Countries where it is done at birth?

In the US, the majority of males (not long ago, the vast majority) are circumcised at birth. I read that it also was the case in Canada (less so in Quebec).

I was wondering, are there any other countries where it is possible to circumcise boys at the maternity ward?

Why would one want to circumcise newborns if it's not medically required?

It was standard in Canada in the 1940's through 70's. I never saw anybody who wasn't circumcised until I was in Junior High when there was 1 boy in my Gym class who was uncircumcised.

Why would one want to circumcise newborns if it's not medically required?

Easier to keep penis clean thereby preventing many infections. That was the logic back in the day. No idea what it is now.

When our son was born we were asked if we wanted the procedure performed. We declined because of the possibility, however minute, that he might bleed out or require a transfusion. With no guarantee a blood-born disease would not be present in the donated blood we thought it would be best to not have the procedure and he could decide for himself later in life.

@Mullanphy And prior to his insistence on cleanliness and prevention of infections, they used to tout that circumcision would curb masturbation (the reasoning at the time was that a long foreskin or phimosis would result in irritation that would induce the young boy into masturbation).

@Mullanphy And prior to his insistence on cleanliness and prevention of infections, they used to tout that circumcision would curb masturbation (the reasoning at the time was that a long foreskin or phimosis would result in irritation that would induce the young boy into masturbation).

I've usually read that being circumcised would precisely cause irritation when masturbating. Thereby ostensibly curbing the urge to masturbate. Which is sort of the opposite rationalization.

In any case, all that can be said is that people will come up with any kind of excuse, however lame or improbable, contradictory or wishful thinking, in order to justify cutting away a of piece of a (young) male's body. It is very disturbing with all the ways and excuses that some people use to rationalize routine blanket circumcision.

There is truly a weird obsession going on with this compulsion to circumcise every male, even in our modern, science-based society.

In any case, all that can be said is that people will come up with any kind of excuse, however lame or improbable, contradictory or wishful thinking, in order to justify cutting away a of piece of a (young) male's body. It is very disturbing with all the ways and excuses that some people use to rationalize routine blanket circumcision.

There is truly a weird obsession going on with this compulsion to circumcise every male, even in our modern, science-based society.

'If I don't see the need for it, if I don't like it, if I don't understand why others do it, it is a lame, weird, obsessive compulsion.' Seriously?

Scientifically, male circumcision can prevent foreskin infections and phimosis, a condition where the foreskin cannot be pulled back. Circumcision can lead to a lower risk of some sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Although not a definitive prevention, every little bit helps, especially against life-threatening diseases.

Science looks at the facts without hyperbole or name calling. When new evidence is found, science can change, but it does so without useless disturbing adjectives.

What I find disturbing is such vitriol opposing something that can actually be beneficial. Pardon the political comment, but how trumpian.

The "insert quote" doesn't seem to work anymore, so:

@Mullanphy Check your formatting options in your account under settings. It may have got reset to “Default”, make sure it’s set to “With Formatting”.

@Mullanphy

What vitriol?

About the one main clear medical condition that circumcision can definitely cure is phimosis.

Virtually all the rest of the claims about reducing risk of being infected by an STD or HIV or getting cancer are spurious and what some studies give as a slightly positive advantage, fall into the margin of error range, which means any claims inside that range, either positive or negative, are inconclusive one way or the other.

Around 2/3ds of the world male population are not circumcised. And they do not seem to suffer disproportionately from being so. We even have the seemingly contradictory facts that while European males are in general not cut, the have a lower HIV rate than Americans. If circumcision offered significant protection, the statistics should be turned around.

What is also interesting about circumcision, is how it became historically entangled with religion. Circumcision is otherwise mainly a social custom that some groups of people seem to attach (undue?) importance to, like norms about gender specific clothing or hair styles. These norms and ideas can be passionately held, but aside from the feeling of adhering to a group norm, they confer no objective advantage over other norms. These notions can arouse strong feelings when not adhered to. Think of the big todo about longhaired males in the 1960s. As if it were the end of society as we know it.

Pardon the political comment, but how trumpian.

I take exception to such a description. As has often been said here: leave politics out of the forum.

If you have your tonsils removed you won’t get tonsillitis. Same logic applies.

In reality, studies have shown a minority of boys will have phimosis that is too severe to be cured without surgery. As a preventative measure, routine circumcision in societies with access to adequate education, sanitation and medicine is an outdated measure. It’s an argument or justification made up to support the widespread practice based on preconceptions

The "insert quote" doesn't seem to work anymore, so...

@Mullanphy the advice was given here 3 weeks ago about this issue.

Clearly this is not a problem that affects everyone, so to those who find the Insert Quote button fails to function - what kind of device, operating system and Internet browser are you using?

And also - do you have Text writing mode - With formatting tools enabled in your options?

Formatting is found under your profile, click the "settings" drop down (which has a 3 cogs image), click the "options", and under Text writing mode you'll find the With formatting tools which you may need to make sure is clicked.

The discussion is, I think, way off-topic.

Here in New Zealand it has gone from universal to almost never done. So during the universal days it would have been done before leaving the hospital after being born. That was what happened to me

The discussion is, I think, way off-topic.

I agree. It also seems to me that whenever there is a discussion about male circumcision, some people make every effort to change the original topic. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions on this subject, but presenting such views as scientific evidence should always be avoided.

In the US, circumcision is the most common procedure performed on males, and the medical community views the procedure as necessary for prophylactic and hygienic reasons. These views have been substantiated by an ample amount of scientific evidence. If an uncircumcised status is revealed during an annual physical examination, the patient (or his parents) will often be recommended to schedule a circumcision. Because complete removal of the foreskin is the most effective way to treat phimosis, balanitis, or posthitis, US physicians will frequently recommend circumcision even when there is a minor medical issue.

The discussion is, I think, way off-topic.

I agree. It also seems to me that whenever there is a discussion about male circumcision, some people make every effort to change the original topic. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions on this subject, but presenting such views as scientific evidence should always be avoided.

In the US, circumcision is the most common procedure performed on males, and the medical community views the procedure as necessary for prophylactic and hygienic reasons. These views have been substantiated by an ample amount of scientific evidence. If an uncircumcised status is revealed during an annual physical examination, the patient (or his parents) will often be recommended to schedule a circumcision. Because complete removal of the foreskin is the most effective way to treat phimosis, balanitis, or posthitis, US physicians will frequently recommend circumcision even when there is a minor medical issue.

The OP was asking about circumcision in the maternity ward in countries other than the US. Not about the percieved medical benefits or whether the medical community in the US recommends it or not. Per the original post:

I was wondering, are there any other countries where it is possible to circumcise boys at the maternity ward?

I was wondering, are there any other countries where it is possible to circumcise boys at the maternity ward?

This is not routine in general, but in Belgium, Muslim boys will most always be cut just after birth when still in hospital. I suspect the same in France.

However, this last year (or is it two?), it is being proposed that these routine Muslim circumcisions no longer be reimbursed by the national health insurance and that parents will have to pay full cost out of pocket. After all, doctors prescribe a circumcision by 'observing' phimosis or some other spurious diagnosis in order to justify reimbursement.

Everybody knows those diagnoses are nonsense, but pretend not to notice to keep things calm.

However, as elsewhere in Europe, where displeasure at infant circumcision is growing strong enough to consider outright banning until an adult, newborn males if Muslim, will routinely be cut when still in hospital. Though it might be a thing of the past depending on evolving social attitudes.