| Show Genital Mutilation How I See Circumcision Tiffany Call Contributing Writer Are Utah babies being put through extreme torture for no medical reason Many medical experts think so Parents have routinely circumcised circumcised circumcised circum circum- their sons since the but recent research shows that there is no medical reason for doing this After a year two-year investigation the American Academy of Pediatrics concluded ed the potential medical benefits benefits benefits bene bene- fits of infant circumcision arent aren't significant enough and they no longer recommend it as routine procedure Studies conclude 75 of Utah's baby boys are circumcised circumcised circumcised circum circum- a little higher than the national average of 70 Until recently it was believed that babies felt no pain due to their immature nervous systems Studies however indicate babies experience physical and psychological psychological psychological psycho psycho- logical stress during both the circumcision circumcision circumcision cir cir- cir cir- and for hours after after- ward Some babies cease to cryor cry cryor cryor or lapse into a deep sleep or orcoma orcoma orcoma coma which is how they are able to cope with the traumatic Because the baby is so fragile anesthetics are not usually usual usual- ly used t. t t v. v Circumcision has been described as among the most painful procedures performed in neonatal medicine Levels of a hormone released into the blood in response to stress and behavioral responses were recorded for newborns undergoing undergo undergo- ing circumcision and other various various various vari vari- ous procedures Circumcision resulted in significantly higher levels of behavioral distress and blood levels than did the theother theother theother other procedures There are also many risks involved with the surgery including including including ing hemorrhage infection mutilation mutilation mutilation muti muti- lation and possible death Serious complications occur with everyone every everyone everyone one in circumcisions More common effects are scarring bleeding of the circumcision scar tight and painful erections curvature of the penis as well as psychological and psychosexual problems According to Dr David Anderson a professor of biology at Utah State University circumcision circumcision circumcision circum circum- should not be a routine procedure but only practiced in rare cases such as is an extremely rare condition in which a baby is born with foreskin foreskin foreskin fore fore- skin that is too tight DR Anderson made the decision not notto notto notto to circumcise his son and has never regretted his decision He also believes its it's the parents duty to give the child the right to choose if he wants to be circum circum- The foreskin actually serves some important purposes it helps keep the glands moist and prevents prevent dryness It also acts as a protective layer and natural cant When the surface of the gland becomes dry its it's because the foreskin does not protect it so dryness and abrasion may cause progressive loss of sensation in inthe inthe inthe the glands especially in later life In addition the foreskin is the most sensitive part of the penis and can enhance the quality of sexual intercourse Anatomical studies demonstrate the foreskin has a greater concentration of complex nerve endings than the glands Utahn's must ask themselves why are we still doing this to our children if they are no benefits benefits benefits bene bene- fits but only risks and negative effects One of the most common common common com com- mon reasons for circumcising is the parents parent's lack of knowledge Many parents just sign the paper agreeing to have their son circumcised circumcised circumcised cir cir- cir cir- without really thinking about it Its It's very important parents parents parents par par- thoroughly educate themselves themselves themselves them them- selves before deciding to circumcise circumcise circumcise circum circum- cise their baby O 4 |
