Circs at public hospitals?

[kw123]

Hi, I am not against circumcision at all, but personally don't feel the need to have any sons I have circ'd. However, my DH is circ'd and had to have it done when he was 16. As you can imagine this was pretty traumatic for him. His younger brother and his uncle on his mum's side also had the same issue so it seems pretty clear that it's genetic, although obviously this can't be proved.

DH is very passionate that he wouldn't want his son to go through what he went through, and would want to prevent it, even if the odds are 50/50.

He is happy for me to make most of the decisions like this but is very emotional about this. I don't want to just over-rule him without fully looking into everything.

However, he has agreed that he would not put a small child under general anaesthetic for an elective procedure, so I understand the only option would to be to have it done at birth, without a general (I believe they cut off the blood flow and it falls off? I am not sure of details but would obviously investigate further).

My question is, is this something that is even possible at a public hospital? I didn't think it would be.

I know there are a lot of people who have strong views and I'm honestly not looking for views for or against. Believe me, I have enough of those with DH!!

It just seems like it not being an option might make the whole debate a moot point. I am secretly hoping it is!!

[Hollywood]

As far as I'm aware you have to go to a special place to have it done. The hospital won't even mention it.

[share a book]

Not if it's elective only if there's a reason for it to occur otherwise you'll have to take him to a private hospital.

[kw123]

Looks like its a moot point then as we've agreed we won't do that..

I do understand it must have been a hideous experience for DH so fingers crossed it won't happen to any bub of ours....

[share a book]

The wait for an elective can be up to 10 years in the public s ys tem. I hope your future son won't have any problems. Maybe look into ways to prevent any of that but I'm not sure if you aren't certain of the cause with your hubby.

[Hollywood]

Looks like its a moot point then as we've agreed we won't do that..

I do understand it must have been a hideous experience for DH so fingers crossed it won't happen to any bub of ours....

Statistically there's more chance nothing will go wrong, so I'm sure all will be fine with your in-tact bubby boy :)

[giftedbirth]

The 'intactivist' websites I have read are very vocal about how 'intact' boys are often cared for incorrectly in a society where a lot of advice is tailored to circumcised majority..if that makes sense?

So the intactivists claim that issues with intact foreskin are often caused by retracting to clean - when retraction should happen naturally and usually not until the boy is much older. I've read "only clean what can be seen"...

I don't mean to imply this is what happened to your DH or other family members, but thought it was worth mentioning just in case it could have been. (I understand issues can be genetic, anatomical etc)

Perhaps showing your DH some literature on safe 'parenting' of intact boys might also help with his worry (which is absolutely understandable given his own experience!)

Cheers :D

[del79]

I believe that they used to have the procedure available at Public Hospital and recently, stopped having it and made it elective. Some GP can perform the procedure and bulk bill but we didn't take the chance and took baby to a specialist.

From birth (7 weeks) up to 6 months and even adults, the procedure could be done under local anasthesia with the Plastibel (Bell around the skin with a string to cut off the blood supply and the bell will drop off between 10-14 days). It is harder to perform the circumcision with Plastibel for after 6 month old boys because they move too much, therefore, the surgeon usually recommend General Anasthesia. I suppose, for 16 year old under local anasthesia and be fully well aware of what's going on would be very traumatic for anyone.

We took baby for the procedure at 7 weeks, and the procedure took less than 10 minutes and he went in happy and came out happy and not very much bothered by it. The doctor gave us a cream to apply on him 1 hour before the procedure which numbed everything and a week later, the bell and skin dropped off. It's all good now.

[Father]

My question is, is this something that is even possible at a public hospital? I didn't think it would be.

It just seems like it not being an option might make the whole debate a moot point. I am secretly hoping it is!!

Unfortunately, public hospitals don't do this procedure anymore. Not sure why you are limiting yourself to the public system?

There are plenty of doctors around that will do it privately. So it is definately an option. The price varies, but you should be able to find a doctor to do it for about $150 - of which you will receive some back from medicare.

Both of our boys were 'done' at about 6 weeks. It was not difficult to organise, and they were both fine.


He is happy for me to make most of the decisions like this but is very emotional about this. I don't want to just over-rule him without fully looking into everything.

Based on this statement, it sounds like you need to look into it a little bit more, rather than making a decision in 13 minutes based on the response of 2 people on the internet.

I would suggest that you have a look at this website.

http://www.circinfo.net/

And here is a list of doctors that do it. They are the best people to call and ask questions to rather than unknown people on the internet.

http://www.circinfo.net/pdfs/LOC-ANZ%200912-1.pdf

[kw123]

Unfortunately, public hospitals don't do this procedure anymore. Not sure why you are limiting yourself to the public system?

There are plenty of doctors around that will do it privately. So it is definately an option. The price varies, but you should be able to find a doctor to do it for about $150 - of which you will receive some back from medicare.

Both of our boys were 'done' at about 6 weeks. It was not difficult to organise, and they were both fine.



Based on this statement, it sounds like you need to look into it a little bit more, rather than making a decision in 13 minutes based on the response of 2 people on the internet.

I would suggest that you have a look at this website.

http://www.circinfo.net/

And here is a list of doctors that do it. They are the best people to call and ask questions to rather than unknown people on the internet.

http://www.circinfo.net/pdfs/LOC-ANZ%200912-1.pdf

Thank you for the links, which are helpful. I wasn't planning on basing our decision based on two random people's opinion on the Internet. We had a range of questions and one was whether we could do it straight after birth at a public hospital. The answer I have found out is no, which is what I was looking for.

Thanks

[share a book]

Unfortunately, public hospitals don't do this procedure anymore. Not sure why you are limiting yourself to the public system?

There are plenty of doctors around that will do it privately. So it is definately an option. The price varies, but you should be able to find a doctor to do it for about $150 - of which you will receive some back from medicare.

Both of our boys were 'done' at about 6 weeks. It was not difficult to organise, and they were both fine.



Based on this statement, it sounds like you need to look into it a little bit more, rather than making a decision in 13 minutes based on the response of 2 people on the internet.

I would suggest that you have a look at this website.

http://www.circinfo.net/

And here is a list of doctors that do it. They are the best people to call and ask questions to rather than unknown people on the internet.

http://www.circinfo.net/pdfs/LOC-ANZ 0912-1.pdf

Another 50 people can comment and it would be the same because the fact is they are not available in the public s ys tem. It's not a matter of opinion it's a very solid fact that cannot be changed .

The OP is not after anyone's opinion on circ only if we know whether it can be done in a public hospital or not.

[RaryGirl]

The OP has stated she has the answer to her question, so I will close this thread now.


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