A medical circumcision is a circumcision performed to treat a disease, such as pathological phimosis lichen sclerosis , recurrent balanitis or recurrent urinary tract infections. A request circumcision is a circumcision performed for non-medical reasons, such as parental preference, religious reasons or to potentially prevent disease at some future time.
Circumcision is mostly performed on babies for family, religious or cultural reasons. When considering circumcision for your baby, you need to be aware of the possible risks and benefits.
You should also be aware that the rights of parents to give consent to a circumcision for their child are disputed. Some men resent that they were circumcised as children. They resent being deprived of the ability to make the decision for themselves as adults. For more information, see Circumcision: A parents' guide to routine circumcision of male infants and boys. For more information see Guidelines for male circumcision in the Victorian public hospital system.
If you are considering circumcision for yourself or your son, you need to discuss a range of issues with your doctor or surgeon including:. Circumcision may be performed in the first few days after birth under local anaesthetic or after six months of age under general anaesthetic.
Parents and their doctor should make sure that the person performing the circumcision is experienced and competent, uses appropriate anaesthetic and has the skills to deal with any potential complications. There are different methods of circumcision.
Either local or general anaesthesia should always be used. The plastibell procedure involves numbing the area with local anaesthetic creams or injection. A bell-shaped instrument is inserted under the foreskin to separate it from the penis. The foreskin is then removed using scissors or a scalpel. Alternatively, circumcision can be performed as a formal surgical procedure, using dissolving sutures or tissue glue.
Do not try to pull back the foreskin before it is ready, as this may damage the delicate tissues and cause scarring. Generally, the foreskin of a child is best left alone. Frequently, there are adhesions areas that are still connected between the glans of the penis and the inner layer of the foreskin. Adhesions are normal and will separate over the first 15 years of life. After puberty, the foreskin should be easily retractable. Though the national rate of newborn circumcision has declined, more than half of male newborns in this country are circumcised , according to data from the U.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The procedure has long been controversial, with some parents questioning its benefits and fearing complications. In , the American Academy of Pediatrics found the health benefits of newborn male circumcision outweigh the risks, but the AAP stopped short of recommending universal newborn circumcision. While the procedure is most commonly performed on newborns, circumcision is an option for adult men for a variety of reasons.
Reduced Risk of Prostate Cancer. A recent large study published in BJU International found that circumcision had a protective effect against prostate cancer risk , especially among black men who are at high risk.
The study found that men who were circumcised when they were older than 35 years of age decreased their prostate cancer risk by 45 percent. These complications may include bleeding, infection, improper healing, or cutting the foreskin too long or too short. Some families decide not to circumcise their sons. Some families are concerned that the foreskin is needed for identity reasons, sexual pleasure reasons, or other reasons linked to family, culture, religion, or tradition.
Circumcision is also an important part of some religions. Parents can learn about potential risks and benefits of circumcision from their physician. Particularly because the topic of circumcision can be linked to strong opinions, parents should be cautious in interpreting stories or information from unvalidated Internet sources.
Parents should feel both informed and supported in this decision. The information and recommendations appearing on this page are appropriate in most instances, but they are not a substitute for medical diagnosis. This page may be photocopied noncommercially by physicians and other health care professionals to share with patients. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. Coronavirus Resource Center. Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to use our site, or clicking "Continue," you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy Continue.
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