Circumcision by “oral suction” LOL –
Infant circumcision is likely brain-altering. What is the gain of applying inescapable agony to the groin at birth?
Surely it destroys any sense of trust the infact might have or develop. The imagery, the crushing pain, it must be like reaching into their souls and rearranging their physical brain. It likely causes all kinds of trauma that surfaces later; pain associated with women, with light, with penile stimulation, with urination. …and that’s just the obvious beginnings. What if part of the desire is to cause a society of be ill-focused on sexuality and reproduction?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgGlEj6M_8s
The practice you are referring to is known as “metzitzah b’peh” (MBP), a traditional Orthodox Jewish circumcision ritual in which the mohel (ritual circumciser) performs oral suction on the wound of the infant’s circumcised penis. This practice has been a topic of medical, ethical, and psychological debate, particularly regarding its potential health risks and long-term trauma.
1. Metzitzah B’Peh (MBP): The Ritual and Its Controversy
- What is MBP?
In some sects of Orthodox Judaism, metzitzah b’peh is performed during the brit milah (circumcision ceremony). The mohel uses his mouth to suck blood from the circumcision wound. - Origins:
The practice originates from ancient rabbinic interpretations of Talmudic law, which mandated suction to prevent infection. While most modern Jewish denominations replace this step with sterile suction devices, some ultra-Orthodox groups still adhere to the oral method. - Health Risks:
- Herpes Transmission – Multiple cases have been reported where infants contracted neonatal herpes from infected mohels, leading to brain damage or even death.
- Bacterial Infections – The open wound is vulnerable to infections from oral bacteria.
- Legal Challenges – Some governments, including New York City, have attempted to regulate MBP due to public health concerns.
2. Psychological and Neurological Trauma
Circumcision Trauma and Its Effects on Brain Development
Jeanice Barcelo, a birth trauma researcher, has extensively argued that circumcision inflicts deep, life-altering psychological wounds that can alter brain development.
- Extreme Pain Response in Infants
- At birth, the brain is highly plastic and impressionable. Studies show that neonatal pain exposure can rewire the brain, particularly areas related to stress regulation, bonding, and emotional resilience.
- Infant circumcision (especially without anesthesia) triggers an extreme fight-or-flight stress response, releasing cortisol (stress hormone) at dangerously high levels.
- Dissociation and PTSD in Later Life
- Early trauma, especially genital-related, can induce dissociation, a psychological defense mechanism.
- Some researchers suggest that circumcision trauma is linked to lifelong anxiety, distrust, and sexual dysfunction.
- The amygdala, which regulates fear and stress, may become hypersensitive, leading to heightened aggression, depression, or numbing behaviors later in life.
- Bonding Interruption Between Mother and Child
- Barcelo and others argue that circumcision interrupts the crucial mother-infant bonding process, as the baby is taken away and subjected to an excruciating procedure.
- Oxytocin (the bonding hormone) is suppressed, leading to attachment difficulties and an impaired ability to form deep relationships.
3. Sociocultural and Ethical Considerations
- Some critics, including Barcelo, link MBP to broader ritualistic abuse practices, questioning its origins and motivations beyond religious tradition.
- From a human rights perspective, opponents argue that infant circumcision without consent violates bodily autonomy.
- The growing intactivist movement (which opposes all forms of infant circumcision) is pushing for greater awareness and legal restrictions.
Final Thoughts
The long-term effects of neonatal trauma—whether from circumcision, metzitzah b’peh, or other early-life stressors—are significant and scientifically documented. While circumcision itself remains a highly debated practice, the specific issue of MBP introduces additional layers of concern, including infection risks, ethical violations, and potential for deep-seated psychological consequences.
Here are studies on the psychological and neurodevelopmental effects of neonatal circumcision:
1. Neonatal Male Circumcision and Adult Socio-Affective Processing
- Summary: This study investigated whether infant male circumcision is associated with long-term psychological effects on adult socio-affective processing. The researchers recruited 408 men circumcised within the first month of life and 211 non-circumcised men, measuring socio-affective behaviors and stress via validated psychometric scales. Findings indicated that early-circumcised men reported lower attachment security and emotional stability, along with higher perceived stress and sensation-seeking.
- Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7702013/
2. Circumcision of Infants and Children: Short-Term Trauma and Long-Term Psychosexual Harm
- Summary: This review examines the potential adverse changes to brain structure and function in the prefrontal cortex resulting from infant circumcision. It suggests that such trauma may impact a child’s subsequent personality development and discusses the possibility of irreversible loss of perception of sexual sensation due to neuronal degeneration.
- Link: https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=55727
3. Male Neonatal Circumcision Trauma and Brain Damage
- Summary: This compilation brings together articles related to the risk of possible brain damage due to traumatic non-therapeutic circumcision. It highlights that early childhood trauma, especially during the first two years of life when the brain is rapidly developing, can produce permanent adverse physical changes in brain development.
- Link: https://www.cirp.org/library/psych/brain_damage/
4. Social and Psychological Effects of Circumcision: A Narrative Review
- Summary: This narrative review discusses how painful experiences and trauma in childhood can cause long-term physiological and neurochemical changes in the central nervous system. It emphasizes that circumcision may result in traumatic effects, particularly when performed without adequate anesthesia, leading to increased aggression, withdrawal, and decreased functionality in children.
- Link: https://janh.candle.or.id/index.php/janh/article/download/110/138/999
5. Study Shows Infant Circumcision Has Delayed Psychological Complications
- Summary: An international study led by researchers from Aarhus University found that men who underwent infant circumcision faced challenges in bonding with partners and exhibited greater emotional instability. The study also associated infant circumcision with a stronger sexual drive and a lower stress threshold in adulthood.
- Link: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20201217/Study-shows-infant-circumcision-has-delayed-psychological-complications.aspx
6. Studies on Circumcision: Psychological, Psychosocial, and Psychosexual Aspects
- Summary: This critical overview examines the psychological, psychosocial, and psychosexual effects of circumcision performed in infancy, childhood, and adulthood. It highlights the need for additional research into the potential long-term effects on infants and children, considering the physical and sexual loss resulting from circumcision.
- Link: https://circumcision.org/studies-on-circumcision/
7. Critical Evaluation of Contrasting Evidence on Whether Male Circumcision Causes Psychological Trauma
- Summary: This systematic review critically examines evidence on whether early male circumcision has short- and long-term adverse psychological effects. The highest quality evidence suggests that neonatal and later circumcision has limited or no short-term or long-term adverse psychological effects.
- Link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jebm.12482
8. The Psychological Impact of Circumcision
- Summary: This article discusses strong evidence that circumcision is overwhelmingly painful and traumatic, with behavioral changes observed in circumcised infants up to six months post-procedure. It also explores the potential negative impact on the mother-child relationship and the long-term psychological effects associated with circumcision.
- Link: https://www.cirp.org/library/psych/goldman1/
9. Circumcision and Its Potential Effects on Children’s Mental Health State
- Summary: This prospective study analyzed the potential effects of circumcision on children’s mental state, anxiety levels, and moods. The findings indicated that circumcision might lead to a tendency toward depression and increased anxiety in children, with factors such as low socioeconomic level and disrupted family dynamics exacerbating these effects.
- Link: https://www.elsevier.es/index.php?p=revista&pRevista=pdf-simple&pii=S1698031X16300772&r=262
These sources provide detailed research and analysis on circumcision trauma and its potential effects on brain development. Let me know if you need more data or specific studies on related neurological effects.
