What are some reasons not to have my son circumcised?
Your son’s foreskin is a healthy, natural part of his body. It is possible, though very unlikely, that it will cause serious problems during his life. When he becomes an adult, he may prefer not to be circumcised. Leaving your baby’s foreskin alone preserves his right to a whole and intact body. Circumcision will be painful for the baby (see below). The medical evidence in favor of routine circumcision of healthy babies is not persuasive. If your son has a problem with his foreskin, such as a severe infection (balanitis xerotica obliterans) or gangrene, perhaps related to diabetes, your doctor may recommend partial or complete circumcision or removal of the affected area. Phimosis (nonretractable foreskin, if it persists much longer than normal) can usually be treated by gentle stretching and/or steroid creams. The vast majority of boys will never have any foreskin problems that necessitate surgery.
