1. Removing the penile foreskin guards against urinary tract infection

There is no evidence that this claim is true. There is, however, significant evidence that the hospital setting for birth, particularly the newborn nursery, is responsible for a significant increase in the rate of infant urinary tract infection. Babies (of either sex) born in the hospital and taken to the newborn nursery are at much greater risk of urinary tract infection from stray bacteria than are home-birthed infants. (See Reason #71, "You don't want your baby exposed to hospital germs.")

2. An intact foreskin makes proper cleaning of the penis difficult

If hygiene were really the concern, obstetricians would also cut off your baby's ears and toes at birth. Since obstetricians don't do that, we know that cleanliness is not the issue. Further, a girl's genitals are far more difficult to keep clean than a boy's, and we don't see clitoral circumcision gaining acceptance in Western hospitals. Obviously there is another reason besides concern over "cleanliness" that compels obstetricians to cut off the most sensitive tissue on your baby boy's body, often without anesthesia and in some cases without informing you beforehand.

3. An intact foreskin increases the risk of cancer

There is no evidence that this claim is true.

4. Men who remain intact may give their wives vaginal disorders

There is no evidence that this claim is true. In fact, the foreskin protects the vagina from frictional irritation during intercourse

5. An intact boy may be confused by the difference between his penis and his circumcised father's penis, and he may suffer psychological problems as a result

There is no evidence that this claim is true.

6. Circumcision guards against contracting sexually transmitted diseases

There is no evidence that this claim is true. Contrary to popular belief, circumcising male infants does not reduce their risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, a benefit that physicians have long been associated with the practice. In fact, circumcised men were found to be slightly more likely to contract a sexually transmitted disease in a study of 1,410 American men. While none of the intact men in this study ever had chlamydia, for instance, 26 of the circumcised men had contracted the disease.

7. Circumcision guards against herpes

There is no evidence that this claim is true.

8. Circumcision guards against AIDS

There is no evidence that this claim is true.

9. Circumcision reduces the risk of "sexual perversion."

Although circumcision has been performed for religious reasons for centuries, the practice became widespread in the 1870s when physicians thought it would limit sexual practices such as masturbation and oral sex. But studies show that men who have been circumcised are more likely to engage in varied sexual practices. One study shows that circumcised men are 40 percent more likely than non-circumcised men to masturbate at least once a month. They are also more likely to have had homosexual oral sex and heterosexual anal intercourse.

10. That's just the way it is

Interestingly, this answer, while devoid of scientific information or expert analysis of any kind -- analysis that one might expect from a graduate of years of medical schooling -- is the best answer your obstetrician can give. That is, it's the best for him. Since no scientific studies support circumcision, and since evidence clearly shows that there is no medical or health benefit derived from circumcision, obstetricians have at least a vague understanding that linking circumcision with medicine is to perpetrate fraud. "That's just the way it is" is your obstetrician's best answer to the question, "Why circumcise?" because it's an answer that he rightly sees as the easiest way around the briar patch of parental questioning on this thorny subject. The subtext of "That's just the way it is" is, "Stop asking me questions."

Of course, although obstetricians are loathe to think about, or speak the truth about, the issue of circumcision, childbirth educators, midwives and doulas cannot be so squeamish. Circumcision rates for male newborns are currently at 60 percent in U.S. hospitals--an unconscionably high rate.

-Jock Doubleday
Director Natural Woman, Natural Man, Inc.
A California nonprofit corporation
http://www.gentlebirth.org/nwnm.org
jockdoubleday@aol.com

Family Wellness First

The E-newsletter for Parents to make Informed Health Care Choices

Infantile Colic

Please remember to credit the ICPA as source when publicizing an article and to tell your readers that they can subscribe directly to Family Wellness First on this web site: http://www.icpa4kids.org/e-news.htm

It seems that digestive disorder in infants is on the rise. Infantile colic is a common condition that from 25-40 percent of babies. The medical literature says infantile colic is difficult to diagnose and that if it is colic, most children will "outgrow it" by 12 weeks of age. Medical treatment for infant colic include drugs like dimethicone. Occasionally the parents are advised to change formula from milk to soy based. Most of these treatments, however, haven't offered parents and babies the relief hoped for. Perhaps it is that these treatments are merely treating symptoms and not getting to the functional cause of the problem.

Additional to treating symptoms comes advice for the parents. This can be a very trying time for parents as they are caring for an inconsolable child and their alit to remain calm is taxed. Web MD offers this advice: "A colicky baby can be exhausting, Wessel tells WebMD, especially for new mothers. "So now, more than ever, be good to yourself and remember that you're only human". As for easing the baby's pains, parents are generally advised to "wait it out." Although the advice to be patient is well-meaning, it does not ease the baby's ailment, nor does it really help the parents cope with their difficult circumstances.

There is a better option! Three to four months of sleepless nights and living with a baby in pain can seem like forever. Chiropractors have known that specific spinal adjustments can get to the cause of what is ailing these hurting infants. There are numerous case studies where infants with colic have been relieved of their painful symptoms with chiropractic care.

This study, "The short-term effect of spinal manipulation in the treatment of infantile colic: a randomized controlled clinical trial with a blinded observer", published in the Journal of Manipulative Therapeutics recommends chiropractic care. The results of this study showed a better ratio of decreased discomfort and crying associated with colic pains when parents utilized chiropractic care as opposed to the common drug: dimethicone. The authors concluded that adjustments are effective in relieving infantile colic. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=10543581&dopt=Abstract

The Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research recently sent out this report:

Chiropractic management of infantile colic

Objective: To present two case studies in which the complete resolution of infantile colic and associated symptoms was achieved with chiropractic treatment. This case series supports the aetiological mechanism of an imbalanced autonomic nervous system, via somatovisceral reflexes secondary to regional cranial and spinal dysfunction. In addition, they provide support towards the birth process being a causative factor in the development of colic.

Design: A case series.

Setting: Private chiropractic practice.

Subjects: The first case involved a 7-week-old male infant presenting with medically diagnosed colic, with associated reflux and disturbed sleep, all of which were persistent since birth. The second infant, aged 10 weeks, had suffered maternally diagnosed colic for approximately 1 month. Associated symptoms included some vomiting and asymmetry with breast-feeding. Both infants demonstrated many typical colic characteristics and had experienced birth trauma. Upper cervical, mid thoracic, sacroiliac and cranial dysfunction was recorded in both cases.

Methods: Each infant received diversified paediatric chiropractic manipulation to the areas diagnosed as dysfunctional. Treatment was provided over a 3-week period, though the intensity differed for the two infants.

Results: Complete resolution of all presenting symptoms was achieved in both instances.

Conclusion: These cases suggest a possible association between birth trauma; the development of cranial and spinal segmental dysfunction and consequential manifestation of symptoms of infantile colic. Secondly, they demonstrate chiropractic treatment successfully restoring correct spinal and cranial motion, with an associated resolution of symptoms.

Hipperson AJ. Clinical Chiropractic. December 2004; Vol. 7, Iss. 4, pp. 180-186. (newsletter@fcer.org)

To read additional studies and articles about Chiropractic and colic visit: http://www.icpa4kids.org/research/chiropractic/colic.htm and http://www.icpa4kids.org/research/children/colic.htm

To find a doctor of chiropractic in your area who works with children visit: http://www.icpa4kids.org/find.htm

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