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How Circumcision Affects Sexuality

April 22, 2011 By Raquel Lazar-Paley Leave a Comment

Circumcision is a primal wound that causes pain and trauma to an infant’s penis–his organ of pleasure and procreation. Initially, circumcision interferes with the maternal infant bond, disrupts breastfeeding and normal sleep patterns, and undermines the successful completion of the baby’s first developmental task of establishing trust. Even when analgesia is used, circumcision causes pain to the penis, and every experience of that organ, from then on, is overlaid on a neuronal background of pain.

Circumcision removes the foreskin, with its 20,000 – 70,000 specialized, erogenous nerve endings, replacing the penile accelerator that allows a man to ride the wave to orgasm with an on/off switch that offers sensitivity and immediate relief without the ride to orgasm and the full symphony of sensation. This is why the most common complaint of circumcised men in the USA is premature ejaculation. At the other end of life, circumcised males complain about sexual dysfunction, including loss of sensitivity and impotence. Many women wonder why sex with a circumcised man is not fulfilling for them. They do not understand the role the foreskin plays in female sexual pleasure, including the gliding mechanism and lubrication.

This session, the third in the Intact Boy series, is led by Marilyn Milos, RN, Executive Director of NOCIRC. Hear Marilyn’s exploration of the effects of circumcision on an infant and on the man he becomes. The dynamics of circumcision, sex, and compensation for the trauma and loss is discussed.

This presentation is 90 minutes in length.

Cost: $7.50

Continuing Education Units available for some professionals. Click here for more information.

Filed Under: By Title, Circumcision, How Circumcision Affects Sexuality, Online Presentations (Videos and Resources), Recorded Presentations Tagged With: Birth Trauma, Bonding, Boy, Breastfeeding, c-section, Childbirth, childbirth education, Circumcision, conscious woman, Conscious Woman Inc., Conscious Women, Consicous Woman, DOC, Doctors Opposing Circumcision, Foreskin, Geisheker, Goldman, Highlight Conscious Women, Infant, intact boy, intactivism, Jewish, Longley, maternal mortality and morbidity, Milos, Mother, Newborn, NOCIRC, Pollack, Raquel Lazar-Paley, Trauma, vaginal birth after cesarean, VBAC

Circumcision: Surgical Methods and Complications

April 22, 2011 By Raquel Lazar-Paley Leave a Comment

Parents are largely unfamiliar with the realities of how a foreskin is actually cut away. The common myths that circumcision is “quick and safe,” ”just a little snip” or that the baby doesn’t experience any pain are false representations of the procedure. In fact, circumcision involves multiple tissue-damaging steps to remove the foreskin. Moreover, the circumcision devices used on the small penis of a newborn are relatively imprecise – which may lead to specific complications beyond the usual surgical risks of bleeding and infection. This course, led by Gillian Longley RN, BSN, MSS, provides participants with an in depth understanding of what is really involved with a circumcision and what the baby undergoing a circumcision may experience, during and after the procedure.

The presentation begins with an exploration of infant pain, and circumcision pain relief measures, including the facts that not all doctors use anesthesia for circumcision, that no method of local anesthesia has been shown to completely eliminate the pain of circumcision, and that babies do remember the pain of circumcision. The three main techniques of infant circumcision are explained step by step with still photo illustrations. The range of complications which may result are illustrated and explained, including the often-ignored longer term harms that may occur due to loss of the foreskin’s protective and sexual functions, which may not manifest until years later.

The course closes with a brief look at the potentially harmful effects of circumcision on breastfeeding and mother-child bonding, which is covered in greater depth in a later class in this series.

This presentation is 90 minutes in length.

Cost: $7.50

Certificate of Completion: $7.50 (completion of post-session questionnaire required).

Continuing Education Units are available for some professional groups. To view a listing of CEU opportunities, click here.

* Warning: This program is liberally illustrated with photographs and diagrams of adult and infant penises, as well as graphic images of the circumcision procedure. These images are intended for educational purposes only, but some viewers may find them offensive or disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.

