia. Many people, further, believe that sensation is diminished by circumcision, which is probably not a positive benefit. Why _do_ you want to? I mean, is there actually a reason? “No reason not to” isn’t much of a reason _to_ do something - and people _do_ die from anaesthesia on occasion. ---
**Author:** ![Feztickle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b5a626/32.png) [@Feztickle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feztickle)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-of-getting-circumcised-some-questions/258656/16 "2004-08-07T03:29:15Z")
Unless there’s some health reason why you have to be circumcised, I would really, really, discourage you from going through with this. Trust me on that one. ---
**Author:** ![Chotii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@Chotii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chotii)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-of-getting-circumcised-some-questions/258656/17 "2004-08-07T07:17:37Z")
> [@teemingONE](#): > > Any reason not to do it? I can tell you that the men on the foreskin restoration list would all give you a great many reasons not to do it. And the largest of these is: if you decide you’re not happy with your decision, you’ll be facing the rest of your life unhappy with your boy bits, or you’ll be facing at least a year, and as long as 6 or 7 years, tugging to create a fauxskin…which will never be quite as good as the original. If you want the opinions of some men who’ve been there and done that (including men who were cut as adults and decided they didn’t like the effects), sign up at [http://www.eskimo.com/~gburlin/restore/rest.html](http://www.eskimo.com/~gburlin/restore/rest.html) and ask them. They will tell you not to do it. They will tell you WHY. If you want somebody to tell you TO do it, look around on [the circlist website](http://www.circlist.com/). Maybe there’s a list somewhere of men who were cut as adults because of a religious conversion, and have no particular emotional involvement. I don’t know of any. > [@](#): > > Do I have to go to the hospital? Or can my regular doctor do it? Uh. Look. You’re talking about your genitals here. Your regular doctor probably doesn’t do a whole lot of these, and isn’t in practice. Do you REALLY want to trust him on this? > [@](#): > > How much does it cost? Apparently around $1200 US. Some insurances won’t cover it if it’s elective. > [@](#): > > How long does it take to heal? A couple of weeks. > [@](#): > > Will it hurt? Yes. You would be having someone take a scalpel to your penis, removing a chunk of skin the size of an index card (more or less) and sewing the edges together. It will hurt. If you’re that afraid of the pain for what may be nothing more than a vanity body mod, then think real seriously before you go under the knife. It’s _surgery_. Cutting hurts. But, it does appear to heal up fairly rapidly. The pictures on the circlist website would reassure me if I were facing a similar surgery for medical reasons. ---
**Author:** ![capnfutile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e0b2c6/32.png) [@capnfutile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capnfutile)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-of-getting-circumcised-some-questions/258656/18 "2004-08-07T07:22:39Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > One liked to blow it up like a little balloon. 😛 Thanks for my laugh of the day, MG. That was classic. I am circumcised (as infant) and certainly don’t care whether I was or not, but as others have pointed out, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Whatever ya do, don’t have these guys do it (TMI but SFW): > **[Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines](https://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=571&e=18&u=%2Fnm%2Fherpes_circumcision_dc)** > > The latest news and headlines from Yahoo! News. Get breaking news stories and in-depth coverage with videos and photos. regds, capnfutile ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-of-getting-circumcised-some-questions/258656/19 "2004-08-07T19:48:43Z")
I was circumcised at birth, & got off easy with a weird blue spot (severed blood vessel?) at the scar line. If I have sons, they’re going to be uncut unless they convert to something. Period. If cleanliness is a concern, or uncomfortable erections, either way stretching & cleaning your foreskin is a saner way to go. Just treat it as part of playing with your cock. You need to be willing to play with your cock; in a few years you need to do the testicular cancer checks, so learn to enjoy it. Oy. ---
**Author:** ![PaulFitzroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@PaulFitzroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulFitzroy)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2004, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-of-getting-circumcised-some-questions/258656/20 "2004-08-07T23:49:23Z")
> [@](#): > > One liked to blow it up like a little balloon. I don’t know exactly what she was doing here but I have read that actually blowing air up the urethral opening can have fatal consequences. Be carfeful. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thinking-of-getting-circumcised-some-questions/258656.md?page=2)