From Name and address supplied
Peter Ayton disapproves of circumcision
(11 December, p 47).
I used to, but found that it was not that simple.
My father was uncircumcised but when he reached adulthood suffered agonies
from a tight foreskin and was adamant that I should have the operation. This
must have been when I was old enough to be very conscious of it—it was
done at home under full anaesthetic and I still remember being given the ether
but do not recall any pain.
He died when I was young and when my mother told me his views I thought my
parents had been exaggerating. So when my son was born we did not have him
trimmed. The doctor I consulted agreed heartily that it was “an unnecessary and
mutilating operation”. But when my son reached adulthood he suffered as my
father had done. Having the operation then was extremely painful and set his sex
life back for some time.
I should add that we are not Jewish or of any other religious persuasion so
that aspect does not enter into it. But physiologically it would seem that some
men suffer in this way. Circumcision of all males, which was almost the case in
the past, is one cure. But it seems drastic. On the other hand, for the few who
suffer it is pretty traumatic.
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Are there any medical ideas as to how examination of a newborn male might
indicate when circumcision would be advisable?