Filed Under: By Title, Circumcision, Circumcision: Surgical Methods and Complications, Recorded Presentations Tagged With: Birth Trauma, Breastfeeding, BSN, Childbirth, childbirth education, Circumcision, conscious woman, Conscious Women, Consicous Woman, Doula, Foreskin, Gillian Longley, RN, BSN, MSS, Gloria Lemay, intact, intact boy, intactivism, Mohel, Raquel Lazar-Paley, RN

The Foreskin

April 22, 2011 By Raquel Lazar-Paley Leave a Comment

The United States has been a predominantly circumcising culture since the mid 20th century, a time when childbirth and infancy began to be heavily medicalized through childbirth interventions and the aggressive marketing of infant formulas. Along with the loss of knowledge of normal childbirth and breastfeeding, Americans have also lost their knowledge of the normal intact (non-circumcised) penis.

In this lecture, the first in our Intact Boy series, Gillian Longley RN, BSN, explains the anatomy of the intact penis, and shows how its unique structure and specialized tissue support a wide array of protective and sexual functions. The development of the foreskin in the fetus and child is also discussed, particularly the gradual natural separation of the foreskin from the head (glans) of the penis. This information provides the rationale for a discussion of correct care of the penis in the intact boy, and the normal variations that may occur during penile development in childhood. This presentation concludes with a discussion of the problem of forcible, premature retraction of the foreskin by incorrectly informed health care professionals. Although the American Academy of Pediatrics specifically recommends against forcible retraction, as circumcision rates drop in North America more and more boys are subjected to this inappropriate, unnecessary, and harmful practice that is obsolete in most of the world.

This presentation is 90 minutes in length.

Cost: $7.50

Certificate of Completion: $7.50 (completion of post-session questionnaire required).

Continuing Education Units are available for some professional groups. To view a listing of CEU opportunities, click here.

* Warning: This program is liberally illustrated with photographs and diagrams of adult and infant penises. These images are intended for educational purposes only, but some viewers may find them offensive or disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.

Filed Under: By Title, Circumcision, Recorded Presentations, The Foreskin Tagged With: Birth Trauma, Breastfeeding, BSN, Childbirth, childbirth education, Circumcision, conscious woman, Conscious Women, Consicous Woman, Doula, Foreskin, Gillian Longley, RN, BSN, MSS, Gloria Lemay, Inc., intact boy, intactivism, Meissner's corpuscles, Raquel Lazar-Paley, RN, sexual organs

Birth Announcement and New Years Greetings

December 31, 2008 By Raquel Lazar-Paley 2 Comments

We are pleased to announce the newest addition to our family,

GABRIEL ASHER
“strength” “happiness”

Born into his father’s loving hands on December 22, 2008 at 10:17 p.m.

Weight: 7 pounds
Length: 19 inches
Head Circ: 14 inches
Most Importantly: nursing like a champ

* Raquel’s second VBAC and first homebirth *

Big sisters Amelia and Sofie are thrilled with their little brother, and mom is thriving as all (new) mothers should.

Gabriel Asher will be the first male child in our longstanding Jewish family tradition to remain intact.

A special thanks to Gloria Lemay for her phenomenal care during the labor, delivery and postpartum, and to our local backup midwife Kristine Lauria for her support and encouragement while Gloria was on her way to Colorado.

Happy (Belated) Holidays
and
Happy New Year!

Filed Under: Blog, Childbirth, Circumcision Tagged With: baby father, Circumcision, father at birth, Gloria Lemay, homebirth, homebirth debate, infant male circumcision, intact, intact boy, intactivism, Jewish circumcision, postpartum, vaginal birth after cesarean, VBAC

Marilyn Fayre Milos, RN

June 10, 2008 By Raquel Lazar-Paley

Marilyn Fayre Milos, RN, is the co-founder and Executive Director of the National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers (NOCIRC) and the coordinator of the International Symposia on Circumcision, Sexual Mutilations, and Genital Integrity. She is editor of the NOCIRC Annual Newsletter and the co-editor of five symposia books, including Sexual Mutilations: A Human Tragedy, Male and Female Circumcision: Medical Legal and Ethical Considerations in Pediatric Practice, and Understanding Circumcision: A Multidisciplinary Approach to a Multidimensional Problem. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Sexology. Since 1979, Marilyn has spoken about circumcision, genital integrity, and human rights to radio, television, and conference audiences worldwide. She is the recipient of the California Nurses Association’s 1989 Maureen Ricke Award for having “raised public consciousness about America’s most unnecessary surgery” and her “dedicated and unwavering commitment to ‘righting a wrong.’” She also received NurseWeek magazine’s “Nursing Excellence 2001″ Patient Advocacy Award “For outstanding advocacy for the past 22 years on behalf of those among us who are the most vulnerable and unable to protect themselves–infants and children.”

