All Posts tagged male circumcision

Parents have been electing to have circumcisions performed on their newborn baby boys for centuries. It is a procedure that represents an important religious and cultural tradition for Jewish and Islamic families, as well as certain aboriginal tribes in Africa and Australia. Today, it’s estimated that approximately 55 to 65 percent of all newborn boys are circumcised in the United States for a wide variety of reasons that span religious beliefs, cultural and social reasons, and hygiene concerns. If you are expecting a baby boy, and are wondering if you should have him circumcised, review the information below to help put your mind at ease about the benefits and safety of this time-old tradition.

Overview

In a circumcision procedure, a doctor will surgically remove the skin covering the tip of an infant male’s penis. The procedure is typically performed in a hospital a day or so after birth and takes approximately ten minutes. During a circumcision, the doctor will position your baby on his back with arms and legs restrained. An anesthetic will be applied or injected to the area before the doctor removes the foreskin. After the procedure, a topical antibiotic will be applied, and the penis will be lightly wrapped in gauze. Healing takes about ten days. During this time, the penis will likely be sore and may look red, swollen, or bruised.

Benefits of Circumcision

In some cases, circumcision is medically recommended or necessary, as in cases where the foreskin develops too tightly to be retracted over the glans. For parents who worry that voluntary circumcision procedures put their newborn through unnecessary discomfort and may expose him to unnecessary risks, know that that there are certain benefits to the procedure, including:

• Easier hygiene – Throughout their lives, uncircumcised males must make more concerted efforts to regularly wash beneath the foreskin of their penis to ensure proper hygiene.
• Reduced risk of urinary tract infections – Uncircumcised males are at a higher risk of urinary tract infections (UTI). Severe infections, particularly at a younger age, can lead to kidney problems later in life.
• Decreased risk of sexually transmitted infections – Studies reveal that men who are circumcised may be at a lower risk of certain sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
• Reduced risk of penile cancer – Though rare in general, penile cancer is more common in uncircumcised men. Women whose partners are circumcised also face a reduced risk of cervical cancer.
• Prevention of penile complications – In some cases, uncircumcised men experience phimosis, a condition in which the foreskin can be difficult or impossible to retract, which can lead to inflammation of the foreskin or head of the penis.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises that the benefits of circumcision outweigh the risks; however it does not recommend universal circumcision for all male newborns. Instead, the AAP recommends that parents make an informed decision about circumcising their son and ensure the procedure is performed safely with the use of anesthetics.

If you have questions about whether or not to circumcise your newborn, talk to your OBGYN. He or she will help you better understand the benefits and risks and help you make the decision that is best for your baby boy.