Yes it is. Now let me explain: If someone was circumcised, they may say they’ve never had surgery and be correct since surgery generally refers to other stuff. But at the same time, past a certain age, people generally don’t tell their friends or others they’re circumcised because it’s sort of private info. (On anonymous places like this, it’s the exception.) So why is that?

Male circumcision, which has nothing to do with FGM, is a very minor procedure when done on an infant. tbh, I’ve never considered that surgery. Not that I was hiding the fact. Until I read your post, I never considered it surgery. Even when I was going through puberty, I didn’t hesitate to say I was circumcised, though it would be understandable if one wanted to keep it private. But I’ve never known a guy who was reluctant to say whether or not he was circumcised, in the presence of girls or not. I suppose you could say circumcision is surgery to the same extent that any kind of piercings are surgery. While this has nothing to do with why I never thought about it being surgery, part of the current reason people stay away from that characterization may be the push by anti-circumcision zealots to stop circumcision, primarily strong in Europe, ironically.

But do guys generally ask their friends if they’re circumcised? I can’t imagine that coming up in normal conversation. Have girls asked you? Those who actually date you (like before you pull it out) or just random girls who are friends? All mammals have foreskins. FGM (aka female circumcision) is the female equivalent, especially considering how a penis starts as female genitalia.

for boys circumcision is a very minor operation of removing the foreskin that covers the head of the penis. it is common in USA for religious reasons and done when boys are babies. In the UK (where I am), I only know of a couple of boys. One was getting it done because his foreskin was tight and couldnt pull it back. Im not exactly sure what happens for girls, but a girl told me it was like if a boy got the entire head of the dick removed. I’m not sure why religions see the need to remove the foreskin, and the female equivalent does sound like mutilation. hence the term FGM

Samantha With my group of friends it rarely came up in conversation. Once we hit 7th grade, we saw everyone in the locker room. It came up maybe once in college. No girl has asked me before I pull it out. In the US, most guys are circumcised; it’s the default. FGM (female genital mutilation), which often involves removal of the clitoris, is NOT the female equivalent of male circumcision. Male circumcision as an infant has an almost zero complication rate and prevents phimosis later in adolescence. But in the US, it’s primarily done because it’s the default standard. Two religions require it, but their populations are very small and are not the reason for it’s popularity. Very, very few men who have been circumcised resent their parents’ decision about it.

jacksmith123 In the US, male circumcision is not done primarily for religious reasons. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is not comparable to male circumcision. FGM usually involves removal of the entire clitoris, in order to deprive the girl from sexual pleasure. That would be comparable to cutting off the head of the boy’s penis. Thus, the ridiculousness in the comparison.

Pultost If you’re an extremist and consider it ‘mangling,’ don’t get your son’s penis circumcised, and hope he doesn’t develop phimosis later in adolescence, when the procedure in much more dangerous with long term consequences. But passing laws preventing parents from having their sons circumcised is out of line. Better to focus on the abuse of having baby’s ears pierced, for the sole viewing pleasure of the mother.

Sapio yeah FGM really does sound truly awful. And that should be banned. it’s interesting circumcision for boys as in the UK (where i’m from), getting it done at birth is far less common. Because of this, tight foreskins (phimosis) does happen. Usually in the early period of puberty when a boy starts getting erections, and starts pulling their foreskin back, doing it slowly over time (being in water eg bath or shower helps). Doctors can provide steroid cream too and circumcision is a last resort. In my school (over 100 boys in each year, it’s pretty large), all the boys got a physical check down there (development, checking for lumps on balls and pulling back foreskin), and only one boy in my year has had to get circumcised. whilst boys in the USA may often see cut boys in the changing rooms, here, i think i’ve only seen one or 2 cut boys. And i look a lot!

jacksmith123 Let’s just be sure we know what phimosis truly is. In the USA, a lot of doctors will say the kid has it. Either they don’t know the boy can’t retract immediately at birth (the average age is something like 12 years) or they just want the money from doing it. Once the skin is cut off, it can get sold for more money. The first time a lot of boys try to pull it back, it actually won’t go back because it’s obviously still attached. As far as those guys you’ve seen that were cut…I wonder if they were Jewish.

Infant circumcision isnt surgery it is mutilation

Is circumcision a surgery?

Kati

Sapio No purpose? 😂

Alex

[unknown] incorrect, it’s not a useless piece of skin, it serves a purpose and it’s still mutilation - just because it’s slightly less barbaric than FGM, MGM is equally unethical

It’s the forced cutting off of an intimate part of the body without the consent of the person unless they choose to as an adult
There is no moral or logical reason to do so
Religion or culture are not an excuse - that’s worse really

The damage to a mutilated penis vs natural is significant

Abbi

[unknown] phimosis isn’t an excuse to circumcise at birth, that’s so immoral
Boys can wash themselves, it’s not hard
It goes against nature to harm or mutilate a baby

jacksmith123

the only reason i see for getting cut at birth, is a decision by the parent on some sort of religious ground, which as an atheist I dont agree with. boys tend to start to be able to pull back from about 7 to 12, and its only at this point that phimosis (tight foreskin) may be diagnosed. Even then self streching or even steroid cream from a doctor can streth the skin over time, co circumsision is only a last resort

Colin97

Well now … quite the spirited debate in these parts. Such passion!

And for the record, circumcision is surgery. That is a fact that cannot be disputed.

Peace!

HeyCameron

Circumcision is a minor surgical procedure, yes.

I do not think it should be illegal, but I do not think routine infant circumcision is a good practice. The foreskin does have a function, and while its removal is not tantamount to removing the clitoris (one can dislike male circumcision without equating it with FGM; the latter is far more invasive and damaging), I am not a fan of removing a part of a person’s genitalia without their consent. The reasons often provided for doing so, “it’s easier to clean”, “women prefer it”, “he should look like his father” are flimsy at best.

Circumcision later in life due to phimosis is only done in the severest of cases and it is rare. My foreskin is naturally tight, tighter than average, but it has never presented any sexual problems for me, and I would not have opted for circumcision if I’d had the choice.

Alex

[unknown] I agree

@sapio just came back to troll again, probably got heckled out on whatever creepy page he’s usually at

Colin97

[unknown] Easy killer … don’t walk down a path of hurling insults at someone because they disagree with you! That’s not the way it should work in these friendly parts! Spirited debate = good. Hurling insults at someone is rather unjustified and mean spirited. I get your passion, but that person is entitled to their opinion, whether you agree with it or not.

Alex

[unknown]

Thumbs down my response all you like, you’re still wrong

PaigeP

I would say surgery is something you need if you have any issues. Circumcision is not always necessary so I wouldn’t call it a surgery more of a unnecessary body modification

Alex

[unknown] it’s surgery and unethical mutilation
They cut a functional body part off

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