NOCIRC Website

Marilyn’s Presentation:

How Circumcision Affects Sexuality
Part of the Intact Boy Series

This workshop, led by Marilyn Milos, RN, Executive Director of NOCIRC, explores the effects of circumcision on an infant and on the man he becomes. The dynamics of circumcision, sex, and compensation for the trauma and loss are discussed.

Filed Under: Marilyn Milos, RN Tagged With: conscious woman, Conscious Women, Consicous Woman, Doula, Gloria Lemay, Healing from Trauma (Resources to Help Children Heal), Highlight Conscious Woman, Highlight Conscious Women, infant male circumcision, intact boy, intactivism, Marilyn Fayre Milos, Marilyn Milos, midwife, Midwifery, NOCIRC

Gillian Longley, RN, BSN, MSS

June 10, 2008 By Raquel Lazar-Paley

Gillian Longley, RN, BSN, MSS is the state coordinator of the Colorado chapter of the National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers (NOCIRC) (www.ColoradoNOCIRC.org), and is a member of the Board of Health Professionals of Intact America (www.IntactAmerica.org). A Registered Nurse and former Bradley Method childbirth educator, Gillian has worked for the last eleven years in newborn nursery and neonatal intensive care, with previous nursing experience in labor & delivery and public health. Gillian’s Master’s research focused on informed consent for newborn circumcision. She has presented on circumcision and the foreskin to nurses, doctors, doulas, midwives, parents, legislators, and general audiences. Gillian is the mother of two grown intact sons, and lives with her husband in Boulder, Colorado.

Gillian’s Presentations:
The Foreskin
Circumcision: Surgical Methods and Complications

(the first two lectures in our The Intact Boy series)

The Intact Boy: Part I, The Foreskin

This lack of knowledge of the foreskin on the part of North American parents and health professionals underlies, in part, the perpetuation of the practice of circumcision, and has frequently led to false or harmful advice on the care of intact boys. Part I of this series demystifies the foreskin, while at the same time laying a foundation for understanding the harmful impact of its loss to circumcision.

Warning: These programs are liberally illustrated with photographs and diagrams of adult and infant penises, as well as graphic images of the circumcision procedure. These images are intended for educational purposes only, but some viewers may find them offensive or disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.

Each of these presentations is 90 minutes in length.

Cost: $7.50 per lecture.

Certificate of Completion: $7.50 per lecture (completion of post-session questionnaire required).

Continuing Education Units available for some professionals. Click here for more information.

The Foreskin (90 minutes)
Presenters: Gillian Longley RN, BSN

In this course, Gillian Longley RN, BSN, explains the anatomy of the intact penis, and shows how its unique structure and specialized tissue support a wide array of protective and sexual functions. The development of the foreskin in the fetus and child is also discussed, particularly the gradual natural separation of the foreskin from the head (glans) of the penis. This information provides the rationale for a discussion of correct care of the penis in the intact boy, and the normal variations that may occur during penile development in childhood. This presentation concludes with a discussion of the problem of forcible, premature retraction of the foreskin by incorrectly informed health care professionals. Although the American Academy of Pediatrics specifically recommends against forcible retraction, as circumcision rates drop in North America more and more boys are subjected to this inappropriate, unnecessary, and harmful practice that is obsolete in most of the world.

Circumcision: Surgical Methods and Complications (90 minutes)
Presenter: Gillian Longley RN, BSN

Parents are largely unfamiliar with the realities of how a foreskin is actually cut away. The common myths that circumcision is “quick and safe,” ”just a little snip” or that the baby doesn’t experience any pain are false representations of the procedure. In fact, circumcision involves multiple tissue-damaging steps to remove the foreskin. Moreover, the circumcision devices used on the small penis of a newborn are relatively imprecise – which may lead to specific complications beyond the usual surgical risks of bleeding and infection. This course, led by Gillian Longley RN, BSN, provides participants with an in depth understanding of what is really involved with a circumcision and what the baby undergoing a circumcision may experience, during and after the procedure.

The course closes with a brief look at the potentially harmful effects of circumcision on breastfeeding and mother-child bonding, which is covered in greater depth in a later class in this series.

