How to talk to your parents about why I was Circumcised?

It's just not an issue for me. I can't miss something I never had. I never experienced an orgasm having my foreskin.

I'm out of this silly thread. It's not interesting to me. I'm happy with my penis the way it is, though it was mutilated without my consent.

As you can see by now with the responses you're getting it's pointless to ask your parents anything about it.These perfect strangers react defensivly and say you need help!Trust me I tried with my parents and they reacted just like these people!

Now day's when my mother gets freaked about my latest tattoo I remind her that she started the body mods.I have asked though why she didn't have a Prince Albert done with my circ.No answer as of late!

also agree Bigbull...what happened to me when I was 2 days old was WAY out of my control. Maybe that's why you have to be 18 to vote in most countries - it eliminates trying to interpret the flailing arms! I'm cut....never thought another thing about it and and I've never questioned what "could" have been. I don't think there's anything to be gained from questioning your parents when, at least in the US at the time, it was mostly a cultural, not parental, decision. I have seen mistakes though and that would suck but fortunately the doc that did me apparently knew what he was doing...

We have every right to comment on this thread, we're the ones who give birth to babies. Not sure if you were aware of that.

There was a time in the United States it was simply done, and for a great deal of the 20th century, much of the English speaking world advocated circumcision. The majority of circs were Routine Infant Circumcisions(RIC) and part of the post-natal care, even after the emergence of informed consent. Most parents do what is advised by a doctor, after all he is the medical professional, and much of the medical community's reasoning for circumcision was considered valid, even at the present, RIC is very common in the US. Most parents do what they think is best, including following the mainstream and medical advice(if any was indeed given).

I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that circumcision is far less painful than childbirth, and being born and removed from the womb, having the umbilical cord cut and taking the first independent breaths may be more traumatizing to any child of any sex.

Myself, didn't know that being circumcised caused me any mental trauma and anguish until I was told so. I didn't know I was lacking something I never knew I had or experienced the use in its natural sexual function, but I 've been told I do. Most of the time those sentiments are implied, rather than implicit and personally I find them more harmful than any possible "damaged goods" that being circumcised leaves me as having. If I'm missing out on arousal potential, then what I do experience makes me wonder if I could tolerate more arousal.

I'm sure you didn't known something was wrong with you and you were lacking the ability to truly experience what sexual arousal should be because your parents allowed a stranger to remove part of your body without your consent.

Yes there were botched circumcisions and RIC may truly be unnecessary, but be thankful that you are healthy and understand your parents believed they were doing what was best for you given what they knew.

By the way, the only way a male circumcision would equate to female circumcision, i.e. infibulation/genital mutilation would be if the entire penis was amputated intentionally for the sole purpose of eliminating sexual pleasure. FGM is a procedure that is far more medically dangerous and definately more traumatizing, with insidious intent as its motivation.

This isn't a valid defence, there isn't any choice when it comes to being born, there is a choice about circumcision.

Hi SP...but there really WASN'T a decision in the 60's and 70's in the US...it was just ASSUMED you wanted it done and it was...there really was no vote...like I said before, it was a cultural thing

Even in the 60's and 70's there were some kids who must have escaped being circumcised, I really can't in any circumstances see me allowing a doctor to chop bits of my baby.

I wasn't asked but it never bothered me...no complaints and, like you, I don't understand why anyone would complain now. You play the hand you're dealt....done deal!

My parents told me..."it was just DONE!" - I didn't question it...didn't want too...didn't feel bad or resentful or "mutilated!"...just went on with life....an guy that brings this up to his parents NOW is a bitter, angry individual....just my opinion...

it's water over the dam, let it go

Hindsight is 20/20 and it's easy to judge another's choices or lack of choices. There was a time that the British were pro-circ and thought the non-circ populations were barbarians. Much of the pro-circ and anti-circ debate hinges on personal opinion, aesthetics, and unfortunately propaganda that implies the other views are off base. Go back further, the Romans and Greeks considered circumcision barbaric, while the rebellious Judean provinces felt the brutish Roman conquerers were barbaric for not circumcising, among numerous atrocities that were commited by either side. Has the human race changed that much in 2000 years?

Even if circumcision were only allowed by consent of the adult being circumcised, there would be a subculture that would define its identity using body modifications that likely include circumcision as an anti-establishment icon, ritual of passage, pain endurance as well as those who find the practice of post-natal circumcision to be an integral part of their religious and cultural heritage who could rightfully argue curtailment of religious freedom. There would even be the cases were a circumcision is medically necessary, regardless or one's anti- or pro-circumcision views.

Yes, indeed, most were first generation Americans, home deliveries among population in remote areas as well as counter-culture groups, certain religious sects, and Indigenous Americans. Also, post-natal circumcisions were rarely performed on premanture males, though it was common for a circumcision to be done within the first two years, if not, he likely reached adulthood uncircumcised.

Most of my life I never saw an uncircumcised penis, it was a gym locker rarity usually belonging to someone from one of the aforementioned groups or an immigrant, typically Asian or Hispanic as European immigration to the US was virtually nil during the 60's and 70's and Canadians had similar circumcision rates. The practice was common in Canada and Australia at least until the 1970's and only dropped off significantly from the 80's and ownward. Even in the US, rates may be reported lower than actual because the current managed health system sends patients home quickly, so it is often done at the first visit to a pediatrician, and goes unreported as RIC. Also, given the birth rate of Americans of European descent is much lower than most of the ethnic groups and immigrant groups, the numbers are skewed. It is still quite common among American males of European descent, probably closere to 85% as opposed to the 95% rate when I was born in the 1960's.

I don't intend it as a defense for circumcision. Rather, the OP's tone and questioning seems to imply that he has issues due to being circumcised that are not due to being physically harmed. I'm simply saying the birth process was probably more traumatic than any trauma that the circumcision may or may not have caused and his mother was likely in more pain from childbirth than he experienced with his circumcision. Cutting the umbilical cord, which is necessary may even cause as much pain, given that care must be given to the navel after birth. I'm not aware of any special care given to a circumcised male aside from cleaning and making sure there is not excessive bleeding beyond the first two days.

I've seen a circumcision, although it doesn't go on as long as childbirth does I think it would hurt more. The umbilical cord doesn't have any nerves so that doesn't hurt.