johnrich

The stats cited by the CDC were mainly derived from males in Africa, where standards of cleanliness are lower and other disease vectors abound. There are sound reasons to remain uncircumsiced, as nature intended. Also, a baby can not give informed consent. It is child abuse!

I had conventional vasectomy 33 years ago, after the birth of our second child. The negative aspect was the fact that the surgeon was eager to proceed without waiting for local anesthesia to take hold. I felt a lot of discomfort, such as tugging and stretching of delicate tissues. There was very little discomfort afterwards and it healed quickly. One side effect is that your ejaculatory semen volume is reduced about 50%. But that's a small price to pay for never again having to worry about making anyone pregnant.

I had that procedure done five months ago. I had been diagnosed with pancytopenia including severe anemia, and the doctors wanted to rule out my bone marrow as a cause. I was not given anesthesia, just a topical to numb the skin at the point of penetration. While they were going through the hip bone, the discomfort was tolerable, but then the doctor started probing around and sucking up marrow, I almost jumped off the examining table. That part was very uncomfortable, some of the weirdest pain I have ever felt. Afterwards I drove myself home. Some soreness remained for several days, but not bad enough to take any painkillers.

I have used Stevia for about six years to sweeten coffee, oatmeal, yogurt, or anything else that needs a sweetener. Can't say I've noticed an aftertaste, but it does taste a little diferent than table sugar.

Frankly, there is no alternative to a bone marrow biopsy if a bone marrow disease is suspected. The chance of getting an infection are very slim, probably no more so than when getting a flu shot or blood draw for a blood test.