Filed Under: By Presenter, Gillian Longley, RN, BSN, MSS Tagged With: Birth Trauma, Breastfeeding, BSN, Childbirth, childbirth education, Circumcision, conscious woman, Conscious Women, Consicous Woman, Doula, Gillian Longley, RN, BSN, MSS, Gloria Lemay, intact boy, intactivism, MSS, RN

Stephanie Mines, PhD

June 4, 2008 By Raquel Lazar-Paley

Stephanie Mines, Ph.D. is the Founder of the TARA Approach for the Resolution of Shock and Trauma and the Dom Project, a nonprofit organization serving people with AIDS around the world. She is a psychologist, writer and educator whose unique understanding comes from extensive work in the field as well as academic research. Several clinical trials are currently testing the efficacy of the TARA Approach for a variety of populations, including at-risk newborns and children with autism. Her stories of personal transformation lead listeners to become deeply committed to the healing journey. The TARA Approach blends Eastern and Western approaches to both prevent and treat overwhelming shock, including prenatal, perinatal and birth shock. Her latest book is WE ARE ALL IN SHOCK: How Overwhelming Experience Shatters You and What You Can Do About It (New Pages, 2003). Stephanie is the mother of two daughters, both born at home, and a grandmother. Her first home birth journey was published by Random House in 1977 as TWO BIRTHS.

Stephanie’s Website – The Tara Approach

Stephanie’s Presentation:
Helping Children Find Resilience and Balance After Trauma

The key to helping children find resilience and balance after trauma is to help them as soon as possible after the trauma or nervous system overload occurs. This supports them to not get stuck in compensatory behaviors. This presentation by Dr. Mines focuses on teaching language and energy medicine that can be used immediately and safely by parents and care providers.

The TARA Approach for children combines subtle, specific touch on meridian pathways with healing stories. A simple map of the body is provided with clearly identified locations that stimulate innate healing responses. Story structures designed to encourage neurological sequencing blend with this energy medicine treatment for the complete resolution of shock and trauma.

In this presentation Dr. Mines focuses on the following situations:

Babies’ experiences of prenatal and birth trauma;

Medical procedures;

Severe accidents;

Sexual abuse;

Adoption;

Divorce, separation; and

Loss

Dr. Mines is known for her remarkable capacity to evoke the healer and storyteller in everyone. She developed Jin Shin TARA, an acupressure like system that swiftly and gently sends messages of relaxation and balance to the nervous system. Stephanie’s storytelling protocols for children are now being tested in clinical trials and have been shown to be effective for children with cognitive struggles resulting from early shock. She is the author of The Dreaming Child: How Children Can Help Themselves Recover from Illness and Injury (Dom Project, 2003).

This presentation is 90 minutes in length.

Cost: $7.50

Certificate of Completion: $7.50 (completion of post-session questionnaire required).

Continuing Education Units are available for some professional groups. To view a listing of CEU opportunities, click here.

Select One…

Filed Under: By Presenter, Stephanie Mines, PhD Tagged With: Add new tag, Birth Trauma, c-section, cesarean, Childbirth, childbirth education, Conscious Woman Inc., Conscious Women, Consicous Woman, Doula, elective cesarean, Healing from Trauma (Resources to Help Children Heal), infant male circumcision, intactivism, maternal mortality and morbidity, Ph.D., Raquel Lazar-Paley, Shock, Stephanie Mines, TARA, TARA Approach, Trauma, Two Births, vaginal birth after cesarean, VBAC, We are All in Shock

From Victim to Healer: Patricia Robinett

May 8, 2008 By Raquel Lazar-Paley Leave a Comment

Ten years ago, in a friendly conversation with an authority on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Patricia began to wonder if circumcision had an effect on cognitive and psychological development. She immediately began working on the Internet and in public forums, researching the effects of circumcision on children and the adults they become. Learn more about the work and healing journey of this remarkable writer and publisher.

Gloria Lemay

October 7, 2007 By Raquel Lazar-Paley

Gloria Lemay is a lecturer, midwifery educator and has been a birth attendant for 33 years, specializing in VBAC and waterbirth. In 2002, Lemay received the “Women’s Voice Award” from CHOICES Childbirth Education and Doula Services of Ontario for her service to women during the childbearing years. She was also nominated for the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award in 1997. Lemay is an advisory board member of the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN) and Intact America. She is a contributing editor of Midwifery Today Magazine. She resides in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Visit her blog at http://www.glorialemay.com/blog

Gloria’s Website
Gloria’s Blog

Gloria’s Presentations:

Essentials of Maternal-Infant Care

A series of 12 online programs for professionals and students of all levels who wish to expand their knowledge and skills and to delve into issues that arise repeatedly in clinical practice. Also valuable for parents who want to be fully informed about their choices in pregnancy and birth.

