circumcision

Ok, I am not trying to open up a can of worms here (I know this is a delicate subject). But for anyone out there who has credible resources about the risks and benefits of circumcision, would you please post them?

I'm sorry, I don't want to be combative, but here's the main point:  if everyone jumped off a cliff, would you do it also?  That is the question I was continually asked as a kid.  "Everyone is doing it" has never been a good enough reason. 

And as for being "different" - humm, we're all different in many, many ways.  If it's explained that way, it wouldn't matter.  ESPECIALLY on such a personal issue as your genitals!  I mean, come on!  Most boys are going to be self-conscious about their penises anyway, no matter whether they are circumcised or not.  But they are also going to be self-conscious about their noses, their height, their hair color, their ears, their pimples, their legs (my husband didn't wear shorts for years, although he has perfect legs), etc.  Are you going to change everything so they can be "perfect" in "society's" eyes?  And some things you can't change - then what?  This is not a birth defect that perhaps you may be justified in "fixing" such as a cleft palate.

And if you explain WHY the choice was made ("we didn't think it was necessary to put you through painful surgery"), I really don't think it's much of a big deal.  How many times have you actually talked about your genitals to someone else?  I know I've never compared mine, and although boys are somewhat different because it's more obvious, my DH and my brothers are not circ'd, and they were on several sports teams and even the military, and went into various locker rooms - the only time I can imagine this would ever even be an issue - and never had any "emotional" issues whatsoever.  Maybe because no one made a big deal out of it in the family, or outside of it.  I've actually asked them, so I'm not just extrapolating.

zarelha, back off a little bit. nycgirl hasn't posted a single thing that suggests anything pro-circumcision, just personal stories. You don't really have any reason to be calling her out. 

This thread is about getting credible sources that concern circumcision, not about your personal vendetta. Personal experience is a good source to be looking for, so nycgirl's request to hear from the guys is a logical step in this thread.

If you want to have a debate about whether circumcision is right or not, start another thread.

simwaves1, thank you for all of the great resources. I never expected this much information about my thread, but it has really been helpful.