I'm Buddhist and my husband is Muslim. He wants our son to be circumcised, he says not just for religious beliefs but also because it's more hygienic. I'm uncomfortable at the thought of having to choose my for my child an elective procedure and to have him go through the pain of circumcision. Any advice?

Male circumcision isn't mandatory, but I highly recommend it for hygienic purposes. Facts first: the procedure only removes the foreskin (skin that covers the head) of the penis. As boys grow older, they start to neglect personal hygiene - brushing teeth, grooming hair, putting on deo, etc. - including washing their genitals properly. During these times, any leftover secretion (urine, semen) stuck inside the foreskin that isn't washed away has the potential to breed bacteria and cause infections. Circumcision removes that skin covering and exposes the penis head for washing. Concerns: Yes, of course it hurts. After all, you're cutting away skin. However, a baby would have less memory of the pain than a 10 year old boy. As for the choice issue, ultimately, the choice is yours as to whether or not to get your baby circumcised. Some consider this a rite of passage into manhood - that a boy needs to feel pain (where pain is felt the most) and overcome it to fully become a man. You may want your son to experience this. Whichever you decide, just remember: there's nothing wrong if you don't have him circumcised. He can still acquire good hygiene practices to compensate for not being cut.