These resource-filled sessions are taught by one of the most passionate, committed childbirth educators in the world. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from Gloria Lemay in the comfort of your home. Each session is 90 minutes in length.

Cost: $7.50 per session.

Continuing Education Units available for some professionals. Certificates of Completion (optional) : $7.50 per session (completion of post-session questionnaire required). Click here for more information.

Nutrition for Two. Women want to feed themselves and their babies in utero well, and they often make lifestyle changes in pregnancy that they would not have the discipline to make if they were not pregnant. This presentation focuses on how to help women achieve excellent nutrition through fun, inspiring and effective coaching.

Select One…

The Well Woman Check Up. What is the experienced care provider looking for when she’s doing those urine strips, palpating the uterus and taking blood pressure/pulse? This presentation dissects the prenatal checkup and explores the rationale behind each routine test.

Select One…

Prenatal Diagnostic Tests. As the number of possible prenatal tests continues to climb, care providers must be able to discern which ones will lead to productive action and which ones will only worry and detract from the woman’s pregnancy experience. This presentation enables participants to better advocate for their clients by articulating which prenatal diagnostic tests are reasonable, and which tests can cause more harm than good.

Select One…

Medical Terminology. The keys to the obstetric kingdom lie in the language. Learning medical prefixes, suffixes and root words will give you the tools to interpret the language. You’ll be able to use extra long, impressive words like “neurofibromatosis” in no time, and have fun doing it!

Select One…

Induction of Birth. If only one change happened in North America – the end of 41 week inductions – the cesarean rate would immediately drop. This workshop will explore the history, the misinformation campaign, and the tools needed to end the routine practice of labor inductions.

Select One…

Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension. Most prenatal care is designed to identify the small number of pregnant women who will develop Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension. This condition can be prevented and treated. In this workshop, we will discuss how the diagnosis is made, how to identify the symptoms in the early stages, and which clients are at risk.

Select One…

Gestational Diabetes. Because gestational diabetes can be deadly, it is critical that care providers understand it, and know which women are at risk. This workshop will provide valuable insight and information about how to screen for and help prevent this condition.

Select One…

Herpes Simplex II. One in five North American adults has Herpes Simplex II. After attending this workshop, care providers will know how to care for women with this condition, assuring that every woman they care for is healthy and lesion-free on the day of birth.

Select One…

Water Birth & Lotus Birth. The most exciting ideas in obstetrics come from the women themselves. Water Birth and Lotus Birth are grass roots innovations that have endured for decades. When your clients have questions about these practices, you’ll be ready with answers that address the safety and beauty of these birth innovations.

Select One…

Vaginal Birth after Cesarean (VBAC). The VBAC client will have emotions and fears about giving birth that are justifiably heightened. She and her partner will require more time and patience than your other clients. This workshop will focus on advanced planning techniques for changing psychological patterns in the mother and father, and tips for avoiding pitfalls and safely supporting families through this most satisfying and empowering of childbirth experiences.

Select One…

Pediatric Exam of the Newborn. Knowing what the midwife or pediatrician is looking for in the examination of a newborn will enhance your ability to assist with the care of the baby after the immediate post partum period. In this workshop, you will learn to distinguish between normal parental concerns, (e.g., “Is it normal for the baby to turn bright red?”) and signs that the baby should be seen in a hospital emergency ward (e.g., “The baby isn’t feeding and seems lethargic”).

Select One…

Business Promotion and Professionalism. Prosperity and business responsibility are matters of integrity. Let’s marry your spiritual calling with the practical reality of paying bills and building a business. This workshop is a realistic and practical guide to the entrepreneurial side of caring for others. Although the focus will be on the birth business, this ideas raised in this session will be applicable to all care providers.

Select One…

Filed Under: By Presenter, Gloria Lemay Tagged With: cesarean, Childbirth, childbirth education, conscious woman, Conscious Women, elective cesarean, Epidural, Gloria Lemay, Intact America, intact boy, intactivism, vaginal birth after cesarean, VBAC

How Circumcision Affects Sexuality

Circumcision: Surgical Methods and Complications

The Foreskin

Birth Announcement and New Years Greetings

Marilyn Fayre Milos, RN

Gillian Longley, RN, BSN, MSS

Stephanie Mines, PhD

From Victim to Healer: Patricia Robinett

Gloria Lemay

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