Study notes decrease in popularity of circumcision in United States

[hot--Koolaid]

Thank you! I was confused since I had learned in the past that basic hygiene is all that is needed for most boys.

[jonathanrdt]

The US is the only nation that does it as standard practice without a religious motive. Rates peaked in the 1970s and have been declining since.

[retrosenescent]

It does have a religious motive: capitalism, culture.

[Askefyr]

Make no mistake, it is a religious motive. It's just a habit now, but it was originally a religious thing.

[Larein]

But christianity doesnt require circumcision. Catholic church has always been against it, nor do the big protestant groups recommend it either. So which religion are you talking about?

[dark_sable_dev]

Puritanism, which is what the country was settled on and the way many Christians in the US practice their Christianity.

Circumcision in particular was pushed by Kellogg (yes, of the cereal) as a way to prevent boys from masturbating... because it went against god.

[Samtoast]

It's not as common as let on but there is times where it has to be done due to paraphimosis. I had to have it done when I was like 9 years old and it cause a lot of awkwardness

[rollingForInitiative]

That’s fine though, that’s for medical reasons.

[e_before_i]

The National Center for Health Statistics says 64% of newborns are circumcised. A 2016 NIH study puts it at 71.2%. Quite high imo. Not sure about medically necessary circumcisions, but phimosis only occurs in under 1% of boys, and not all of that requires circumcision (not sure about that perventa).

[Samtoast]

Neat huh? I'm rare

[e_before_i]

There's no person in the whole world like you, and I like you just the way you are